You really have to get 3.9 quarts from dealer for oil change

actually, I had problems with oil overfills on my Toyota Tercel and it might have contributed to the engine dying at just 70k miles. Too much oil can cause much bigger problems than a loss in MPG. But I'm glad to know that there's an easy way to ID it in the Prius.

 

Well, I haven't been getting back any oil when I take a gallon in with me to the dealer, but the car hasn't been adversely affected. In warm weather, I'll be over 50MPG, which with my driving style (cruise is about as tricky as I get) is OK.

I'm seriously considering pre-measuring my oil before going in, removing 1/10 of a quart, so they can't overfill it, but if I need to do that when they should be well aware of the dos and don'ts, I might as well take it to a cheaper place...

 

Re: You really have to get 3.9 quarts from dealer for oil ch

If it's just a basic oil change and lube wouldn't it be easier to supervise and quicker if one just goes to a oil and lube specialty shop like Jiffy Lube?

 

Just use three quarts.

 

Re: You really have to get 3.9 quarts from dealer for oil ch

8) All,

Print a copy of this document and show it to your dealer. They should then understand that Toyota say's 3.9 MAX.

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Toyota/11035296...EG050-04/50.htm

Ben

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher\";p=\"82348)</div>

I'm with Rich on this one. You guys filling up to the MAX fill line on the dipstick are almost as guilty as the dealers!

Halfway between the mark is a perfect fill. I handed my Toyota dealer the 5Q container of Mobile 1 and they handed it back to me with exactly 3 and a half quarts gone.... and I didn't tell them ANYTHING!

If you buy your oil by the can, just put in 3Q like Rich says and you won't have to worry about half a can laying around.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"82452)</div>

Toyota says to check when warm--a few minutes after the engine is turned off.

 

Three quarts is perfect.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(speedy\";p=\"82297)</div>

What is the "easy way"? The dip stick?

-Dr. Bob

 

Seeing a drop in MPG right after an oil change seems like a pretty easy way to tell that something hasn't been done correctly without popping the hood.

The problems I had with overfills came from a Jiffy Lube. I avoid those places. Now I use Sears, where I hand the keys over to the same guys every time, and I haven't had a problem there at all. I did ask if they'd ever done a Prius (mine comes next week), and so far they haven't. I'll probably keep this car with the dealer for the time being.

 

I started the three quarts method simultaneous with changing to Mobil 1, so I don't know which is responsible, but my fuel economy immediately improved about 4% (from consistently 45 MPG to consistently 47 MPG). The 45 figure was unchanged over a full year, so I'm confident that this improvement was not caused by a change in the weather or in my driving habits.

 

Richard,

When did you change over to Mobil One? Immediately upon receipt of the car or did you change at the first 5,000 mile mark or what? TIA

-Dr. Bob

 

Re: You really have to get 3.9 quarts from dealer for oil ch

I have been putting in 3.7 quarts here ( we use Mobil 1 ). This puts it a hair under full. When changing and you put in 3.9, which is what is called for when you do an oil/filter change, it puts it slightly over the full mark. It is not enough to do any engine damage, but from the other members here you can see it does affect mileage. Just keep it changed and between the ADD and FULL mark and you should be ok. As for the corner oil change garage, I have seen lots of engine problems with them; double gaskets on the filter blowing out, adding new oil without draining old and drain plugs left loose. But in the end it is up to the owner where he wants to go, :wink:

 

Rick-

See my post just before yours. When do you recommend I change over to Mobil 1? Expect my car sometime in the next month.

 

I go to a "Quickie Lube" and make sure it is 3.5Qt.. no more no less (and keep all the records) ... At first I got chewed on... book says.. blah, blah... I told them yea, book this... you put 3.9 and 10 min. later I get home and it is over the mark...I am removing oil... 3.5 is just right and easy to gauge.. 3.663242... 3.7.. 3.8.. much harder... 3.5 is very near dead center for the marks... car is happy.. I am happy...

I try to change the oil at around 4000 - 5000 miles. new filter, new seal...

One of these days I am going to get the oil analyzed.

I changed to Mobil 1 at about 3000 - 5000 miles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rwlade\";p=\"82629)</div>

Second oil change, one year, 7,000 miles on mine. I might have switched at the first change (six months) but a combination of laziness and rumors about mineral oil being good for engine break-in carried the day. (What is "TIA"?)

 

TIA = Thanks in advance.