Getting to know my 2014 Prius. Basic maintenance and care.

Oil changes every 5,000 miles when the maintenance light comes on, rotate the tires each time, check your air and cabin filters, both coolant reservoirs, brake fluid level and tires. The oil change interval is shortened to reduce head gasket problems.

Check oil every week or so until you are sure it is not an excessive oil burner. A change in piston rings was made in the middle of the 2014 production run to mitigate that issue.

Sometime in the next ten thousand miles, change plugs and both coolant systems. Clean the battery coolant fan. Remove and r & r the complete egr system including cooler, plus the intake manifold and pcv valve. Consider adding an oil catch can at that time. These items can be more difficult particularly from an access standpoint. The egr work is not standard but tends to clog. Ensuring it is cleaned (repaired) or replaced is also recommended to reduce head gasket problems.

If the engine or inverter coolant (overheat) light engages, safely pull over and have the car towed for repair. This also reduces head gasket problems.

 

congrats!
get to know the jump point under the hood, emergency release for the hatch, make sure you have two working fobs, two working metal keys, keep the drivers door lock lubricated, and have the 12v load tested.
check the 12v battery and spare tire areas for water leaks. keep the tire pressures a little higher than spec.
all the best!

 

RJ Parker pretty much nailed it.
There’s a sticky thread here with links to the NutzAboutBolts maintenance videos. They show you every single maintenance procedure, very clearly.

Consider installing a Fumoto F133S oil drain valve the next time you do an oil change. It will prevent stripped drain pan threads and make oil changes a lot easier. F133S: Short Nipple Oil Drain Valve with M12-1.25

Oh, and do whatever Mendel recommends. He’s The Man.

 

Does anybody know an easy way to determine if I really need an oil catch can? I like the idea but if I have to tear apart my engine to figure it out, this might be beyond my abilities.

 

pretty much every 2010-2014 needs one. maybe 15 as well. you don't have to tear apart the engine, but you should clean the egr circuit

 

DvVan, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to promote video links on here, but if you check out my youtube channel I just did a pretty succinct one about PRIUS INTAKE MANIFOLD CLEANING. It will help you. Follow just a few of my steps and you'll soon be staring down the throat of an oil filled air intake manifold.

Clean her up, then install a catch can for sure!

-Good luck

 

Sir, your video is awesome! I can't believe the goop you siphoned out of the manifold. Mine must be just as bad.

 

@Merv Himself , nicely done on the video! Seems to be an easy and straightforward repair. I'll be attempting this soon on my new to me, 3rd Gen. Thanks!

 

Staightforward for sure. Just don't try to set any landspeed records or you might start feeling frustrated.