May want to check tire pressure after oil change/tire rotation

On the Gen2 if too much oil is added the car will die & will need a tow to the shop.

What if you are charged for the oil change but it isn't changed?

I believe checking is a good habit. No point in letting a little problem turn into a big one.

 

I haven't seen anyone post evidence from the tire manufacturers to support your claim. But plenty of empirical evidence to the contrary has been posted here and to CleanMPG.com.

For your 'FACT', I'm referring to the tire pressure label on the car, not the max pressure molded into the sidewall. If wear patterns are any indication, the label recommendations on my cars have been too low. One of them was also dangerously low with respect to hydroplaning risk.

Don't give me any garbage about pressures above the doorpost label causing the tread center to wear faster than the edges. That went away along with the old bias-ply tires.

 

Use your common sense. I'd say +/-10% within what the door label says is acceptable. +/-20% requires your attention to adjust the air pressure. Beyond that is in the danger zone. Too many discussions about whether to over-inflat or under-inflat the tires. I choose to stick with the Toyota's recommendation on the door label. If I don't trust them for this simple thing, I'd have bought another make.

 

Go to an auto parts store and buy an air compressor which runs on a 12-volt power outlet. It fits nicely in the compartment over your spare tire and you can use it any time to pump up your tires, your spouse's, or your bicycle tires (careful with those). Don't trust the gauge on the compressor - use your own tire gauge. I think I spent less that $40 on mine. Well worth it.

 

Who cares about that? I want to know how your car time traveled and what it's like!

Or is your car the time machine?

 

For the pressures for the tires that come with the Prius, this seems to be the case (no center wear). But its really dependent on car & tire. When I ran higher pressures on my Civic's snow tires, summer tires, running at 36psi up front for all 3 sets of summer tires I ran instead of 30 definitely produced more center wear. So it depends.

 

This site states 20%.

Underinflated Tires: Low Tire Pressure On 2 Out Of 3 Emergency Vehicles In Test

 

Your mention of summer tires reminded me of the story someone I worked with told me. When he was in high school he worked at a gas station and he and his buddy used to convince the rich Valley Girls that they needed summer air and then charged them for it.

 

Generally you learn that when you wake up in the hospital after the 'Blowout'. Of course that makes checking the pressure so you know how low it shouldn't be, somewhat problematic. Better to just do what the tire manufacturer says, Follow The Placard on the Door of your car.

The only time that proved deadly was the case of the Rolling Ford Explorers, when FORD's sales team decided they'd sell more Exploders if they rode better, so they took the competing SUV to my Jeep Grand Cherokee with identical size tires that Jeep-Chrysler said required a 33 PSI inflation front and rear, and reduced it to 26 PSI, so the typical American backside experienced fewer pothole impacts. Most people, of course, fail to check tire inflation and the 26 soon became 19 PSI, the tires blew, the Explorers Rolled Over, and the Lawyers and Undertakers had a Field Day.

But it all worked out OK, they all blamed Firestone for building the tires that were all perfectly safe at 33 or even 26 PSI. Remember, it isn't whether or not you screw up, it's who can you Blame it on, that counts !

 

Knowing what the average service department is like, wouldn't it make sense for the car owner to double check the shop's work rather than risk damage? The ensuing nightmare of getting the dealer to accept responsibility for the damage...and having the service department that botched fluid levels do some serious repair work on your car would be far worse.

 

I use the TPs inside the door frame, but only when the tires are cold. When I bring a car in for service, I ask that they leave TPs alone. What is the point of having them adjust TP when the tires are warm?

 

Exactly! Far better to avoid an expensive problem than to argue with someone about fixing it. Always check the oil level yourself after *every* oil change.

 

I would definitely recommend to always check your tires after taking it to the dealer or anyone else that services your car. My last visit to the dealer, I checked the tire pressure when I got home and all four tires were at 47 psi. The sidewall max rating is 44. I normally run them at 40/38.

I called the service advisor when I got back and he said he had the technician check his air pressure gauge and could find no problems. He had not explanation.

So, next time I plan to check them before I leave the dealership.

I would also check the oil level and any other service that was performed before you leave, if you can.

 

The dealers do seem overly eager to mess with tire inflation. Usually, they always under-inflate them, and they rarely all match. That being said, with the tires being warm/hot, it is more difficult to get them set accurately.

Last time I had my oil changed, I went out of my way to tell them not to mess with the tire pressures. Amazingly, they actually listened! It was the first time I didn't have to go home and check/change all the pressures.

 

That sounds convenient, but it would be useful only for the one car. Even then, there's always a gas station on the way home from the dealership. For the bikes and the inevitable supply of footballs, soccer balls, etc, a hand pump is safer. And much more useful on the bike.

Last time the car was in for service, the pressures were set at 35. I hunch Toyota corporate prevents the dealers from honouring my request to leave them at 42/40.

 

Did you check them immediately after getting home, after perhaps some miles of driving? Or did you let them cool down for an hour before measuring?

 

At my dealership, they check the oil level with you before letting you drive away. I guess that is not standard policy among dealers. Also, the oil change is free, even with 0W20 oil. I''m sure they are happy the recommended duration for changes was increased to 10K.

Rich N.

 

Don't think so. I also run at 42/40. After my first service mine were lowered to 33 contrary to my instructions. I complained to the service manager. I got my next service free and tires were set to my 42/40 request. I guess its dealer by dealer much like requesting the seatbelt warning chime to be changed. Some will, some won't.