My question is: should the engine oil & filter in my 2013 Prius be changed before the recommended 1 year or 10,000 miles if used for almost 40 hours per week as a stationary climate controlled shelter? I work as a security officer in 2 open air parking lots. Since there is no shelter from the weather elements, I spend many hours per week sitting still in my Prius with it in the "ready" mode & the climate control set to "auto" & temperature around 72. As you know this results in my engine starting & stopping for hours on end without putting any miles on the odometer. My concern is that in 1 year or 10,000 miles the engine will have been running for multiple times the usual number of hours normal usage would have placed on the engine. The service advisor at the dealership I bought from said at the first service visit (6 months) that I still do not need to change oil until 1 year or 10,000 miles, but I am unsure that will be OK. Please give me your thoughts fellow PriusChaters.
I'm the furthest from being an authority than probably anyone else reading here but - it seems to me that in 'usual' driving x thousand miles per year is equal to so many revolutions of a crankshaft and so many up and downs of pistons and etc etc. If the car is not moving horizontally but all those moving parts are still doing their moving - why wouldn't the oil be getting dirty and used? An oil change doesn't cost much in relation to repairing an engine damaged from spent oil. Why not just make the decision on your own?
Thanks, I am indeed right now in the process of making that decision before I reach my 1st 5,000 miles (had 4,662 miles at 6 months)
Have you thought of the times when the car is moving but the engine is stopped? I'm not saying that it evens out but you have to make that decision. As few miles as you are putting on the car, I would agree with those who suggest a 5K mile oil change regimen.
I think you should just get an oil change every 5000 miles. You already know your engine runs without you putting miles on your car, why go by a certain number, go with what you think is right. Out of pocket cost is like a tank of gas, a simple no brainer.
Are you keeping a fuel log? If so, have you considered getting that first oil change at roughly the same amount of fuel burn as a car in regular driving service? That would be in the vicinity of 180 - 225 gallons consumed.
I think fuzzy1 has the best logic for what I need to do. I disagree with what the service writer at my first 6 month (4662 miles) said. I believe a full year of the way I use my car would be placing more wear on the engine & oil than the usual one year or 10,000 miles. Most Prius owners are not driving less than an average 25 miles per day while having their car turned on & engine cycling on & off up to 60 hours per week. Stretching the oil for a full year under those circumstances could be taking an unnecessary risk. I am getting my oil & filter changed this weekend dispute what that service writer said.