How long did you wait for first oil change?

The Prius does go easy on the oil. I'd agree checking the dipstick, it looks pretty good, almost like new, right before oil change. Whereas a few other vehicles I change oil on, the oil looks black on the dipstick. Still, especially first oil change: I'd say do your engine a favour and change it sooner. Cheap insurance. See I was harping about this on page one, anyway.

Our Canadian 3rd gen schedule is 6 months or 8000 kms. We're doing at most 10,000 kms per year, but I'm sticking with the 6 months, around every 5000 kms, at most. The oil still looks golden, as you say, on the dipstick. But the drained oil in a jar, is black as ink. Old and new, both are Toyota 0W20, with just over 3000 kms between oil changes, this time:


Goes without saying, this is just a detergent motor oil doing it's job, but there's a gulf between the appearance on the dipstick, and a cup of the drained oil.