Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified!)

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Once their service people are swamped with gas pedal replacements, perhaps the dealers will acknowledge what they have now been told: 10M/1yr in normal service.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

I have a 2010 Prius about to hit 15k miles. I've done oil changes at 5k and 10k and based on this new recommendation it looks like I should be able to wait until 20k to get the next service. My local dealership said their recommended service for 15k is $200, which includes the oil change, tire rotation, change air filter, inspect and clean the brakes, and do a multi-point inspection.

Reading the recommendations, it says to have the filter cleaned, but it probably doesn't need to be changed until 30k miles.

What would the recommendation be now? Should I wait until 20k and just get the oil changed and tires rotated, clean the filter and multipoint inspection - and how much should that cost?

Thanks for any suggestions. Sorry if I'm in the wrong thread.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

I will soon be in the same situation, 13K miles now. I plan on removing the air filter blowing the dust off and doing the multipoint inspection myself. I will the document the maintenance as a 15K mile service on https://auth.toyotaownersonline.com/Owners/mytoyota/auth/ssl/OwnersLogin indicating that it was accomplished by the owner.

I only rotate my tires every 10K miles because I don't care anything about the tire warranty, when I replace them it will probably be with a different brand anyway.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Is this the same a "Club Toyota"? If so, in Canada, you can view records that were created at the dealer but there doesn't seem to be a place where the owner can input his own information. Maybe "toyotaownersonline" is something separate from "Club Toyota"?

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Good question, but I think one of your fellow Canadian owners will need to answer it. The ToyotaOwnersOnline site, under the "service records" tab, lets you view dealer maintenance and you can click on "add new service record" and put in maintenance you have done or that an independent shop has done. I would hope you have the same option?

 

Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Today I called our dealership to confirm that -- having reached 10K following a 5K service on my 2010 -- I did not need an oil change. The service manager contradicted me, saying a 5K oil change was still required and insisting he had received no contrary advice from Toyota.
Visited the dealership with printout of Toyota docs posted on PC.
"Ah!"
Service manager then advised that no service needed after all, not even tire rotation, not until 15K.
Also, using the hack posted in this forum, I was able to reset the annoying "Oil Maintenance Required" message.
So thanks, Prius Chat!

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

What/where was the "hack" in order to reset the 'Oil Maintenance Required'?

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

At the risk of setting yet another oil change debate, I don't understand people's reluctance to take care of their vehicles. An oil change is probably one of the least expensive things one can do to take care of one's vehicle.

Now while I'm not espousing wanton and egregious oil change intervals, there are, on inspection, very few of us who do not meet a "severe service" schedule. Therefore, I think it irresponsible to do the bare minimum when it comes to maintaining what, for most, is the second-largest financial commitment they'll ever make.

Here's another thing to consider: the oil itself is only 1/2 of the equation. The filter is the other half. When I had my Phaeton, the oil change interval for the V8 was every 10,000 miles or once a year. However, it took nine quarts of synthetic oil and the oil filter was the size of a coffee can. The Prius, however, takes --what-- 4.5 quarts of oil and the oil filter isn't much larger that one of those Jell-O pudding cups. Sure, the synthetic might last 10,000 miles. But, how much of that time will be spent with dirty oil bypassing a clogged filter?

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Personally, I'll spend the extra $56 every 10,000 miles to make sure my $31k vehicle stays running properly for the longest amount of time possible.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Evan,

As I mentioned earlier, my concern is not with the oil, but the oil filter's ability to function properly for that length of time.

My vehicle ownership experience includes six Volkswagens over a 12 year period of time and I'm a moderator of the Phaeton Forum (as well as others) on a prominent Volkswagen message board, so I'm no stranger to extended OCI. I, too, have performed oil analyses on previous vehicles' oil after 10,000 miles and have never been in what I would consider to be "peril". However, the filters on said vehicles have been much larger. Case in point: on the B5.5 1.8 litre turbos, there was an issue with sludging. VW's fix was to (a) make sure the proper specification oil was being used (the only way the 5.05.01 spec was met in the NAR was through synthetic -- the spec was mentioned in the manual, but the word "synthetic" never was...incumbent on the end user to do their due diligence) and (b) use a larger filter to increase total oil capacity.

Additionally, the oils used in Europe for extended OCI operation 10k+ miles have yet to be brought to the North American Region. These oils run upwards of $15-20 per quart and meet a much more stringent specification than our synthetics here. Heck, half of the synthetics here are Type III, which have an organic base, but are able to be labeled as "full synthetic" anyway.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

I wish I could find the statistical graph someone did concerning synthetic oil. If memory serves me correctly, he had a v8 engine (Camaro, I think). The only thing he did was top off the oil. He never actually pulled the drain plug. He did this in 1k intervals. He had a lab analyze the oil for particulates. It was pretty level until the 14k mile mark. That is when insolubles reached a level that was not comfortable. So I would say that going 10k is fine.... AS LONG AS YOU REGULARLY CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL. In 14k miles, he added 4 quarts of oil.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

I can't remember the thread where I found this,except that it was posted by "Bill."
However I can copy from a note I now keep in my car:
"To reset the oil change indicator:

1) - Power on and hit the trip indicator for "Trip A"

2) - With "Trip A" on the display, push "Park", then power off.

3) - Push and hold down the "km/h/MPH" button (with power off).

4) - Push "Power" power on again and hold down as the car starts, powers off, and then restarts, while continuing to hold down the "km/h/MPH" button until the display changes back to normal."
The procedure is very quick -- but this, as I said is thanks to "Bill."

As to whether it is prudent to follow the new recommendation, I have considerable trust in the conservatism of Toyota (for the moment that perhaps puts me in a minority of US motorists). Toyota defines "extreme conditions" quite clearly.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

I think you forgot Step # - 5) Get out of the car, close the door and walk around it 3 times counter clockwise (clockwise if below the equator). Open the driver's door, get in, and push "Start".

Seriously, thanks for the procedure. Since most cars these days are software/computer controlled, I wish auto manufacturers would introduce a universal standard with a simple keypad and display where any normal human being could set features, functionality, and view error codes (OBD) without going through a mysterious sequence of pushing a seemingly random series of un-related buttons.

Keith

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Has there been any official notifications on this? My dealer here in California didn't know anything about this when I had asked.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Check the attachment to post #1 and post #35 by the Prius Team at Toyota, this thread. There was also a post by one of the people at a Toyota dealership (can't find it now) that said dealers had been notified but might not have known it because it was buried in with a lot of other stuff.

We (owners) should be getting a letter sometime this month informing us of the 10K interval.

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Since my Prius 5 is approaching its 10K miles I sent an email to Toyota and asked.

Following is the email I received back. This clears it up as far as i am concerned.

Stan

PS I got the email back the same day I sent the question which is not bad considering all the issues they are facing right now. Thanks Toyota!

-----------------

Dear Mr. Ames,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry.

Toyota recently announced that it will transition its new vehicles away from using conventional motor oil and instead use a 0W-20 weight synthetic oil.

Currently, the following Toyota vehicles use synthetic oil:
2010 Prius
2010 Camry 2.5L engine with Automatic transmission (4 cyl)
2010 Camry 2.5L engine with Manual Transmission and California emissions
2010 FJ Cruiser with 4.0L engine
2010 Sequoia with 4.6L engine
2010 4Runner with 4.0L engine
2010 Tundra with 4.6L engine

The superior qualities of synthetic oil have allowed the oil change intervals to be extended from 5,000 miles or 6 months to 10,000 miles or 1 year whichever occurs first.

If your vehicle is driven under "Special Operating Conditions," the oil change intervals will remain at 5,000 miles or 6 months:

Special Operating Conditions include:
• Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads
• Towing a trailer, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading
• Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F / 0°C
• Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for extended periods such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use

If you have any questions regarding your driving conditions, please contact the service department at your local dealership. You may obtain contact information for dealerships in your area by visiting www.toyota.com/dealers.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us www.toyota.com/help/contactus.html.

Sincerely,

Luis C. Macias
Toyota Customer Experience

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

This and the handling of the brake issue are another reason why my love of my Prius is quickly being eroded by Toyotas spotty customer service.

I asked the dealer about the change in the oil policy when I had my oil done today and they insisted there was no such policy change. When I told them it was all over this site, the service advisor just rolled his eyes.

I'd asked because I want my car to stop bugging me with messages every 5000 miles if I only need to change it every 10,000. He said he'd look into then conveniently forgot to when I asked after my service was done.

Toyota should have sent this notice out to all Prius owners so we all have the information instead of having to battle dealers who want you to come in every 5000 miles to pay for oil changes. How on earth am I supposed begin trusting Toyota when they don't talk directly to the customer about these things? Brakes? Oil changes? What's next?

 

Re: Oil Change Interval - thanks to Prius Chat

Trusting a dealer to provide acurate information is stretching it a bit. Toyota has a great WWW site for its owners.

https://auth.toyotaownersonline.com/Owners/mytoyota/auth/ssl/OwnersLogin.do

The site lets you register you car and it shows you all the service that has been done and also lists recals and service advisories.

With everything going on at present I can understand why Toyota has delayed the formal anouncement of th Oil Change. You can always call the Customer experience line or email them your question. As for resetting the reminder that is listen in the other thread and it takes about 30 seconds. No big deal.

Stan Ames
Very Pleased Prius V Owner