Just got my first Prius! It's a 2015 Four with solar roof package. 49K miles single owner. Purchased via Carvana. The process was surprisingly smooth and easy. I haven't had a car in 15 years and have only driven rentals or family member's cars, none of which were ever hybrids. So I have a lot of adjusting to do driving this thing around, especially since I want to get that mileage. But I'm super happy!
Welcome to the community, hope you will enjoy your new purchase !! As I always say, good maintenance is the best way to stay away from the problems , lot of tips and tricks here to help you ... congrats
Classic Silver Metallic always looks sharp. 2015 with low miles, you’ve got the revised pistons/rings*, and some breathing room before cleaning the Exhaust Gas Recirculation system and intake manifold**. Consider an oil catch can too. * Toyota revised pistons and rings part way through model year 2014, to reduce oil consumption issues. ** More info: Bad Flywheel | PriusChat
AFAIK it happened “sometime” through model year 2014. That’s based on asking for piston/rings part nos on online parts website, mcgeorge Toyota parts specifically.
Found this , interesting, just took the first page to see from which VIN number the revision starts ....
Nothing major. I've already installed Priusoffroad's lift kit. Down the line i wanna get better tires for adventuring, hopefully I can find some that don't sacrifice too much mileage. Also added a small 300w sine wave inverter. Once i get some more experience camping I'll know whether to go bigger. I do wanna see if i can tap into the solar panel to charge a portable battery bank maybe. Oh, i also installed a 1 1/4" hitch. I'll probably do a few more camping/overlanding. I've added some little plastic covers here and there, door hinges and latch, coolant reservoir. I plan on adding an oil catch can and a rear sway bar at some point too. Otherwise, I'm a DIYer but not a mechanic, so I've been learning and doing basic maintenance. Have changed the engine and transaxle fluids, replaced the spark plugs, pulled and cleaned the throttle body and egr pipe. Gonna clean the intake manifold and probably replace the PCV valve when i add the OCC. EGR cooler will get a cleaning sometime too. I know some of these things might not be necessary yet, but I have no idea how the previous owner drove or treated the car and i feel like 50K was a good number to get some of this maintenance done as a reset for my ownership. I just got hit with a detailing bug so i've been putting in some elbow grease for a good protective shine! Waiting for delivery of some window visors, custom fit sun shades and the rear bumper guard too. Guess i've done more than i realized...
Previous owner was averaging around 10k miles a year, might be worth it to run Techron or BG 44K to clean the fuel system and BG EPR and MOA with the next oil change. Just in case they weren't using Top Tier fuel and to clean up the engine since it's new to you. Congrats, the car looks slick!
Thanks for this info! I didn't know about the revised pistons/rings. Really glad I got a 2015. Side question, I've seen posts in which you discuss your oil catch can mounting down low so you can access it when doing oil changes. Is there another post or do you have pics detailing how you mounted it? I live in California and have read that smog technicians can fail you, depending on their mood, for having an OCC, so i want to install one out of the way.
Here’s some pics and info of my initial, single can install. I went with through bolts, but was INVOLVED; if I was starting again I might go with self-tapping screws. Through bolts through the top flange can barely be accessed from below via cut-outs in the bottom flange, but very awkwardly. Can’t stress enough: you need the bracket to be flexibly connected atop the beam, say with rubber washers or gasket in the interface. The beam needs to flex, in particular if you’re using the front/central jacking point (at underside of that beam). If you don’t it’ll complain when you’re jacking: Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 72 | PriusChat And here’s more-or-less the latest, tandem Moroso’s: Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 89 | PriusChat Detail of bracket for tandem install: Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 86 | PriusChat I’ve since lopped off one of the ends by about an inch (wasn’t needed, and cut vertical slots where the Oil Catch Can bracket bolts fall, so I can just loosen the bolts and then lift the cans up and out, say for a thorough clean out. More pics, after conversion to dual can: Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 85 | PriusChat Pics of single can out for cleaning: Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | Page 77 | PriusChat (I’ve since removed all those hose clamps; read that hose barbs alone are effective, and the clamps can actually damage the hose ends. No problems/leaks.) Addendum: Pic of a (single can) slotted angle bracket where I've cut slots, basically to make removal of the can a lot easier. You just need to loosen can connector bolts slightly, and then lift the can up-and-off: BTW, one good source for slotted angle like above (2.5"x1.5") in Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton, is Commander Warehouse: Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary and Edmonton Industrial warehouse equipment and storage products - Commander Warehouse Equipment.
I checked my service history and I don’t see it done on my 2013. My VIN is 5Dxxxxxx so def before the VIN list they have. Gotta bring it in! iPhone ?
Bring it in for? Piston/ring replacement? This is not something trivial, and they will NOT do it, unless you’ve under 60k miles AND pass their excess consumption test, which is more than a quart in 1100~1300 miles. Addendum: Piston/ring replacement is basically an engine overhaul, entails removal of the engine, and would normally cost maybe $3500~4000 (or more?). Attached are the TSB's, first is for the qualification, and second the repair instruction.
@joeynickels You will be happy to know that you can tap into the solar roof panel. I am using it to trickle charge the 12V. You will need a solar charge controller, I am using a 10A Renogy charge controller I picked up for $15. https://plugoutpower.com/ Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus Home - Pulstar Spark Plugs
