Does anyone Prius use a little oil between the 10,000 mile oil change?

It is not notmsl, but that is normal behavior. Just keep an eye on the oil level and add as needed.

 

Doesn't sound concerning at all! As Patrick said, just keep an eye on it.

 

this is a gen 2 forum.

 

Our Gen 2 - 2006 Prius has been doing this for a while - the red triangle flashes on stops/turns then my wife (primary driver) realizes that it's overdue for an oil change and needs a quart of oil immediately - because it's low. If checked sooner it probably is not making it to the the oil change without needing a quart. I'm guessing there's a slow leak somewhere but I'm not seeing signs of that where it's parked (unlike the work-in-progress 1983 Benz 300d).

 

Did you check the dipstick right after the oil change? Was it at the top mark then?

Close to 10,000 miles and it's dropped slightly is totally normal, even better than normal. A typical car will be down somewhere between a cup and a pint in that interval.

All our Hondas were like that; I'm a little surprised and our current Prius still using next to nothing between changes, albeit a shorter interval than you're following. I'm changing oil every 6 months and typically around 5000 km's.

 

Rather than a "slow leak somewhere" that you cannot find, the most likely issue is that the engine has worn parts which allows engine oil to be consumed in the combustion chambers. Allowing the oil level to decline to the point where a warning light appears means that engine oil pressure has dropped below the minimum required level due to insufficient oil level. The lack of oil results in inadequate engine lubrication, hence accelerated wear on moving engine parts.

I hope you will let your wife know that each time she allows a warning light to appear before she bothers to check the engine oil level, permanent damage is caused to the engine which will further accelerate the rate of oil consumption. Rather than being one quart of oil low at that point, it is more likely that the engine is two or more quarts low. Considering the rated engine oil capacity is only 3.9 quarts, that deficit is very damaging to the engine's health.

 

keep this up and you won't have to worry about doing oil changes because the motor will blow up. last one I saw, #3 connecting rod had smashed both sides of the block and the oil pan. what little oil was left in it was like tar. check your oil every other fill up, at least.

 

It now has 220,000 miles. Idiot lights forever on - reset by garage & they return, e.g. low tire pressure, so she tends to ignore them.
What is the preferred oil for a high mileage engine?
Thanks!