Changing Oil at 10k mi. intervals?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by paprius4030, Sep 4, 2009.

  1. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Up until the last oil change at 70k I always got my oil changed at the dealer using regular oil. But they became greedy and raised their prices $10 so I had my garage that takes care of our chevy Venture do the oil change on the Prius. He used Valvoline synthetic and said that I don't have to change the oil for 7500 to 10k mis. I would like to go 10k between changes but was interested in what the experts here think about that. It seems long to me but I put a ton of miles on the car and the oil seems always clean as new when 5k mi. comes around. Thanks for your imput!
     
    #1 paprius4030, Sep 4, 2009
  2. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    #2 a priori, Sep 4, 2009
  3. bluemonday

    bluemonday New Member

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    #3 bluemonday, Sep 4, 2009
  4. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I just saw that, thanks!
     
    #4 paprius4030, Sep 4, 2009
  5. neilz

    neilz Member

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    Does anyone think the price of the maintenance agreement will come down due to this changed schedule?
     
    #5 neilz, Sep 4, 2009
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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  7. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    Check the Valvoline Synthetic oil they used if it is has the European ACEA rating A5/B5, you can easily take it to 10,000 miles with no worries. The biggest thing you want to do is make sure you periodically check your oil level to make sure it stays between the marks with an extended oil change.
    I looked on the Valvoline website and their brand called Synpower is only rated ACEA A1, I wouldn't take it much past 5000 miles. Valvoline.com > Products > Motor Oil > Full Synthetic Motor Oil > SynPower® Full Synthetic Motor Oil
     
    #7 morpheusx, Sep 5, 2009
  8. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    That is the brand I used. Is it not as good as other synthethics?
     
    #8 paprius4030, Sep 5, 2009
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Notice that it applies to 2010 models, not your 2008.
     
    #9 fuzzy1, Sep 5, 2009
  10. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    For whatever reason they don't make an extended interval synthetic otherwise they would have gotten it certified as such. (just a note even the regular Mobil 1 is not rated an A5 oil.)
     
    #10 morpheusx, Sep 5, 2009
  11. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I have another question...Is it normal for the engine to use a little bit of oil when using a synthethic oil? This is the 3rd Prius I've owned and none of them ever used a drop of oil between changes. Now my 08 has 5k miles on it since it's first synthethic oil change and the level is about 1/4 down from the full mark. It's never done that using regular oil.
     
    #11 paprius4030, Sep 6, 2009
  12. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    Were the viscosity ratings of your previous oil and the synthetic the same? Sometimes replacing with the lower (0-W, 5-W) oils might cause some additional use of oil but note many owner's manuals will declare as much as a quart per 1000 miles as within specs and not a problem or warranty eligible issue...my previous 4 VWs for example.
    I'd just watch it but not worry at this point :cool:
     
    #12 snead_c, Sep 6, 2009
  13. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    No they are the same 5W-30. I'm not really worried just think it's odd. I do notice that the mpg's don't decline when it gets 5k on the oil like it does with the regular oil.
     
    #13 paprius4030, Sep 6, 2009
  14. MattFL

    MattFL Member

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    Using synthetic oil will not cause oil consumption, but some motors do consume oil. The manual will usually state what the manufacturer considers "normal" consumption. That said, most engines, especially new ones, don't consume oil so I am not sure why they consider some consumption normal. To escape warranty costs I think..
     
    #14 MattFL, Sep 6, 2009
  15. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    The Prius in the EU - with the same motor that our North American Prius - has a normal 12 month or 10,000 mile oil change interval, running ACEA spec motor oils

    However, YMMV. If anything *were* to go wrong, doubling the oil change interval would be an easy way to deny warranty, even if the oil wasn't at fault

    :pound:

    Oh, you're funny!

    In addition, A3/B3 also covers extended oil service intervals, and severe service

    Depends on what viscosity. Mobil 1 5W-30 does not, nor does Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0W-30. Mobil 1 10W-30 does meet ACEA A1/B1 and A5/B5

    Mobil 1 European Car Formula meets ACEA A3, B3/B4. It also meets Mercedes 229.5, Porsche 2002, GM/Opel LL-A-025 and LL-B-025, BMW LL01 (But *not* BMW LL04), and a few older non pumpe duse VW specs

    Actually, in the Mobil 1 lineup, their 0W-40 is their best-rated oil. It's a very good performer for severe service and extended oil changes


    I would go up to 12 months or 16,000 km with my 2004 Prius, running Mobil 1 0W-20 and the dealership oil filter. At most, my oil level would go down 2mm on the stick

    If the motor was run for most of its life on conventional oil, then switched to a synthetic, it's possible that some deposits in the ring land area of the piston are starting to be cleaned , resulting in a bit of oil consumption

    I would never switch a high mileage motor to a synthetic oil, I've had oil leaks and consumption issues in the past when I did so. Either try a thicker synthetic, such as the made in Germany Castrol Syntec 0W-30, or go back to regular oil
     
    #15 jayman, Sep 6, 2009
  16. zohyeahz

    zohyeahz New Member

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    My 2004 Prius has 170k and I have always used synthetic or synthetic blend and always changed my oil every 10k.
     
    #16 zohyeahz, Sep 10, 2009
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