Doing your own Prius maintenance

The scheduled maintenance for the US is simple until about 120,000 miles. If you are mobile and thin enough to get under your Prius, it is straight forward. Lots of youtube videos giving examples.

I would have some dealer maintenance done sometime, they often have software updates they slip in, as well as Recalls and TSBs You can document your maintenance on Toyota's site. Toyota Owners Official Web Site: Service Coupons, Owner's Manuals, Service Scheduling And More

Follow your Toyota schedule*, and (I personally recommend) add a transaxle fluid change at 30,000 miles, at 90,000 miles and every 90,000 miles after that.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms/T-MMS-14Prius/pdf/2014_Toyota_Prius_WMG_lr.pdf (start at page 39 of the PDF)

Do not forget to put your location in your profile so we can better guess what advice to give you.

*Sadly, you are already ignoring US Toyota's recommended schedule unless you are a taxi/delivery person.

 

DIY maintenance for a Prius, for the first 120,000 miles is startlingly easy.
It's mostly filters and fluids.
Some people in these hallowed halls recommend a transaxle fluid replacement in addition to what's on the maintenance schedule at 60K, which can be done for <$50 if you buy Toyota's fluid at Amazon and DIY.


Speaking of Amazon, you can generally get the OEM filters (oil, air, cabin) for less than Toyota sells them for, and if you drive like you're over 19 years old and/or don't deliver the mail you can expect not to have to touch the brakes for at least 100,000 miles.

You don't have to have $23,400 worth of Snap-On tools and the routine maintenance is pretty basic, and most of it is well documented in places like PC (here) or YouTube. $100 worth of tools that you should already own would suffice, along with a set of ramps and a moderately decent jack.
One of the reasons that I'm a dedicated Prius driver (work car) but an equally dedicated Toyota non-owner is that their dealerships have an astonishingly high rate of questionable maintenance practices including over-prescribing maintenance and/or repairs that are not required (Throttle-body cleaning, A/C flush, transmission flush, computer replacement, etc....) and charging outlandish prices for services that are properly done and warranted.
I read everyday where people bring well running Priuses in for scheduled maintenance and leave with 3 and 4 figure repair bills!
One of the more disgusting practices that they still employ in the year 2014 is that they will infer that if you do not let them maintain "their" vehicle at "their" dealership then your warranty will be voided.

To be sure...there are honest dealerships!
Automotive repair is tough work and requires a lot of specialized training.
$60 for an oil change is a very fair rate---if they used the right oil.....actually changed the oil filter, and didn't over-fill the crankcase or forget to tighten the drain plug...replaced the crush washer and didn't over-torque the drain plug, or oil filter housing.....or break off the oil filter door....

Your call.
If you decide not to DIY your maintenance, you should still familiarize yourself with the items on the maintenance schedule including how to do them and what materials are involved.
Anything that's not on the maintenance schedule isn't maintenance....it's repair.
Those require a detailed explanation and a second opinion.

Finally.....check their work, and for goodness sake check your oil every now and again!!!!
I'm amazed at how many people with 75,000 mile Priuses that use a 10,000 mile oil change periodicity discover that their car is "suddenly" starting to use oil.
They don't have to, you know.....and most people who seem to check their oil volume semi-occasionally are managing to avoid having Priuses that "suddenly burn oil."


Good Luck!

 

When buying through Amazon you are most likely buying from a Toyota dealer's Parts Dept. I've bought from several dealerships without problems.

 

does the 2014 Prius not come with 2 years free oil changes (ToyotaCare) ?
edit : I see it is at 10,000 miles and not 5,000 miles

 

I was at an independent mechanic shop a few weeks ago to rent a u-haul and overheard a service 'advisor' talking to another customer. Trust me, bullshit services at exorbitant prices is alive and well inside as well as outside of Toyota dealerships.

All I can say is: THANK YOU Toyota for making a car that even a dummy like me can maintain (with generous help from PriusChat and YouTube.)