new (believe it or not) info about Oil Changes

Yeah I do the 10k interval and sometimes even 15k (if i've done mostly highway driving). Everything comes out fine, no metal shilling or anything strange.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(silentak1 @ Oct 14 2006, 04:04 AM) [snapback]332659[/snapback]</div>

I have 52000 miles on my '05 now and change oil every 5000 miles. I do about 95% highway driving. When I get to 60000 I plan to extend that to 10000 miles. Here I thought I was going to be the only one to do that. I was going to post this intent earlier but thought I would get blasted by others on the forum.

 

10000 miles on mobil1 is great. When the maintainance ligh burns steady, cancel it and then pay attention to it the second time around.

Don't worry about getting blasted around here. I've been blasted for using neutral, putting in gas beyond the first click off, driving for 100 miles on a flashing gas guage bar, and a few other things. It's the price we pay to be able to talk to the rest of the great people around here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ray Moore @ Oct 14 2006, 08:26 AM) [snapback]332668[/snapback]</div>

While we're on the subject of oil...I'm at 3500 and am ready with my Mobil 1 anf toyo filter. My question is there a oil light reset? My friend said his Maint. Reqd. light flashed at 5k which indicated an oil change was due. Is this true and if so how does it get reset?

 

I was just wondering <_< .Since the ice does not run all the time!anyone ever figure out how many real miles were used by the ice vs the electric.Is this why 5k is considered normal change time?I reality maybe the ice was running for 3000miles.

 

Since BMW performs the maintenance under warranty, the Oil Change Interval (OCI) with Mobil 1 on all their cars is 15k miles. I suspect that if Toyota were paying for the oil changes on the Prius, the OCI with Mobil 1 would magically be lengthened from every 5k miles to a similiar duration.

IOW, it seems that when the manufacturer is paying for the oil changes, the interval is dramatically longer than when the customer is paying...

 

BobZ, Yes the light will come on and there is an easy way to shut it off. Just do a search for "Maintenance Required light" and the instructions are there. Also, If you order now you can have a fumoto oil drain valve in time to install it at your next oil change. Don't get one if you don't plan to keep the car, or if you don't plan to do your own oil changes.

I change mine at 5k intervals. I'm excitedly waiting for my next oil change so I can use my installed drain valve for the first time. That, along with using a 1 liter bottle to wrap around and catch my filter when I remove it, should make for a very clean oil change. I won't even need tools. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 14 2006, 12:27 PM) [snapback]332740[/snapback]</div>

Well I work for Cadillac so I think I'll do the oil changes myself. No drain plugs thank you. If I've gotta pick the car up anyway one screw of a drain plug isn't gonna kill me. For the record Cad calls for 7500 one Mobil one.

Doc thanks for the info.

 

the oil change interval is something that has been controlled by the oil industry for a long long time. also, my sister is the service manager for Lincoln-Mercury and service is where most dealerships makes most of their profit. the cost of oil put in your car is practically nothing because they do oil exchanges. the old oil is refiltered and recycled.

the only thing that is really necessary is changing the oil filter. the oil will easily last 20,000 miles, the oil filter has other issues that has to do with environment more than the type of engine used.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Oct 14 2006, 12:30 PM) [snapback]332741[/snapback]</div>

That's why I asked if the %ICE ON is time base or mileage base reading in the CAN-View thread. If the reading is mileage base, we can calculate what's the exact mileage put on the ICE. Since this reading is time base, we can't do that calculation.

 

Scott that is a valid arguement but there are other ways to look at it too. i read somewhere that says an average 11% of our time in average city driving is spent idling at lights. we can definitely deduct that right off the top

 

On this side of the pond, the Prius only needs an oil change every 15000 km, acording to Toyota :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Oct 18 2006, 12:46 PM) [snapback]334529[/snapback]</div>

It's not just the oil industry alone. It's the oil industry in collusion with the auto industry. By the manufacturers keeping the Oil Change Interval (OCI) recommendation as short as possible, the oil industry benefits by more oil being bought, and the automotive service departments benefit by charging exhorbitant prices for frequent, unnecessary oil changes. On top of that, if the OCI isn't followed as directed and a warranty claim is filed for any sort of engine failure, it gives the manufacturer leverage to deny the warranty claim.

A win-win situation for everyone (except the consumer, of course).

What's distressing is that, at one time (decades ago), the manufacturer's short OCI was actually accurate due to the wide engine manufacturing tolerances allowed, as well as the less refined chemical composition of oil. The auto manufacturers just 'forgot' to update their recommendations as engine tolerances and oil technology improved.

 

Is there any *problem* with doing it earlier? I have a free oil change for this car that expires mid-November (given by the dealer) - I'll be nowhere near the first 5K miles (the dealer might figure that for the average person, since it will only be about 3 months old). But if I do it in November, then I figure I can wait for another 5k after that.

There was another poster on here who implied that with a newer car it was important to change the oil a lot at first (sooner than Toyota recommends) - it sounds like no one particularly agrees.

 

no problems with doing it early. some recommend that the first oil change on a new engine be done on a short interval due to the break-in of the engine.

i dont really believe in this theory anymore. i believe modern manufacturing techniques have improved enough to make this a non issue