I'm nervous about the 10,000 oil change interval!

If you drive 15-20k a year, change 2 times a year. If you drive less than 10k a year, change 1 time a year. This is normal to the Prius and Toyota 0W20, nothing to be afraid of.

Simple. Cars and motor oil today are very advanced. Forget other people ancient advice oil change every 3k/3months.

 

Someone reported here that their transmission fluid looked the worst at a relatively close to new date. They did a change around the 1 year mark, and then a further change maybe 2 years down the road. The "break-in" fluid was the worst, and at their second (longer) interval, the fluid looked pretty good.

Personally I'm planning a tran. fluid change at 1 year, likely around 16000 km. Cheap insurance.

And just to belabour a point: Toyota Canada's interval for oil change is still 5000 miles (8000 km) or 6 months, whichever comes first. Just keep in mind: it's your car: yes, you can overdo it, but 6 months or 5000 miles is not exessive. In fact it is still the "severe service" interval for the States.

It's totally your call

 

I'm with your dad. It is cheap insurance to change the oil the first time at an early interval to rid the engine of anything that shouldn't be there after the manufacturing process. I did my first change at 2,000 miles, only because I didn't have time at 1,000. My service interval was originally 5,000 miles, so I did it again at 5,000 and 10,000. Reluctantly, I guess I will now go to a 10,000 mile interval.

 

Heck, I changed my transaxle fluid initially at 5400...maybe I'll do another at 10,400 with this report. ;-)

I am hypersensitive about transmission issues due to owning two Acuras that required rebuilt transmissions in the 90s (late 80s models).

 

The recommended transaxle fluid is the Toyota ATF-WS. No it does not have a dipstick but a fill plug that you remove and check the fluid level.

Do a search on here for the transaxle fluid change and there are a couple of good ones on here that show the transaxle and the drain and fill plugs.

I would recommend the transaxle fluid change at 30,000 miles. I did mine at 25,000 and it was much darker than the replacement fluid.

 

Isn't that what the filter is for? To stop any particulates? Wouldn't every drop of oil move through the filter very quickly? Just wondering...

 

The prius filter us less than impressive to look at. I would not I rely bank on it's filtering capability.
Changing the prius oil is a PIA. All the plastic crap under there is challenging to get off the first time. But then you break or lose half of the connectors and it is a little easier.
I change mine when ever the car says too. It's the wides car and she insists. It seems like every 5k is when it asks for a change. When I drain out 5 k oil it's still clear and new looking. A far cry from the 10k oil I drain out of my cummins diesel with double filtration including an ultra fine bypass filter. But the wifey wants it done so be it.
Do what you want it's your $ but personally my opinion is 10K would still be fine. It should be noted that my wide and the prius disagree.
You could opt to take an oil sample and send it off @ 5k and they will tell you how your oil looks. They sill also tell you if anything abnormal is going on, excess wear from metal bring present, bad injectors from excess fuel being present and a whole host of other things. Well worth $15 bucks every few years or so.


iPhone ?

 

Sorry for the typos in my last post auto correct from the iPhone and tapatalk doesn't let you edit after you post. I am not an idiot I just got auto corrected. Luckily it did not put any thing embarrassing in there. there is a hilarious email going around with dome of the corrections it makes.


iPhone ?

 

Go look at my UOA after a 10K oil change: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-1st-10k-oil-change-uoa-new-oil-analysis.html

This report says that a 10K oil change interval on Mobil 1 is not a problem. BTW, this has all my oil changes. Note that I worked my way up to the 10K interval. You could do the same.

 

With your driving habits, it sounds like you should go by time instead of miles on your service intervals. Isn't it 10k miles or 1x year? Maybe someone who knows for sure can pipe in.

 

With any interval the operative word is or, ie: distance or time, whichever comes first. Spelled out in the manual. Also in the manual, the severe service interval, 6 mo or 5000 miles, is defined as:

Repeated trips of less than five miles in
temperatures below 32°F / 0°C:​

Replace engine oil and oil filter

Your short trips are half of that equation.

 

Why waste a valuable resource. That's the reason for the Prius in the first place.

Even motorcycles have went up to 5K on air cooled motors.

However, If you do not drive 10K a year, you should change at one year or 10k whatever comes first.