oil consumption vs length of oil change interval

I'm not so sure oil change Interval impacts oil consumption, at least not a lot. We've had Honda's for 3 decades, and it was the norm to have some consumption, anywhere between 1/2 and 3/4 liter between changes. And I was always conservative, less so towards the present. Our current Prius is the first car that seems impervious to oil consumption, the level not budging a bit. But that's maybe a testament to engineering as much as anything.

If I was going to point at something that promotes oil consumption, it'd be gross neglect of the oil change interval, and/or driving with ultra-low or completely loss of oil.

FWIW, I'm following the Canadian Schedule: 8000 km or 6 months. It's working out now with our diminishing use to be 6 months always governing, and only 4000~5000 kms between changes.

 

I wonder if people that drive their prius really hard using 0w20 would cause engine wear

 

I plan to get my two(?) free changes in the first 15,000 miles after purchase. It's too early to say what change intervals I'll adopt subsequently; that could depend on results of this survey, if anything interesting turns up.

 

Can you choose when to get your 2 oil changes? I think they do it at 10k or 1 year mark only

 

That's a good question. The answer is vague, so far. They put a sticker on the windshield stating the next change would be due 5000 miles later (Toyota's pre-2010 schedule). The salesman implied every 5000, although I don't know whether he was aware of the officially sanctioned change to 10K intervals. My free-change "certificate" has spaces to record three changes. The official recommendation of 10K intervals would, as you say, allow only one change within 15K, not three. So ... I'm going to ask for clarification, specifically whether they'll compromise at 2 changes, using the genuine stuff. I'd even be content with one change from them now, and the "free" oil and filter to change it myself the next time.

 

I have got 13k on one oil change and had no consumption. There are a ton of UOA that should today's oils do not break down like they used to. If your running synthetic and changing at 5K you are wasting twice the amount of money, time, and oil then you need to.

 

That proves I went 13k and had no oil consumption. Just sharing my experience, thought that was the point of forums.

 

Are oil loss and engine damage in lock-step? What I mean, if you've neglected an oil change, left the oil in there say 15,000 miles, but are not burning oil, or losing it by any avenue, basically got an engine built mid-week, blueprinted: are you out-of-the-woods?

Seems to me you could still be doing it harm, the oil's cushioning abilities breaking down, regardless of the quantity still in there.

 

To know for sure you would have to do used oil analysis on your particular engine. Every motor is different. If you look on a different oil particular forum you will see many used oil analysis posted that show plenty of oil life left at a 5k oil change.

 

Difference in oil consumption due to oil change interval, if it occurs, is usually not measurable until the engine has higher mileage and then only if the oil has been changed consistently at the particular interval. Suggest you add mileage categories to the poll, i.e. over 75,000, 100,000, 150,000, etc. and whether the oil has been change consistently at the particular interval. Votes based on lower mileage and inconsistent oil change intervals erode the value of this poll.

 

My company uses some Priuses for fleet ops. In the 9 Bubba-Gump states we probably have several hundred scattered around.
The last time I spoke with the wrench-swingers they were reporting no oil use with these cars, and at least in my area they use a 5,000 mile OCI.
However (comma!) this data is not that meaningful since I know for a fact that there are folks driving these cars that do not even know how to open the hood, and the people who do wrench-work for these cars certainly aren't going to check the oil level before the oil change.
How many people out there check their oil level before going to the dealer for an oil change???
The only way most Prius drivers find out that their car has a drinking problem is when the little oil can light flickers at them while they're driving.

You have to remember that PC is populated by mostly Prius enthusiasts.
That means we're supposed to be out at the sharp end of the stick.

Let me go and check my oil right now while I'm thinking about it.....
Full!

So that's 83,000 miles.
5,000 mile OCI.
Zero detectable oil use.
Moderate to heavy vehicle use (NEVER buy a used work or rental vehicle!)

 

I don't use any oil at all whether I change at 5,000 or 10,000 miles. I have always run synthetic oil I'm my cars with 7,500 change interval with no problems at all. I normally keep a car 10 years. The Prius I change at 10,000 miles. Remember if your burning 1/2 qt at 5,000 miles you will use a full qt. at 10,000. It just seems like a lot.