Anyone have problems with oil changes on the Gen 5?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by purplePriii, Nov 23, 2023.

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  1. purplePriii

    purplePriii Active Member

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    I've done an oil change on both the 5K and 10K mile service. The first time on the 5K change, they overfilled my oil by about a half inch when checking on the dipstick. I brought it back to them and they readjusted the level and seemed OK. They claimed their service manual wasn't updated with the right amount for the 2023 Prius Prime and hence the mistake.

    More recently, I've had to the 10K mile change. I went to the same dealer, told them they overfilled last time due to what they claimed was their manual off and to be sure they check it this time. I was in a rush as I was cutting it close for an appointment. They said it was good, they checked it and I left. A couple days later I checked at home and again, it was overfilled by about a quarter inch over the full line on the dipstick. I told them about it but couldn't go myself so sent someone else with the car. They made them wait 30 min, told them they fixed it and sent them on their way.

    I checked again and, well, if they did change it, it seems they even added some as now it sits at a bit under a half inch over the full on the dipstick. Now I am new to dealers. I've never had a new car and usually do my own. For warranty purposes, I figured it'd be easier to have them do it.

    Now I am not sure what to do. Am I reading my dipstick wrong? I thought I knew how to read one but I am having second thoughts right now. Since this is supposed to be 0w16 oil, I am not sure how worried I should be about damaging the engine considering it seems overfilled.

    Did anyone else have this problem when they changed their oil on their Gen 5?


    I'm adding a picture I took of the dipstick to check whether I've gone crazy. It's a bit blurry but you can see where the oil stops on as a line.
     
    #1 purplePriii, Nov 23, 2023
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Try this: remove and wipe dipstick, then wait about five minutes before reinserting for the check. At least on prev gens the dipstick can draw oil up the tube when withdrawn, and a wait gives it time to drain back down.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Nov 23, 2023
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  3. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    Wanna make urself crazy check ur tires pressures LMAO
     
    #3 douglasjre, Nov 24, 2023
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  4. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Slight overfill, like half an inch, should not hurt. Overfilling only hurts if the oil level in the pan reaches the bearings, which causes aeration (foaming), that could result in engine wear or damage. It has nothing to do with oil viscosity such as SAE 0W-16.
     
    #4 Gokhan, Nov 24, 2023
  5. purplePriii

    purplePriii Active Member

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    Surprisingly they always do the tire pressure, somehow. I usually have it at 37 psi and they keep lowering it at 35 psi. I'm just confused about the oil as it's not that hard to check and if it really was an issue in their service manual, I shouldn't be alone in this issue.
     
    #5 purplePriii, Nov 24, 2023
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  6. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Dealer competency greatly varies. I am very satisfied with service at West Coast Toyota of Long Beach. A couple of other dealers I went in the area were pretty bad—forgetting to put back on the tire-valve-stem caps, coolant-reservoir caps, etc.

    Oil type and amount should come on automatically at the technician's computer. I don't know how they measure bulk oil dispensed from a 55-gallon drum though.
     
    #6 Gokhan, Nov 24, 2023
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    overfill of prius oil by dealerships has been a complaint here for 20+ years. take it back and have them make it right.
    unfortunately, you pay for these 'free services' in your time.
     
    #7 bisco, Nov 24, 2023
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our nearby dealership has bulk oil; they somehow enter the volume needed and it’s automatically dispensed.
    FWIW, from the Owner's Manual, page 602 It is 0.3 liter, or 0.4 quart, less than gen 3 and 4:

    upload_2023-11-24_7-13-38.png

    Maybe someone DIY'ing the oil change on a 5th gen can confirm, either when replacing oil after a drain, or measuring the drained quantity (after a dipstick check)..
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Nov 24, 2023
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Someone with a 5th gen might be motivated to take short term tech stream subscription, get the oil change instruction, and a few of the other routine maintenance procedures.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Nov 24, 2023
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Chevy dealer once overfilled the Sonic.
    It is likely the case of workers being rushed on jobs.
     
    #10 Trollbait, Nov 24, 2023
  11. purplePriii

    purplePriii Active Member

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    My issue isn't that it happened. Mistakes do happen. It's more that it's happened twice. The second time I brought it back, made the person wait 1h and returned it the same way.
     
    #11 purplePriii, Nov 25, 2023
  12. Blackat

    Blackat Active Member

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    It’s why I do my own oil changes. Time is money
     
    #12 Blackat, Nov 25, 2023
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  13. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I may have had similar experiences at other shops. I never bothered to have them fix it, so can't say the extent of the incompetency was. Been doing my own changes for years for because. Only went to the dealer in this case cause it was a free change.
     
    #13 Trollbait, Nov 26, 2023
  14. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    I've done hundreds of oil changes in the past. It takes longer than taking the car to dealer, with all the planning, staging, cleanup, recycling, etc. Besides, you still need tire rotation and multipoint inspection. I pay $50 at dealer for all, which easily beats the DIY. Moreover, TGMO is expensive if you buy it yourself, too. I would do a slightly better job than the dealer technician and know that it was done right, but it's not worth the hassle.
     
    #14 Gokhan, Nov 26, 2023
  15. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    TGMO is priced around that of Motorcraft full synthetic, or just get Mobil 1.
    @Mendel Leisk buys it bulk from the dealer. Though you have to trust the dealer is actually using TGMO.
     
    #15 Trollbait, Nov 26, 2023
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I used to; it was $3~4 CDN per liter. Then it started climbing, price became preposterous, higher than their bottled liters, which also went way up.

    I’m getting the two-packs of Kirkland 0W20 now.

    Miss the bulk oil though; it avoided all the oil-contam’d empties.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Nov 26, 2023
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  17. Blackat

    Blackat Active Member

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    Wrong again. Takes me 30 min to do an oil change and costs about $35. No appt necessary-no hassle
     
    #17 Blackat, Nov 26, 2023
  18. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    My dealer, A1 Toyota in CT, does free oil changes (at 10k mile intervals) for the "life" of any car purchased at that dealer. I used to do my own oil changes, but since I have the car at the dealer every 5k miles, I let them do it for me every other visit for free. I just have to use judgement when they try to upsell me for other procedures.

    My significant other's Subaru has a "lifetime" power train warranty that requires that they (or other certified tech) do the needed oil changes. So for now I am out of the oil change business. Once again, I need to use judgement when they try to upsell other services.

    JeffD
     
    #18 jdenenberg, Nov 26, 2023
  19. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    If the Kirkland isn't on sale, I get the Supertech 12qt box. Less plastic, and you can cut out the oil stains to recycle the cardboard.

    Then drop the used oil off at a shop when you'll be passing by.
     
    #19 Trollbait, Nov 26, 2023
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2023
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  20. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    How about the tire rotation, multipoint inspection, and oil recycling? How long does it take when you include those?

    If you used Toyota genuine oil and oil filter, you would be spending ~ $50 on parts alone plus your time and effort.

    GTMO SAE 0W-16 CS SN 6X1
     
    #20 Gokhan, Nov 26, 2023
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