Any thoughts on first oil change interval?

Ha ha, I dare you to post this on BITOG and watch the responses you will get.

 

So, why 5,000-mile oil changes, why not 4,000-mile oil changes?

 

The maintenance light starts coming on at 4500 that’s why. Not 4000 everyone knows this. At 5000 the light stays on. Not sure about the Prime as I get antsy about changing it after a year and 1000 on the engine. It’s all about the light. Tough and complex question.

 

I admit I skipped to the end and didn't read all the responses, but this explanation is darn close to what I would have said if I'd done a reply. Thanks for saving me the time.....

 

I'll probably put 4000 miles on the G5 Prius the first year. What max amount of months interval should I wait and will ToyoGuard cover that?

Also Toyoguard Platinum supposedly was tacked on purchase as distributor-installed option. Does Toyota track that Platinum designation option with the VIN? Platinum covers an additional two years of oil change and tire rotations.

 

Removed.

 

Maybe pose the question to The Car Care Nut? He's close to the Toyota "fold", but not afraid to venture personal opinion.

My 2 cents, just start right in with the 5K miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. Eschew the ultra early change.

FWIW, that was Toyota Canada's stance, with 3rd gen, even when Toyota USA said 10K miles (or 12 months), with the same gen. For 4th gen onward Toyota Canada's in lockstep with their US counterpart.

 

I do 3,000 mile oil changes (or every 6-months) on my daughters Hyundai....I really don't trust those ancient engines for longevity.

 

That was my schedule too, DIY oil/filter change whenever's convenient in April and October.

However, our usage has really gone down (due to retirement of both me and my wife, then Covid), to where we're lucky to do 3K kms yearly. Last April I gave myself a talking to, resolve to skip the October change, go to once a year. Ditto for the twice yearly wax job: we're garage stored, resolve to skip the spring waxing, stick to once a year, in the fall.

FWIW, we've got 98K kms on the car, it's first oil change was around 8K kms (5k miles), and that's what i've stuck with, kms or months, and now invariably months. Dipstick doesn't budge between oil changes.

One possible factor: we had the block heater installed eight-o'clock-day-one, and use it virtually without exception, for 2 hours if possible, before first cold start of the day. Year 'round. They do say cold-starts are the roughest time for an engine.

And yeah, we've got the low-tension piston rings (model year 2010 till partway through 2014), so some whistling by the graveyard involved. We'll see how it goes.

 

What is the part # for the oil filter ? was the filter very hard to get off

 

If you're going to be doing your own oil changes on Toyotas, I need to suggest buying these VERY handy tools from Motivx. The funnel screws right into the oil fill hole so you'll get zero leaks. (I've worked on about 5 different Toyota models and it seems to fit them all...like the 14 mm wrench for the drain plugs.)

I like to drain the oil while the car is hot/warm and using this magnetic drain bolt remover prevents the hot oil hitting my arm/hand....

 

I should get something like that. Guess I'm a pragmatist at heart; this is how I roll:



I do take off the ornamental cover. Note also where I place the oil fill cap: if I forget it I won’t be able to close the hood.

 

I decided to do first oil change at just under 2,500 miles. Just seemed like a low cost good thing to do, even though I suspect it is not necessary. Also will have new oil coming out of summer going into winter. So the dealer did the 5,000 mile Toyota care maintenance, which I guess is just checking fluids, brakes, and rotating tires.n Also feel better having had the car a few months now to just have it checked over, although every thing seems good. Nice they did it early so I don't have to go back. My next oil change will be at the 10,000/ 6months from now maintenance.

 

My dealer offered a free oil change with my last 2 (GMC) purchases.
I didn't take advantage of this "free" service with the 2020 in because it wasn't worth the asking price.
As it turns out, my time and the effort to drive 5 miles to the dealer is worth 'something.'
There's also the periodicity issue.
IIRC my vehicle has an oil life monitoring system that's built around a 6mo/7,500 mile periodicity but my intentions are to use a 5,000 mile OCI, so I would have had to go long or short on that first change.

My 2023 still has less than 1000 miles on it and I might take it in to the dealer, since they have to replace a bumper and front facia that were each dimpled in shipping.
Then again?
Maybe not.
By the time I check the oil level and break the drain bolt free and re-check torque it, and verify that they actually bothered to replace the filter, and not over-tightened it - I might as well have replaced the oil and filter myself.

Or?
I can see if their service department is actually able (and willing) to do this simple maintenance as well as I can.

MY mileage.
YOURS will vary.

 

This is exactly how I've done mine. Mostly due to "The Car Care Nut" (Toyota Master Technician/Mechanic). I'm following this interval because I plan on having my 2023 Prius for longer than my 2003 focus SVT that I sold just a few months ago (bought new and was never inside the engine or transmission even one time including the original clutch).

 

I wound up changing the oil in my 2023 at 4500 mi.
My intentions are to set up a 5k oil change periodicity.

The oil at 4500 miles was a deep deep amber colour.