Toyota recommends changing engine oil on a Prius every 5k miles if you...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Roger T, Jul 7, 2017.

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  1. Roger T

    Roger T Member

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    upload_2017-7-7_21-52-56.png

    Mmmm I live in Massachusetts. Very often I drive to the gym everyday in the winter at chilling temperature (<32 F) . The gym is like less than 1 mile away.

    I also sit in the car a lot after the gym. The engine turns on and off for the cabin heat or re-charge the battery.

    I also sit in my car in winter, letting my car idle, just for fun lol.

    Now i understand why my Prius is running a bit rougher than my cousin's Prius. She exclusively drives long trip (100 miles) to school.
     
    #1 Roger T, Jul 7, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2017
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Another way to complete the title:

    If you live in Canada.

    Well with 3rd gen: with 4th Gen they've apparently aligned with 'States?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jul 7, 2017
  3. Roger T

    Roger T Member

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    So in Canada they recommend mandatory oil change every 5k? Regardless of excessive idling etc?
     
    #3 Roger T, Jul 7, 2017
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    For the 3rd generation, yes our interval is 8,000km (5,000 miles). There is an additional "severe" interval that drops it to 5,000km (~3,000 miles) for dusty roads or constant short trips.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jul 7, 2017
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  5. CNYhybrid

    CNYhybrid Member

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    Do they recommend 5000 mile interval if you are not short trip but often city driving where battery drops to 2 bars and gets recharged by ICE?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 CNYhybrid, Jul 8, 2017
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Worth mentioning: all of these intervals are miles or months, whichever comes first.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jul 8, 2017
  7. PriusNeckBeard

    PriusNeckBeard Active Member

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    5,000 miles or how many months?
     
    #7 PriusNeckBeard, Jul 8, 2017
  8. PriusNeckBeard

    PriusNeckBeard Active Member

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    What about most trips less than 3 miles?

    That seems similar but not exactly the same as the third example.
     
    #8 PriusNeckBeard, Jul 8, 2017
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sorry: 5k miles (8K kms) or 6 months.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jul 8, 2017
  10. Roger T

    Roger T Member

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    I understand that low speed driving affects the engine oil because the engine has to run for longer time to to have same mileage compared to cars that mostly on the high way. Same for excessive idling.

    Does incomplete engine warm up affect the engine oil? How? And high load (like towing) affects the engine oil too?
     
    #10 Roger T, Jul 9, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2017
  11. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    This engine always runs at Lambda so I can't imagine it would matter. I pin the throttle wide open every day I drive this thing and I usually leave it wide open for 5 minutes spurts. Have 15,000 miles Blackstone lab says the oil is fine. I use 0w 40 Mobil 1 and I live in Florida where it's hotter than hell. there are times when I leave the throttle pinned wide open for 15 minutes. I don't think I could run this engine much harder and the used oil analysis is fine. Must engines have a full throttle enrichment switch when the throttle hits the floor but this one does not. I also don't think it's going to run much richer when it's cold so I don't see how it matters much that you're doing short trips when you send the oil the Blackstone and see what they say
     
    #11 douglasjre, Jul 12, 2017
  12. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    I do every 10k miles in Minnesota.
     
    #12 stephensprius, Jul 12, 2017
  13. Yippeekyaa

    Yippeekyaa Active Member

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    Towing!!! In a Prius!!! Why who would do such a horrible thing? (Note heavy sarcasm).
     
    #13 Yippeekyaa, Jul 13, 2017
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  14. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    nice pic!
     
    #14 stephensprius, Jul 13, 2017
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  15. AliPK

    AliPK Member

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    To me short trips are just a myth.I only drive 9km each way and never get less then 28/30 km/ltr in Jdm prius 2013.
     
    #15 AliPK, Aug 1, 2017
  16. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Why do you run your engine at full throttle? How can you run it this way for 15 minutes?
     
    #16 orenji, Dec 22, 2017
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Pity the poor fool in front of him. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Dec 22, 2017
  18. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Unattended acceleration maybe
     
    #18 orenji, Dec 22, 2017
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  19. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    Incomplete warm-up (not allowing oil to come to full operating temperature) leaves unburned fuel, other by-products of combustion and water (from the natural humidity in the air) in the oil which degrades the lube properties of the oil, harming internal components. Fuel and by-products get past the pistons and enter the oil since piston rings do not create a perfect barrier. These will "burn-off" or evaporate when the oil is at full temp.

    High load/towing causes the oil to reach and remain at the upper limits of operating temperature, again degrading the additives and lube properties.

    The point is to fill with fresh oil before all the "good stuff" is gone...
     
    #19 FuelMiser, Dec 22, 2017
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  20. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Most of the water is from oxidation of hydrogen in hydrocarbon fuel, not from humidity. Otherwise, good post.
     
    #20 CR94, Dec 23, 2017
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