< 2,000 Miles/Year 2004 - Dino Oil or Synthetic?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by baumgrenze, Jun 9, 2016.

  1. baumgrenze

    baumgrenze Junior Member

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    We took delivery of of 2012 Leaf in December 2011. In the 4.5 years since we've driven 7,825 miles or ~1,740 miles/year. The Prius serves as our 1) long trip vehicle (over 80 miles round trip) and 2) a few short trips when there is a scheduling conflict and it is needed as the 2nd car.

    We are due for an oil change. At 76 years, with a bum main shoulder, my years of shade-tree mechanic are at an end.

    Should we pop for the $20 extra for synthetic oil ($40 vs $60)? A local oil change artist with a good reputation for honesty and careful work argued that Toyota does not specify synthetic oil.

    Then there is the 'change it regardless of the miles (as few as 125?) every 6 months for sure. I do appreciate that short trips put condensed water in the oil

    FWIW, we've learned that a trickle charger is essential to keep the 12V battery in a happy state.

    Thanks for any input.

    baumgrenze
     
    #1 baumgrenze, Jun 9, 2016
  2. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    i converted all my cars to synthetic oils (DIY, hence cheap) and change every 12 months. that amounts to 6,000-10,000 miles depending on a car (some or them are short trips). if you do only 2,000-3,000 miles in 12 months and few of them are short trips, dino oil will suffice for sure. trust me.
     
    #2 Former Member 68813, Jun 9, 2016
  3. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Your owners manual will tell you the oil type, check in the back of the manual it should tell you. I know the Prius since the 2010 model year calls for 0-20 Synthetic, but the older ones, I just don't know.
     
    #3 Munpot42, Jun 9, 2016
  4. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    thanks for posting!
     
    #4 Former Member 68813, Jun 9, 2016
  5. baumgrenze

    baumgrenze Junior Member

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    Thank you everyone, for your thoughtful input. I used Redline synthetic oil in my '82 Isuzu P'up, which I sold when we got the Leaf. The P'up sure lasted fine.

    I believe we will go with Dino oil. I will try to follow up any very short trips with a decent freeway run to heat up and dry out the oil. Mostly the car is used for a trip to visit family in Sparks, NV about once a year, it makes several trips a year to our son's house in Oakland (120 mi round trip) and a shorter run up to the Daly City BART station for trips into the City. The very occasional shorter trip might be a 5 mile each way trip to a medical appointment.

    baumgrenze
     
    #5 baumgrenze, Jun 10, 2016
  6. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    short trips are oil killers (hence the standard 6 month oil change recommendation), if you avoid those, oil can last long time. i have a boat that is used rarely (under 10 hrs a year but no "short trips") and change oil (15W40) only once 2-3 years. it comes out almost as new.
     
    #6 Former Member 68813, Jun 10, 2016
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would use dino and change it once per year. that's what i did with my '04 which saw about 5k/yr and still doesn't burn any noticeable oil at 135k.
     
    #7 bisco, Jun 10, 2016
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I use Redline 10-30. At operating temp its more like a 40 weight. It hits my mpg's a little but its got an excellent zdp package in it and the engine really likes it. Its a much quieter top end of the motor with Redline oil in it.

    Jeggs...free shipping.
     
    #8 edthefox5, Jun 10, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2016
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