First and consecutive oil changes

I plain on taking to task on any dealer tha wants to cut costs..

 

With "ToyotaCare", which is included (at Least it was at my dealership), you get up to 2 years or 25,000 miles free oil changes (whichever comes first, for me it would be close on either), so my dealer suggests every 5,000 miles, even though with the zero weight synthetic oil now being used, you only NEED to get it done every 10,000 miles. Once the 2 years are up, I will be on the 10K per change schedule, which for me is about 8 months (15K miles per year)

 

Also, it is Toyota that is providing the first two years' service, to all buyers. You don't have to buy from a specific dealer to get it. However, when my daughter was shopping for her 2011 Prius, to make the sale the dealer offered to extend her Toyota Care plan to 30K miles. That should get her one extra oil change, along with engine air and cabin filters, which is a good thing. If a dealer wants to do something that is not listed in the recommended services from Toyota, he is going to want to charge you for it, as only those in the list are covered by the Toyota plan.

 

I'll do my first at 5k, considered 2500 but the oil looks very fresh, subsequent changes will be either 7500 or 10k depending on how the oil looks, all basic service I perform myself, I try my best to keep my vehicles as far away from the dealership monkeys as possible.

 

I just did the first oil change last week at 10,000. I don't care if it's free, I'd just rather check out everything myself.

 

afaik, i didn't get any free service. since i won't be putting much mileage on the engine, i'm thinking of changing it every spring. that's what i have always done on low mileage vehicles.

 

Not according to my dealer, but I will double check with them when I get the actual service done (1st service is already scheduled for the end of August, they do that when they sell you the car, and then send out reminder emails/calls), if they are scheduling me for evey 5,000 miles, and not covering the oil change, then there won't be an oil change every 5,000 miles

 

With some new vehicles an initial oil change is recommended early. Is this not the case with the Prius? In other words, they do not recommend one sooner than 10K?

 

Many manufacturers recommend later oil changes nowadays.

 

thanks P, i'll look into it. you've had yours about a month longer than me so i'll give it some time and then contact them. is it in the contract?

 

ToyotaCare.
Complimentary Maintenance Plan - Toyota Care

 

Now here's an interesting question... should you go on total vehicle miles (OD) or total engine miles? At my current rate of 33% EV, when my overall OD hits 10k, I'll have only used the ICE for about 6600 miles...

 

Take the" free" maintance. That has been figured into the price as 3 years 36 thousand mile warranty is in every vehicle. Now if something were to happen durring the first 25 thousand miles it can't be blamed on me when the car was only serviced at the dealership. Also it gives me the chance to check out the dealership while i wait ie. talking with other customers and listening when the service writer finds them in the lounge ,about a problem they may have found along with the sales pitch for extra services needed or recomended.The lounge is there so you can be all comfortable and relaxed when they hit you with the real sales pitch to loosen up your wallet. You thought the lounge was there because they really love their customers right. WRONG.

 

mark, i'll check with them, thanks!

 

I think a lot of commenters do their own labor. That's great because all the stuff your dealer tries to sell you is not needed. I change my oil religiously every 20 to 25k miles using syntetic oil. Keep my vehicles till 150k plus miles, never had a problem and had a bunch of vehicles since I'm 70. Only thing I have ever done to my 2005 Prius(139k miles) where rear shocks. Boy, that job was a learning curve for me.