Oil change

There is no need to change the oil early on a modern engine and you're just wasting oil and money by doing so.

 

Check out BITOG, there is all kinds of info. on the "best" oil. Pennzoil Platinum seems to be a favorite over there. You are doing the right thing by changing oil early, and you're correct wanting to get the initial small wear particles out asap. Unless you use a sub micron bypass filter, the only way to get rid of the small stuff is to drain the oil. At 1K miles I could see them in my oil, and have for forty years, not much has changed in terms of cylinder wall precision, required cylinder roughness for oil control, and wear in particles from that roughness, in that time.

 

That makes all sorts of sense as I read it, but I had read (sorry, it is the proverbial "somewhere"!) that with the latest engines using synthetics, it is best NOT to change the oil early. I can't quite get my mind around that warning. Perhaps someone has heard about this and can address it.

 

The one thing the 2010 Prius has in common with the Tundra 5.7, and the new Corolla: a royal PITA cartridge oil filter system that will make what used to be "routine" oil changes, a messy and time consumming adventure

Not at all DIY friendly, and a lot easier to break parts, especially the plastic cartridge cap. This is probably to ensure continued revenue for the service bays

There are endless debates about pros/cons of early initial oil changes. I waited the full 8,000 km for the first oil change in my '04 Prius, had no issues. My '07 FJ, the oil failed lab analysis at under 3,500 km, and the rear axle gear oil was already jet black

Toyota universally lowered their oil change interval to 6 months or 5,000 miles, after the oil sludge class action lawsuit settlement. This is among the shortest normal oil change interval of any mass market vehicle

However, if something like a Sequoia or Tundra sits on the dealership lot for 12 months, does that mean the dealership gave it 2 oil changes (Every 6 months) to comply with warranty requirements?

Of course not. They'll claim that over the course of 12 months and 68 miles, starting up the motor and driving 100 ft down the lot wasn't hard on the oil, was probably GOOD for the oil

But you still have to provide proof of oil changes every 6 months or 5,000 miles

 

I've done a 3000 mile oil change on my parent's 2nd gen, and I ran plain jane Quaker State for 2K until the idiot light came on. Changed the filter with a Wix 51394 and 3.5 quarts of PP 5W-30.

Pennzoil Platinum is a great oil too - cheaper than M1 as well.

 

2010 Prius III with Navi:

We are approaching 3,000 miles on our new Prius we bought on 051709.

My wife and I really enjoy this car. Our 1,400 mile plus trip to Reno was very comfortable and averaged 52.7 MPG.

Now, my main concern is changing the oil. I am not sure on the type of bolts or screws that secure the cover underneath the engine so I can get to the oil drain plug and the oil filter which I understand is not the dirt simple to install screw on type but the replaceable cartridge which is dirty as well as time consuming.

Also I plan on using only 4 quarts of 0X20 Mobil 1 synthetic oil so as not to overfill.

If anyone changes their oil on the 2010 before me please post your expierence.

Thanks
Alfon

 

Similar to the new Corolla. This is a good writeup from Toyota Nation

1st rolla oil change + pictures - Toyota Forums :: Toyota Nation

Nothing like having an oil change become an adventure

 

Here is the filter that you need:

GENUINE TOYOTA, SCION (10) CARTRIDGE OIL FILTERS A6:eBay Motors (item 280276594920 end time Jun-10-09 08:21:52 PDT)

$4.60/each, shipped.

 

I always do an oil/filter change after the first 2,000 - 3,000 miles to get rid of the break in junk.

Some cars (BMW M5, for example) come with special "break-in" oil--perhaps what you're thinking of regarding not changing oil early.

 

I'm lucky. Where I purchased my 2010 the dealer gives free oil and filter changes for life of car, or at least as long as I own it. I used to do half the oil changes myself. But, if it's as time consuming and painful as described I'll just drop it off on my way to work in the morning and have it back at lunch.

 

For giggles, I checked at a local dealership. My recently sold 2004 Prius, filter is $6. Elements for +2009 Corolla, and 2010 Prius, are $10.50

Good combination. Dealership makes more money on the parts, and will probably have more vehicles serviced as folks realize what a messy PITA the cartridge system is

 

Well, let's see what happens as owners gain experience changing the oil cartridge. If you change the oil first thing in the morning after the car has rested overnight (and do not start the engine first,) you may find that no oil will drip out of the cartridge when the cover is removed.

My HiHy has a sideways mounted canister oil filter and there's no oil to speak off within the filter when I remove it, after the car has rested quietly overnight.

 

Many cars have this now, not just kind of rare cars like M5s.
There should not be metal shavings and other "break in junk" in a very modern engine. If there is, you have some serious problems that changing the oil won't fix.

 

Comments in bold below

 

Toyota doesn't recommend an early oil change as part if the scheduled maintenance and they are extremely conservative about oil changes considering the new Prius requires 5K oil changes despite synthetic oil.

People's personal family traditions on oil changes passed down for generations and posted to independent websites, aren't the manufacturer's recommendation.

 

I've examined the oil and filter after several initial 2,000 mile services on my cars, and I can tell you there's plenty of break-in junk in there.

I (and many others) consider it inexpensive insurance.

 

As long as the car doesn't have special break-in oil that's supposed to stay in for some required minimum mileage, I suppose all this is doing is wasting your own time and money and it won't actually hurt anything.

 

Lighten up.

I do know what I'm talking about here. Have you ever examined oil or filter, or had an oil analysis done, on a 2,000 mile old car? I have.