Oil Change Intervals

Be sure to fill the oil a bit below the full mark, maybe 2/3 up from the "Add" line on the dipstick. Running at full or above drops the MPG on my 2004 model a bit.

Also, bump up your tires to 38/36 front/rear PSI, or up to 42/40 if you dare.

BTW, I get 46-49 MPG when driving at 70-75 MPH on the highway in my Prius. I use Mobil-One, and run the tires at 40/38 PSI. I live in rural VA, so I usually don't fill up with Ethanol blended gas. There are a lot of factors that affect mileage.

Oddly, I don't see much difference in MPG between 75 on the highway and 70 MPH. It seems like going with the flow of traffic (75-80) actually helps mileage sometimes. Dropping to 65MPH is insane on I-95 around DC, so I rarely attempt it.

 

"@ 70 MPH"

IMHO, you neglected to alter the most important factor if your aim was to achieve higher MPG's.

Try the same route with all else the same except @ 65 (use cruise control if possible). My experience has meant about +5 MPG over the same route when just slowing down that little bit.

Good luck.

 

Oil Change Intervals
Back on subject
Yesterday I took our 2008 in the miles were 5045
This morning I noticed the sticker on the windshield
says next service 8046, Is this something I should call
them and ask how come it is so early?

Thanks for any help From Oregon

 

Been meaning to check in. Just got my 1st oil change w/ 15,000 mile Mobil 1. Used before on my other car--rav4, and the dealer I take it to in the Chicagoland area still places a sticker inside stating 5K interval. Always thought that was to protect warranty coverage on the dealers part. BUT.....

When I got the change last weekend in my prius, I was out of town--Central illinois. This dealer placed a label inside my car stating my next service for oil was--you guessed it, 15,000 miles later.

I asked the service department, and the supervisour stated--it will NOT effect your warranty coverage. They stand behind the Mobil 1 15,000 mile oil. Intersting I thought.....And they put a Toyota Service sticker inside the car stating the next interval.

Also to add--I usually only go 10,000 miles or 6 months on the oil. at $60 per change, works out to the same $$$$, but better protection.

Thanks!

Chriscard25

 

Most on these forums disagree, but that sounds like good advice from the dealer. I changed my own oil three times, at 1100, 4600, and 8100 miles. I used a synthetic blend first two times, this last time I put in Mobil 1, 5w-30. The old oil at 3500 mi. intervals was dark red, had a used smell, and I definitely felt an oil change was due. In the drain recycle pan it looked black. On the dipstick it looked golden and no oil used. I am not going to spend time on UOA's etc. because I paid good money for the car, and am not skimping on oil changes. At each oil change, the engine was noticeably quieter and smoother, and that can't be bad for it. I am going to extend the Mobil 1 to 5K intervals.

I also make sure my oil is at the top mark on the stick, when the engine is running I want some reserve oil in the pan.

 

probably too much as the 3.9 qts is to fill a dry engine and yours still had a tad of oil in it. I always put in 3.5 qts. The dipstick reads about 3/4 up from the empty mark towards the full mark. Just check your oil level with the dipstick to see where you 4 qts put the level.

JeffD