MY dealer says the official Toyota party line is change oil every 10K miles or once each year which ever comes first. What say all you all knowing, all wise Prius gurus? I don't mind changing at 5K when the display starts announcing its time, and to my non-automotive mind, more changes the better to get the gunk out of the engine. Prius came with 0-5W synthetic oil if that makes any difference for discussion.
Your responses are going to be quite polar, as is any oil discussion on a car forum. Will your engine blow up if you only change it every 10K...no. However, many Prius owners have complained of oil burn/usage around 100K...even some GEN II's that had scheduled changes at 5K. Bottom line is if you check your oil regularly and take care of your car...it will take care of you. I personally change mine at 5K. Let the games begin.
5k reminder is there to be a maintenance reminder, not necessarily an oil change reminder. There are other recommended services that are on a 5k miles like rotating the tires.
i changed mine at 5k, then, every 10k. just to get the initial crud out. don't forget, you engine isn't running all the time, and 10k is the current standard for synthetic motor oil.
I use name brand dino oil & change every 5k. As has already been stated, just change your oil, that's what counts (and don't use some no-name sale-of-the-week brand).
OP has a Gen 3 model, where the specified engine oil is 0W-20 full synthetic. That being the case, a 10K mile (or annual, whichever comes first) change interval is reasonable.
Go this this forum and post your question Bob Is The Oil Guy | The Internet's Number One Motor Oil Site You will get even more polarized responses.
I follow the Toyota Canada 8000 km (roughly 5000 mile) or 6 month interval. Especially with it being the 6 months typically governing, the drained oil looks pretty good still. But it's cheap, and gives me something to do.
That display is announcing that it is time for SOME routine maintenance, not necessarily an oil change. Tires are supposed to be rotated at 5K intervals. Personally, I intend to compromise and do both rotation and oil sometime around 7.5K.........and deprive the dealer of an extra opportunity to find something else expensive than "needs" to be done.
10k mile oci's is all I have done with my Prii and I do use the appropriate weigh synthetic in each of them.
