2020 oil changes: every 10,000 miles?

This conversation always brings up insightful discussions. This discussion teaches me about how oil breaks down, driving style, weather conditions, etc. I have done my 2015 at 5k intervals. Just out of habit. I recycle my old oil. The cost for me is minimal. Back in my early years of driving, I ignored wise advise regarding engine care. It wound up costing me a lot on the back end. Back when we had carburetors, I learned it was wise to take mine apart and have it dunk cleaned every year. When I didn't, it would clog up, have bad cold starts and the like, costing me towing, and other expenses. The timing of changing your oil can be based on recommendations by the manufacturer, or, by personal driving experiences. A little extra maintenance can save one time and money in the long run. Its your call.

 

The conversation usually goes at least a page before the warranty and maintenance guide from Toyota gets looked at.

I just looked at the 2020 and it says the same thing as before: 10,000 miles or 12 months provided none of the Special Operating Conditions apply to you. If your driving involves any of those conditions (mine does), 5,000 miles or six months, straight from the mouth of Toyota.

 

There was a engine longevity topic here recently, prefaced with a video featuring a ex Toyota mechanic. His short-and-sweet suggestion: if there's even a remote possibility that the "special operating conditions" apply to you, assume they do and use the shorter oil change interval. ANY engine will benefit from doubled-up oil changes; oil deterioration is a continous process, it's not magically fine till 5K, or 10K.

 

I can only speak from my own experience:

2012 Lexus RX 171,000 miles-10k oil changes
2014 Toyota 4Runner 150,000 miles-10k oil changes
2017 Prius 90,000 miles-10k oil changes

I had the oil in the Lexus analyzed at 170,000 miles by Blackstone. It showed zero issues with the oil change intervals and engine wear was minimal. Save your money.

 

But that engine is working 100% of the time - unlike a Gen 4 which isn't.

 

This is only a Gen 3, which just confuses the conversation. Don't forget that's only a Gen 3 - Gen 4 had significant internal engine changes - and is much more efficient - and runs less as an ICE than in a Gen 3.

 

What I'm seeing in this thread is most of the people in warmer climates are saying go with a 10k OCI, most of the people in climates where the weather is occasionally cold are more hesitant to make that recommendation. That's probably as it should be. Since the OP is in Louisiana, 10k OCI is probably Ok.

 

Quite interesting to see that the US manuals states shorter intervals than the European manuals.
My Corolla hybrid has a 15000km or 1 year interval which in terms is shorter than the 20000km or 1 year interval my old car had.
Since I drive about 55000km per year I wouldn't really enjoy a 5000 mile (8000km) interval which would cause me to have to go to the dealer 7 times a year.

Since a lot of cars are leased over here (mine is a company lease vehicle as well) a brand with very short intervals would directly disqualify itself.

Our private car (2016 C-Max) has a 20000km (12500 mile) interval or 1 year. Currently we drive around 10000km per year with it, probably a bit less due to Covid. We stick to the once a year service.

 

Before COVID i would drive 40 miles to work and 40 back home, steady highway cruise control 65MPH and always did 10K. Since Covid ive been doing 2 miles to the gym and 2 miles back home with 1 or 2 trips into Boston at about 50 miles each way a week. I changed it at 5K because of the short trips and winter weather. Once i get back to 5K ill change it myself and send out a sample to blackstone. If my analysis comes back good, even after winter temps, and 2 mile trips then ill keep upping the changes based on Blackstones recommendation up to 10K.

 

10k oil changes actually seems low to me for a Prius, I was expecting it to be at least 15k miles (in warm weather). Cold weather would make sense to change a little sooner or at 10k.

 

The Gen4 2019 Prius Maintenance Guide Maintenance Log pages 38 through 53 here, specifies oil changes only at each 10,000 mile mark, except for vehicles operating under "special operating conditions".

https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-19Prius/pdf/T-MMS-19Prius.pdf

There is no discussion about warmer or colder climates other than for "Repeated trips of less than five miles at temperatures below 32 degrees F / 0 degrees C).

 

I love that guy . He has so much info from the Toyota service perspective. Take his advice and change your OIL every 5000 miles. What do you have to lose ?

 

I just bought a 2021 Prius. I feel like my Toyota dealer is trying to cheat me. I get 2 years free maintenance which includes free oil changes and it says so 3 times in the app to change the oil and the filter at 5,000 miles! They are saying they will only do it every 10,000 miles meaning 2 free oil changes. I changed the oil in my last car religiously every 3,000 miles! I’m upset!

 

The app is wrong. The warranty & service manual that should be in your glove box calls for oil and filter changes ever 10,000 miles unless you're driving in harsh conditions. They are not cheating you. The app is misleading you. It's so wrong it even says to change oil & filter three times every 5,000 miles.

 

I just worry that the dealer will take advantage of me. I overpaid for work done on my previous car at the dealer and I feel like they did work that wasn’t even necessary. I want to have the dealer do all the work on my brand new Prius but I don’t want to overpay. I always fear them approaching me to tell me what they find wrong with my car and all the things they recommend I do. I feel l like they just want to make money off of me!

 

There are only a couple of reasons that I can think of that may make you want to continue to take your car to your Toyota dealer after the free maintenance agreement expires.

Probably the number one reason is that a continuous record of having the vehicle serviced at the dealer will enhance its trade-in or resale value when the time comes to move on to something newer. The maintenance records appearing on the toyota.com/owners website or 3rd party information providers such as Carfax do not distinguish between what some of us would consider "good" versus "bad" dealers, specifically those who make an effort to employ honest, knowledgeable persons who build long term relationships with their customers, vs. those who are just out to make a quick buck. At least with the parent company supposedly monitoring their dealers to guard Toyota's reputation, in theory there is more oversight than one might expect to find at franchises with less well known names.

A 2nd reason to only bring your car to a Toyota dealer for servicing is to improve your chances of getting what is called "Goodwill Warranty" coverage if a part fails just after the manufacturers' warranty has expired. There are multiple examples of members of this forum having received free replacement parts and labor from the parent company after the regular warranty had expired, presumably based on written proof that the member had always looked to Toyota dealers first to repair whatever had gone wrong with their car.

Of course, these arguments in favor of taking your car to the dealer may not be strong enough to convince you to pay what will normally be a premium price for their service. In my own case, I was shocked to receive a bill of $239 recently when I took our Gen 4 to the local dealer for its 20k mile service, which consisted only of an oil and filter change and tire rotation. This was the first service that I actually had to pay for since buying the car new. I think the service manager even tried to warn me about what was coming by holding off on servicing the car after I had brought it in, and had wandered off looking at the new cars on the lot. I was surprised they had not started working on the car when I returned an hour or so later to the service area. He emphasized that I would have to pay for this service and I blithely agreed, without knowing what the total cost would be. Some of the repair or service work we have had done at other dealers for our Gen 2 had been quite reasonable cost-wise, as far as I was concerned. Needless to say after this experience, I'll be taking our Gen 4 to Walmart for its regular oil change, as we do with the Gen 2. (I know there are many members here who would say don't trust Walmart either, if you want to have something done right, do it yourself, but at this point in my life, I've grown tired of lying flat on my back, looking up at the undercarriage of my vehicle, with dirt falling into my eyes.)

 

What!?

 

We did our first 6 month service, at 1300-ish miles. None of the reasons for changing the oil at 6 months apply to us. Dealer changed the oil without asking, which I figured they’d do, since they get reimbursed from Toyota. They also gave me new windshield wipers for free without us asking... they thought the existing ones were smearing (which they kinda were, only because we recently ran the car through a car wash and the residual wax on the windshield hadn’t come off yet).

I’ve owned Mercedes, BMW, and Cadillac, and this is the first dealership I’ve used that provides free pickup and delivery for all service. Which was super convenient. And we didn’t even buy the car from them.

And rather than run the car through a car wash on a rainy day, when the guy dropped the car back off he gave me a coupon for a free car wash at any location of the large car wash chain here in Seattle (Brown Bear).

 

I'm so with you. This is my 2nd Prius in 4 years ( 2017 prime. & 2021 prime ). I went down the same path as you. The argument is ; The dealer recommends 10,000 mile regular( oil changes) maintenance per FREE OIL Changes and 5000 mile oil changes ( your charge ) on special operations conditions ?? What's so funny is when i bought the extended maintenance for my prime they recommended 5000 mile oil changes. What's up with that? Anyways i always change my oil at 5000 miles regardless. I even changed it at the first 2500 miles just for peace of mind. I can change my own oil for only $30.41 ( $24.99 oil at Walmart and filter at dealer @ $ 5.41 compared to "TOYOTA'S" $79.00 Discount rate. So i change mine myself at 5000 and let them change it at 10000 miles but i still go in every 5000 for routine maintenance; tire rotation etc....