1st Oil Change Question

you're fine.

 

Nah, nobody gets it perfect. 100-200 miles won't hurt anything. Even going over by 1000 miles once in a while won't be a problem.

 

I've had a lot of new cars and trucks over the past 22 years, and have usually had the first oil change at 600-1,500 km. My local Toyota dealer service writer and Prius tech were both quite emphatic on leaving the oil in for at least 5,000 km, and they prefer 8,000 km to break-in the motor.

Otherwise, they claim the fuel economy will be disappointing and it will take a LONG time to break-in. I had them put it in writing.

 

opps... :roll:

 

In a regular car there's no way that the dealer can determine when you changed the oil; that is, if you did it at the recommended 5000 miles or if you did it at 5500, 6000, etc. Now, since the Prius has a maintenance required light, I wonder if the car stores a code indicating when the light was turned off, and thus supposedly when oil was changed. This is interesting, since the car stores a code is you run out of gas and this can be used to void the warranty for certain repairs.

 

Did they explain how this is supposed to work? Does Toyota put some secret abrasive ingedient in that original fill of oil?

I would have thought that auto makers, especially Toyota, no longer rely on a semi-random load of metal shavings to do the internal polishing.

 

I'm at 4000 miles now. I just called the dealership and they suggest an oil change at every 3000 miles due to the sub-tropical weather here in Louisiana. Why I'm just now hearing about this is beyond me! Also, I asked for a free oil change and voila! I'll get one. So I'll get my oil changed, the filter changed & the tires rotated. Is there anything else they should check and/or change?

Thanks!

 

No. Do what it says, and when, in the service guide that came with the Prius. Dealers who "suggest" more items and/or more frequent service are usually fishing for revenue enhancements.

 

The maintenance book I received with my Prius suggests the initial service at 8,000km, period. My local Prius tech and service writer were both very emphatic that I have at least 5,000km before my first OCI, which was complementary.

On the first work order, they even commented "waited minimum km as recommended."

OTOH my 2000 GMC Sierra with Vortec 5.3 the local GMC Truck dealer strongly recommended the initial OCI at 3,000km, and the supplementary service schedule (Modified to region) also recommended this.

Most cars no longer require a short initial OCI, but recommend waiting the normal distance. No, I cannot explain this.

Either a "break in" is required, or the motors are so well made now that a break in is NOT required and you can go the normal distance.

 

Prius without the nav don't have the nag light. So I doubt the computer can store oil change information.

 

Actually, there are 2 possible 'nag' lights. The Maintenance Required light on the dash is standard, nav or no nav. It is in your owner's manual. There are additional reminders that are part of the NAV and display on the MFD. This is described in the NAV manual.

 

I don't think the Canadian market Prius has the "nag" light. My 2004 Prius doesn't.

 

Really? Have you driven over 5000 miles between changes? (might be different for KM).

Normally blinks at 4500 miles when you start the car until you put it in gear. After 5000 miles, it stays on.

 

Dan:

I looked up the "Maint Reqd" in my 2004 owner manual. On page 5, it claims "for vehicles sold in USA."

OTOH my 2000 GMC Sierra had an Oil Life Monitor. I only changed the oil when it told me to, in scary yellow letters: CHANGE ENGINE OIL

You'd think it was about to experience a nuclear meltdown and go Chernobyl.

 

[font=Lucida Console:64932c0b09] [/font:64932c0b09] I have not had my 1st oil change yet but I like to switch to synthetic oil. So, I was thinking I would make the switch at 2,500 miles.