Prius Prime oil change frequency?

Did you mean “changing”?

 

Even if you drive all HV, it would be a waste. The manual calls for 10k miles or one year. You want to do that to ensure the warranty, so do what the manual calls for even if it doesn't really need it. But even driving always in HV mode, the ICE will probably be off 20-50% of the time depending on speeds.

 

Yes, I meant changing.
I just purchased a new 2021 Prime Limited I want to keep it for years so I want to maintain it.

 

Nothing wrong with changing oil every 5k miles or 6 months. I’ve been doing it for ten years, with a hybrid. Maybe overkill with a plug-in, especially if you’re mostly EV mode. But if you’re DIY it doesn’t cost much.

 

I'm pretty much in the same camp. I've always changed my oil more often than required. Never had an oil burner. I can't say for sure that that's why, but it's a pretty consistent coincidence over the past 45 years of car/truck/motorcycle ownership.

 

Well if you can DIY oil/filter change it’s cheap. I noticed the oil weight for my 2021 is 0w-16. I usually go with Mobil1 what do you guys use? I’ve heard Mobil 1 makes the oil for Toyota.

 

Hey I'm wondering if I need to change the oil on my Prime soon. The last time was a year ago and I have only driven 1500 miles since then, at least 2/3 on EV. With COVID, I am avoiding going out when unnecessary, and would prefer to avoid taking the car in if I can get away with waiting.

 

Officially, one a year or 10k miles (you're supposed to vist every 6 months). If warranty is not an issue, the choice is yours. I have the same issue with my Wife's Subaru (17k miles in 5 years), but her car has a "lifetime" power train warranty so I'm stuck with visits every 6 months.

JeffD

 

I'd like to wait until it at least gets warm enough to have the option of waiting outside.

 

Bite the bullet and get it done. Yearly is max, no exceptions lol.

 

DIY....

 

If you are not worried about warranty issues, you can wait.
Due to less use, I went 15 months on my VW oil change, which is normally 10k miles or 1 year. I'm not worried one bit. Synthetic oil will last just fine.
If you are high risk COVID, wait for a vaccine, then get it changed. Your health is much more important than changing the oil in your Prime (which is highly likely just fine at 1500 miles)
If you don't mind going for a drive, simply take a long highway drive without EV use, to get the oil temp high and that burns off impurities (like boiling off water). But even that I would deem unnecessary unless you'd like to get out for a drive.

 

No, I am not worried about warranty issues. Yeah, I have no need to go anywhere for a while. If I need groceries, I can plan to go when it is not too cold and don't need the engine. At some point, I may wish to go for a long drive to start using up the old gas.

How long is a long highway drive for high oil temp? Or, alternatively, how high is a high oil temperature?

 

Well, I'm not sure what a Prius Prime runs for oil temps, at highway speeds, in hybrid mode. My VW would be 208-216 F for flat highway driving, depending on outside air temps. 20 min at that temp (which takes at least 10 min to reach, with CA weather) would be good. VW comes with oil temp readout - I like that feature.

For a Prius Prime? I'd just assume a nice 30+ min highway drive and don't be afraid to use the gas (put it in power mode too) a bit. It's beneficial to 'exercise' an IC engine. Longer in colder temps or slower speeds to achieve the same result - get the oil nice and hot for a bit.

 

What's the point of changing oil on a time vs mileage basis? As far as I know, oil doesn't go bad just sitting in the crankcase, especially synthetic oil.

 

Maybe to protect your warranty coverage?

 

I don't think it matters. The maintenance reminder goes on by mileage, not time.


iPhone ? Pro

 

How would they know if you changed the oil or not?

 

Theoretically, you may have to show some written record / receipts.


iPhone ? Pro

 

They don't. But in the event of warranty repair, they can ask the owner for the service record. If the service was done DIY, you may need to show the receipt of oil and filter and miles/date of the service. That being said, I have never been asked by a dealer to show the proof of service on any cars that were serviced under warranty.