How long did you wait for first oil change?

I've stitched leather covers on two previous cars. Buying a factory leather-wrapped wheel off a wreck is way easier, it's cheaper, and the fit is perfect. It's not hard to replace the steering wheel at all.

 

In the bad old days it used to be that when the steering wheel eroded it was time for another car...

 

I used the free Toyota Care service at 10,000 miles. The service advisor didn't try to sell me anything when I went in for the free oil change & tire rotation. he said Toyota reimburses them for the cost of the service.

 

Such creativity on the part of our local Toyota dlr. Yesterday, when I went in to have the engine wire harness recall taken care of, the service writer asked if I wanted the engine oil changed. I asked her why, since the car has been in service only 10 months and has only 8100 miles. She replied the car was built in October, 2017 (which is true) so the oil was already over a year old. Therefore the engine oil had exceeded the time limit for its usable life. Now I must admit, in all the years I've been changing oil in cars and trucks, I had never heard that one. I'm still chuckling over it.

 

On some vehicles with regular oil they say to change every 6 months maximum,

 

Think yourself lucky - at 10 months, it'd be 4 months overdue with our crazy "EVERY 6 months/10,000 kilometres" schedule in Australia.

 

I think the oil "life" starts when the car goes into regular service, so yeah, "only" 10 months. Still, my 2 cents: I would have taken them up on it.

 

A few years ago - like maybe 15 or 20 - a friend with a few courier vans had an oil analysis done, and as a result, doubled the distance between oil changes. They were diesels though, TOYOTA I think. They changed filters though, from what I remember. But, the engines started at the beginning of the day, and were running at operating temperature all day - quite different to a domestic car.

 

Once the metal in the engine block is worn it cannot be replaced. So my oil changes started at 1750 with both oil and filter, then 4800, and finally at the dealer at 10,300 miles. Using Mobil One EP 0-20 or dealer supplied oil.

Why take a chance with a $7500 investment?

With a few more miles will probably change the transmission too.

 

First oil change at the first Maintenance Check, will have the dealer drain and refill the power transfer case fluid, when I get it in for the recall items. May not actually require it, but being Old School it certainly won't hurt.

 

With modern engines, filters and modern oils with the extensive additives, I don't see the point of going beyond the manufacturer's recommendation. Used motor oil is considered a serious environmental problem - changing it needlessly is wasteful. What's the point of having an environmentally friendly vehicle?

Early SA oils were just that - an oil. By today, I think we're up to SN+, they're far more advanced, and suited to modern engines.

Back in the '40s, first oil changes were at 500 miles as it was running in - but back then there weren't good filters, and clearances were much greater than today, and engine building standards were generally much less precise. I remember helping Dad change oil on his '49 Austin - seemed to be about monthly - yes it was, found this:


By the '60/70s there were oil filters on most engines, and oil change intervals were increased.

My 1980 VOLVO had oil changes at 6000 miles - the engine compression was still fine at 300,000 miles (after a valve job). And, from memory, it only used an API SE oil - which is like a dinosaur compared with our current oils.

By 1995, my MAZDA 323 also had oil changes at 6000 miles - and the engine was still fine at about 350,000kms when we junked it because just about everything else was dying.

Since then, oil technology has increased markedly - if we changed at the recommended mileage in 1949 and 1980 and 1995, why not in 2018?

 

In 1949 the standards were set to maximize the life of the engine.
The 2018 standards are set to maximize the profit of the manufacturer. If they can sell you a new car sooner, they make more profit.

 

Not sure - a '49 engine will be re-built far sooner than a 2018. Dad's Austin had about 85,000 miles when he got rid of it - the engine needed a full overhaul by then, and it had been cared for by the book from new (he bought it from his father with 66366 miles on it).

There were PRIUS with close to a million kilometers that I'd read about, and the engine hadn't been touched.

PRIUS is even less demanding on oil than a normal ICE car, as the engine only operates for - at a guess - 70-80% of the distance, doesn't idle continually which isn't the healthiest for any engine.

A PRIUS is more likely to be "not worth repairing" from something else other than the engine.

The reality is that most cars go to junk-yards because there is a log of jobs needing doing which would cost in excess of the value of the car - more often than not, not the engine. The MAZDA 323 (Familia) I mentioned in Post #71 - the engine was fine, but it needed a brake reline and 2 new disks, the A/C was dead, windscreen had a crack, battery was dying - then when the clutch went at the same time as the alternator - with a residual value of about $1200 at most, wasn't worth spending money on. I heard that the engine was removed and went into a Rally Car. We'd bought it new, was my car, then my wife's, she sold it to our daughter, who sold it on to our son - about 18 years in the family.

 

Changed my oil and filter at 5k miles. Cheap insurance.

 

My 2016 just turned a year old this month and now has 8,100 miles on it. I changed the oil at 5,000 miles.
I plan on taking it to the dealer for the 10,000 mile oil change and get the wiring recall done.
Except for warranty work that will be the last time I plan on going back to the dealer.

 

Padroo, Chesterton is a 3rd world nation. I love it! And, I know exactly what you mean. I grew up in nearby Hobart. Couldn't wait to get out. But that's another story. I enjoyed your thoughts on oil change interval and the commentaries of everyone else. When I used dino oil I was strictly an every-3000-mi guy. But now, with synthetic oil and the build quality we have, I'm much more inclined to just follow the book. If the past is any guide, I'll have a new car long before my Prius is worn out.

 

I kept my last Prius 10 years and I told my wife I only want to keep this one five but who knows. I tend to buy and hold and hold too long.

 

Indeed. We drove our 2008 over 9 yrs and 165,000 most enjoyable miles. Did we need a new one? No. We just wanted it.

 

Exactly.

 

We have a 2018 Prius but on my 2010 Prius, I only change every 10k miles or 1 year. I take to the dealer with a coupon and they change it with synthetic Toyota oil.
BTW, I have 98000 miles and no oil usage and my oil stays golden the whole time. I do think that using Tier 1 gas only will keep the oil cleaner and less likely to carbon up your oil control piston rings. This 3k or 5k on synthetic is just a waste of money. I would like to see a Blackstone oil analysis. Anyone?