The Dreaded First Oil Change

I change the oil every 5,000 miles. I tell the mechanic to pour in 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 and take home the remaining half quart. For the next oil change I bring in my half quart and pay for three quarts.

Oil changes are really not a big deal, there's really not much to worry about. If the engine holds normally 3.9 quarts, even pouring in a full 4 quarts is not going to damage anything. The Prius is not such a delicate car.

 

Hey Dave...

... don't get too uptight. Just make sure your dealer or independent mechanic understand your instructions and install NO MORE than 3½ quarts. Even 3 quarts would bring the level to about halfway between "full" and "add" and be safe for your ICE. I warned my dealer that if they overfilled, I would have them remove the excess... they have never overfilled BECAUSE I take them 3½ quarts of Mobil-1 5W30 and they use my oil.

 

well, this could go in a number of directions, but let's say there are literally tens of thousands of prius out there with the spec 3.9 quarts in the crankcase, owners completely unaware it's over the fill line, that still run without a problem. so don't worry about that too much.

and if you can afford to pay the grease monkey, maybe you could afford a little respect for him too. how about you let him give you a reason for the denigrating descriptor before using it? some deserve it but let's not generalize, hm?

 

Another thing is to CHECK IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP
and tell your salesman also about not wanting it over filled, because he makes his money from you and your referrals.
and next talk with the service dept. and get a feel of how they operate.
If it is overfilled when YOU check it have the service dept pull it back in and drain to proper level

I too will be doing all of this soon myself now have 3900 miles

good luck should be no problem

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Apr 24 2007, 02:49 PM) [snapback]429209[/snapback]</div>

I like how you imply that the "service advisor" cares about your car. Maybe it's just me, but I'd trust a mechanic over most people who work "up front" at a dealership any day of the week.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 24 2007, 05:07 PM) [snapback]429282[/snapback]</div>

Fair enough, but it sounds like you've never had to have an oil pan worked on to fix a leaky drain plug caused by a careless mechanic. I've had to have threads recut and use an oversized drain bolt. I've also had the corners of a drain bolt rounded off.

The problem is, you can never tell who is the conscientous, careful mechanic, and who is the grease monkey until it's too late.

That's why I change my own oil.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Apr 24 2007, 05:33 PM) [snapback]429303[/snapback]</div>

the rounded off drain plugs must've been in GM cars, this happens about never with toyotas.

DH makes a substantial part of his living cleaning up after idiots. how's 45 hours rewiring someone's camry thanks to the brainiacs at meineke sound? i'm not saying everyone's perfect, given the above-mentioned occurrence along with many more that keep him working late all the time. but to call someone a grease monkey based solely on what they choose to do for a living strikes me as a snotty a-hole thing to say.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 24 2007, 07:56 PM) [snapback]429498[/snapback]</div>

What did they do? Take a torch to the wiring harness?

Dave M.

 

that is a nasty thing, to call a mechanic a "grease monkey"!

there seems to be only 2 options for you;
A: if you do not trust mechanic/shop, why not do it yourself?
B: if you do trust a mechanic/shop then pay them to do what you are either unwilling or incapable of doing yourself

brakes on prius do that occasionally, but fix is very simple.
search the archives here as how to fix this problem