1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Changing the oil at 3K miles?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Boffin, Oct 7, 2020.

  1. Boffin

    Boffin Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    43
    65
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Gosh. Are you living in the '60s? You had to do that if you had a VW with no oil filter only 2.5 quarts of oil...

    Things have changed. Oil is better, and oil filters really work. Toyota says your 0-20 synthetic can last upwards of 10,000 miles.

    So why did I change it at 3,000+ miles? It had been a year and a half since I changed it last. Retirement and Covid-19 really cut down on my driving, and oil can age as a factor of time, as well as miles. Some "experts" (perhaps funded by big oil) recommend you change it as often as every 4 months, regardless of the mileage. Right. But after 18 months, they might have a point. So I changed it.

    My 2010 still does not burn oil, at 134K miles. My "secret"? I try not to run the car just for short trips, as that's when the carbon builds up in the EGR system, and most engine wear occurs. I try to run it, when I do, for about an hour, so it can have a good bit of time all warmed up, doing a partial "Italian tune up". Geezer that I am, I also tend to not speed too much, and just go with the flow of the often congested traffic in my neck of the world, and this gentle pace also minimizes engine wear.

    YMMMV.
     
    #1 Boffin, Oct 7, 2020
  2. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    532
    225
    2
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    How did/does your EGR system look, then? (Especially the cooler.)

    My 2010 still isn't burning oil at 181,000 miles, either. Maybe you're on to something with oil life and the burning issue in the early-year Gen-3s. I've always changed my oil at least twice yearly, and never went more than 7200 miles, and have mostly highway miles.
     
    #2 pjksr02, Oct 7, 2020
  3. Boffin

    Boffin Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    43
    65
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I cleaned my EGR pipe last spring. It had a light layer of carbon on it, not enough to cause problems. So I didn't bother cleaning out the EGR cooler. Perhaps in about another 50K miles.
     
    #3 Boffin, Oct 7, 2020
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Toyota also says change oil yearly if driven less than 10,000 miles.
     
    #4 Grit, Oct 7, 2020
    jzchen and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    532
    225
    2
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    If you have time on your hands, I'd say you might just want to check your EGR cooler, and also the intake manifold. You may be surprised at the carbon build-up. The EGR pipe's build-up is usually a fraction of the build-up in the cooler and the IM--as it was in mine, too. It's easier to pop off the intake manifold, to take a look, since you don't need to remove the cowl/wipers/all that. The small EGR passages will show the level of build-up.

    You could be good another 50,000 miles. Hopefully. I learned about the EGR issue around 175,000 miles, and feel lucky that I did, as my EGR cooler was nearly completely clogged.
     
    #5 pjksr02, Oct 7, 2020
    orenji and Mendel Leisk like this.
  6. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,174
    4,078
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I would start w the egr pipe first. It will till you how clogged the rest of the egr circuit is to coordinate a trip to buy a cold 6 pack & rejoice after the cleanse.
     
    #6 Grit, Oct 7, 2020
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,144
    50,053
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i think you're on to something. since i stopped driving hv, when the engine comes on, it doesn't want to shut off.
    if i take her for a good hard drive, with lots of acceleration, that solves it.
     
    #7 bisco, Oct 7, 2020
  8. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    EGR cooler is always more impacted than the pipe. You should clean it.
     
    #8 orenji, Oct 7, 2020
  9. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Pipe does not indicate the condition of the EGR Cooler.
     
    #9 orenji, Oct 7, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)