First oil change at 10k or 5k?

Do it at 10,000. No problem with that.

 

Just brought in my Prius for it's first 5k service and they changed the oil. If they hadn't I would have done it myself. Just for peace of mind regardless of if it really needed it or not.

I used to really be a stickler for the 3k mile change but with today's advances in synth oil I am more confident to let it go to 5k. Just not to 10k yet. But I still check my oil regularly to at least check the condition and oil color.


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I would! Ive seen new oil go into engines looking darker than whats on your dipstick, lol.

 

Shouldn't the Prius oil change interval be longer since it's a hybrid and the ICE isn't always running? I don't understand why anyone would even consider 5k with synthetic oil.

 

10,000 miles is the recommended oil change for a Prius Hybrid using synthetic oil and that is when I change mine.

 

And that's the path I plan to take with my Prius. I'm just wondering out loud why 5k is even considered. Are there synthetic oil out there that don't last as long?

 

No. I think some people just can't get used to longer oil change intervals. Some people still have the 3,000 mile oil change mindset.

 

Well, Toyota Canada's telling me to change it every 6 months or 8000 km's (roughly 5000 miles). There's that...

 

Maybe because of the weather? I guess it can vary with location and harsher climates being more demanding on the cars require more frequent oil changes.

 

I go by my maintenance manual. That's what it is for.

 

Yes and no. I'm on the west coast, a stones throw from the US border. People in the north central US have much harsher winter. But yeah, maybe they just had to draw a line somewhere.

 

I do the same thing. This is an excerpt from the Canadian Owners Manual Supplement:

 

I would change the oil and oil filter as per the Canadian Owners Manual Supplement.

 

That 3k mile interval is strictly a marketing ploy to get you to spend more money. That's what I learned when I worked at Jiffy Lube.

But I know how I drive. So I like to change mine at 5k miles just for my own peace of mind. That may change later to 10k intervals as I own the car longer. But for now, I'll go with 5k. Plus, it's offered as part of the free maintenance service at my dealer. So who am I to complain!


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If that gives you peace of mind do it. Nothing wrong with that. Some people do not even care about changing their oil or maintaining anything.

 

http://mediapv4.toyota.ca.s3.amazonaws.com/media/pdf/14manual_e.pdf

 

pmike, regarding the 2014 schedule, take a look at post #66 and onward, here:

10,000 mile oil change I don't think so | Page 4 | PriusChat

The Canadian Schedule is infuriatingly obtuse, as always. I think what it's saying, now:

After 3 oil/filter changes at 6 mo or 8000 kms, then go to 12 mo or 16000 km interval, and also do a "maintenance service" at a 12 mo or 16000 km interval, offset by 6 mo or 8000 km. Bottom line: it's still every 6 months.

It's very convoluted, read through post #67 in particular.

 

Got it, your observation appears correct.

Our 2012 Civic is also calling for 10k changes based on its variable maintenance minder. I think 10k is quite fine for modern automobiles, modern synthetic oils and modern oil filters. There are plenty of used oil analysis that prove this is correct. If people want to do something different, more power to them. I feel it is just wasteful of time, money and material resources to do anything less than 10k.

 

We had an '06 Civic Hybrid, with the Maintenance Minder system. For non-Honda owners, that's an built-in maintenance scheduling software, that apparently is not just counting distance travelled. Not sure what all the factors were, but I'd speculated repeated short trips were a factor.

Anyway, ours typically came on between 8000 and 9000 kilometers. Well, that's when it got below 15% remaining, and started nagging. And I never needed much nagging, lol.

Our son's got the car now and it's seeing higher use in his hands. Just checked my log, the interval between the two most recent oil changes, and he tends to run it down to 0% remaining, was 11000 km's.

So maybe bottom line is: it depends. Doing a lot of short trips, do the shorter interval. That's in the Toyota documentation as well.

 

Another strategy I used to use when I changed my own oil before modern synthetics. Spin on a new filter and top off the oil between factory change intervals. Oil doesn't wear out (ever hear of Havoline? It's recycled oil or used to be). As far as transmission oil goes. Good luck with that. Most manufacturers did away with the dip sticks so you can't tell how much to put in. I have a great mechanic I use now and even he doesn't do it. He said if I feel the need to go to an oil change place with a pumping machine. I called Toyota when my Corolla hit 80k and they won't even do it. Between cleaner fuels with additives out the wazoo and much better manufacturing techniques for drivetrains 10k is fine for an oil change. I can remember reading in an auto mag back in my mechanic days around 1980, that after 15k between changes should no significant engine wear on their test vehicle and that was with fossil oil. Back then everyone did it at 3k and most manufacturers recommended 7,500. It's all a matter of reducing your overall cost of ownership. I usually keep conventional vehicles till the wheels fall off but will probably be trading my Prius when all the warrantees are exhausted.