Oil Change. You be the judge

Nope. Old fashioned synthetic oils were based on group IV or V oils with hefty additives. Most oils marketed as "synthetic" in USA are group III base oils with light additive pack. The high end (or real) synthetic oils retail for near $20 per quart.

Besides, progress is not always linear. We had 750 miles OCI in ford T with non-detergent oils. Later, standard OCIs was extended to 3,000 miles with detergent oils. By late 90's most car makers specified OCI of 7,500-10,000 miles. But as sludge epidemic hit Toyota (and other makers), they backtracked to 5,000 miles and only recently extended that to 10,000 miles (using "synthetic oils").

 

All of my UOA's have indicated that Mobil 1 0W-20 can go longer than 10k miles in a 2010 Prius, to perhaps 12k miles.

I use the TRD oil filters rather than the stock filters because the TRD filters have better filter material. They're also more expensive.

I've not seen any notice from Toyota regarding reducing the oil change interval to 7k miles. Can someone provide a reference/document?

 

No such thing. The OP made a mistake.

 

It's all a conspiracy by your dealers to ensure they continue to make money out of you.

We have better, longer, more comprehensive warranties on our cars with 100,000 mile engine warranties being very common, yet the manufacturers suggest changing the oil every 15,000 or 20,000 miles. Our engines don't implode, people running cars to 150k + miles is common and the oil is changed less often than you guys do.

You're all having your legs lifted because you've always changed it every xxx thousand miles. It's not required. It's a con. Yet because you've always done it, you think it makes it right. You don't rebuild engines every 5,000 miles like they did in 1924 so why change your oil every 5,000 miles like they did in 1979? Why is it acceptable to change it every 5,000 miles in America yet the same car, the same engine with a longer warranty in Europe suggests every 15,000 miles? It's obvious to me

Change it more often than needed or change it when you want, but you're wasting money. I ran a taxi that had 300,000 miles on it, had its oil changed every 15k and it ran sweet.

But the crux of the matter is that old habits die hard.


Want proof? Vauxhall (the UK version of GM) offer a 100,000 mile warranty and suggest the oil is changed between 18,000 and 25,000 miles! If a company is confident enough to offer oil changes at those intervals AND offer a lifetime warranty, then either they're going to go bust with warranty payments OR you're US dealers are ripping you off!

Check the following links;

MasterFit Servicing | Vauxhall Servicing & Parts – Vauxhall Motors UK

Vehicle Warranty & Assistance | 100,000 Mile Lifetime Warranty - Vauxhall Motors UK

 

The Gen II motor has a tiny very fine serviceable filter for the oil drive to the cam actuator for VVT.
I wonder if the Gen III motor has this filter also?

 

Well to add a little confusion, Toyota UK only recommend oil changes at 10,000 miles or 12 months. This is considered high in America and very low over here.

And on the subject of oil changes. I worked with a taxi driver who NEVER changed his oil. He'd top it up but his gamble was that the cost of oil changes and time off the road was more expensive than replacing his engine at 200k miles. His engine would sound very rough when it got over 150k though and I don't think it ever got past 200k without blowing up.

But it shows that a modern engine will run to high mileages even when abused.

 

IMHO, we are going too far with this anti-maintenance rant.
Conspiracy?
Tell that to people who followed toyota's 7,500 mile intervals and lost engines due to sludge back in late 90's and early 2000's. They had to fight the system hard to get that covered by warranties. Obviously you will not find them here anymore as they will never buy another toyota.
Same thing happened to SAAB, VW, Chrysler and some other carmakers.

 

Why would you think for hybrid should go 5k longer than normal gas car ??? Do you think your ICE is NOT running 1/3 of the mileage ??? I can assure you that is NOT the case just looking at my scangauge most of the time

 

I forgot to add a smiley face and then it wouldnt let me go back in and edit it.

 

seems to me to depend on the conditions where each vehicle drives (arid/dusty/wet/hot/cold/etc) and what type of "style" the vehicle is enduring.


iPhone ? - now Free

 

I agree.

It's NOT a matter of being brainwashed into any particular behavior.

If we are talking about a new vehicle, at the very least it's maintaining the warranty incase anything happened, even if NOT directly related to oil changes.

IMO specifically with Gen 3 Prius, 10,000 mile intervals (as recommended) are long enough, from both an economical and convenience standpoint. For me that's going to end up being about 1 Oil change a year, and guess what? I'm doing that PERIOD.

To me it also boils down to this. Automobiles are usually one of peoples biggest personal investments in property. Why should I spend upwards of $20,000-$30,000 or more for a vehicle, and then NOT spend $50 on an Oil Change?

I don't care if the reality is I could go 15,000 miles or "forever" without changing the oil.

I'm not putting my warranty at risk, and it's cheap insurance even if it isn't needed and is mostly placebo.

 

Its all opinion and conjecture until we start seeing some 10K engine oil UOA's on Gen III motors.

I hesitate to run 10K on my Gen II because of the fuel dilution issue. The dipstick stinks of fuel like no other car I have owned. If it didn't smell so strong it could probably run 15K no problem.

Do Gen III 1.8 motors suffer from fuel dilution also? If so may be bad idea to go 10K on an oil change no matter what type of oil.

 

They're all over the forum if you'll do a search.

But all this is moot because we have our hands tied and essentially have no choice but to follow the manufacturer's recommendation if we want to keep our drivetrain warranty. It used to be much worse when the Gen III first debuted and they required every 5K miles oil changes even with synthetic oil. We're free, however, to change however often we like once the warranty is up.

 

I am going to change mine at every 25,000 miles because a friend of mines bothers second aunts husbands son said it wouldn't make a difference cause it's synthetic and it's a hybrid



LOL, kidding. In all seriousness I am just going to repace my oil once at 1,000 miles to get out any metal debris from engine breakin and then I am going to take it to the dealer when maintenance is scheduled since it's a leased car.

 

Changing at 1,000 miles is unnecessary and why do you care anyway if it's a leased car?

 

what you consider neccessary and unneccessary is your own opinion but this is my car so i'll decide that. I care because i may or may not buy it after the lease.