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Changing Oil

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by elche, Mar 11, 2006.

  1. elche

    elche Junior Member

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    Hello folks this is my first post here and I am new :) and based in sunny los angeles. But is very clowdy today.

    I am also a photographer so for those who love art feel free to check out my website

    www.paganelliphotography.com

    www.darkroomgalleryalley.com


    That said, I got a 2005 prius bought late on 2005. Now has 5k I phoned the dealer. They will charge me close to $90 to change the oil, rotate tire and get this, make sure that at the end the bolt under the oil transmition is tight.
    He told me that only a toyota dealer can do oil changes as to be in accordance with the warranty. He clearly said, "if you dont want to risk voiding your warranty then come to us."


    Sounds like a lot of BS to me while trying to milk us dry. I change my own oil on my bmw but to keep track of all those records can I take it to a regular certified mechanic that will only charge me $30 or less for this simple service? Will tHIS hold strong if something goes wrong under the car's warranty?

    Any words of advice?

    Thanks

    elche
     
  2. Walker1

    Walker1 Empire

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    I just bought an oil filter and 5 qts. of Mobil 1 oil for my 1st oil change. I just save all my receipts and have tire Kingdom rotate the tires-(I have a road hazard plan). It would be a cold day in hell before I let a dlr. touch my car for minor maint. If they ever try to void my warranty I'll see them in court after I call the Attorney general's office to file a complaint. Where do you see in your owner's manual that ONLY a Toyota dlr. can do these services? They want to HOSE you.
     
  3. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    Don't believe the dealer. My car has never been to a dealer for routine maintenance. Just keep a copy of the receipts for oil and filter.

    Take a look at http://john1701a.com/ and click on oil change in the column on the left. There is all of the info on changing the oil on a Prius.

    It usually takes me about 30 minutes and that includes rotation of the tires.
     
  4. elche

    elche Junior Member

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    Thanks so much for your replied. The first time when I called Toyota I spoke with a guy who said he was the manager. He told me that all of this is in the owner's manual. I searched for something like that and couldnt find anything at all.

    Then after I placed my post in here I called him once again and went for the kill. I put him on the spot by asking which page this info is writen.

    Bottom line is that the second time around he changed his tone and words by saying sort of mumbling "tuyuuta riiicomind tu doo theis." Once he knew he looked like a fool that was the end of our conversation.
    I will check out that url http://john1701a.com/ on how to change oil and all of that. I usually do it on my bmw and is a non brainer.

    thanks guys

    el che
    www.paganelliphotography.com
    www.darkroomgalleryalley.com

     
  5. Whatsthat

    Whatsthat New Member

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    Just took mine to my dealer today, $20.00 I provided the Mobil 1 oil....

    Your dealer is trying to rip you off.
     
  6. KTPhil

    KTPhil Active Member

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    Please name the dealer so the rest of us in L.A. can know to avoid this con artist.
     
  7. daronspicher

    daronspicher Active Member

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    Walker, I don't think you want to put in all 5 quarts.

    It takes 3.9 qts right? Or, 3.5 I think is what John's oil change guide shows. (he leaves it down to mid full rather than 100% to the high mark.

    Anyhow, I think 5 would be a lot over.

    I'm only to 2700 miles (since Feb 15), so I'm a little less than a month from my first oil change. I plan to do it myself.

    In 1999 I bought a F250 diesel pickup. at that time.. whooo big bad diesel, can't do your own maintenance, can't risk voiding the warranty on that big motor... blah blah blah...

    I changed the oil and did all the maintenance on that one for 110700 miles. 15 quart oil changes, huge $20 oil filter..

    I expect I can do these things for the prius and come out ok too.
     
  8. rwd2177

    rwd2177 New Member

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    I sure love this group for getting the real scoop.

    I haven't bought my Prius yet, but am talking to several dealerships. I have been discussing the price for their warrenty package and their Premium Maint. Pkg as well. I was trying to find out if the Maint Pkg covered only normal oil and I wanted Mobil 1 what the difference in price would be. I was informed the dealership didn't offer the Premium pkg, but did not find out if they honor it. To proceed, I simply asked the price difference of regular and Mobil 1 oil change. This is the response I received from the salesman -- I will check with the service department before deciding to buy at this dealership.

    "With synthetic oil you do not want to put that in any vehicle until 15,000
    miles into the life of the vehicle. The synthetic is ti fine and the
    cylinders will scratch the walls, then regular oil actually seals those
    small scratches. Synthetic would seep through those scratches. Make sense?"

    Obviously, thanks to this group, my answer is no, it doesn't make sense to me.

    Keep up the good work guys!

    Central Illinois wanna-be.
     
  9. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Don't forget the Magnuson-Moss Act, which allows you to get your oil changed (as well as other things) at a place other than the dealer. That includes doing it yourself, but do like you're doing with keeping the records.
     
  10. newk

    newk New Member

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    Power Toyota in Irvine, Ca. charges $27 for the oil change................
     
  11. Walker1

    Walker1 Empire

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    I buy a 6 pk. of Mobil 1 usually. I keep the new oil in for 25,000 miles, but change the filter every 3,000 miles. I use the xtra oil for topping off when needed. It's a little cheaper to buy Mobil 1 in the 6 pack.
     
  12. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    I gotta reply to this. Mobil 1 is used as new oil for many cars (see http://mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Myths.aspx).

    If what ur dealer said is true, I would put Mobil 1 in my new car. When the engine dies, I would sue Mobil and get millions, that would be fun. :rolleyes:

    Really don't understand why dealers have to give us this kinda BS.
     
  13. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    Whoa. How much did you pay over MSRP? :p
     
  14. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    Like many PC members who did their research, I paid MSRP! :p

    I would sue them for millions because I'm emotionally attached to my car. :wub: (lucky my girl friend doesn't read this forum) :unsure:
     
  15. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Wow. There is "puffery" and there is outright bulls***. A show of hands: public flogging for dishonest car salespeople.

    I thought so.

    Seriously, the idea of "break in" is sort of archaic. As Mobil correctly points out, a surprising number of new vehicles have synthetic fill from day one, including almost every VW tdi diesel motor.

    Though you can change the oil much sooner, why bother? I waited until almost the full scheduled oil change interval for my first change, and everything was fine. With the exception of that mysterious high Na level caused by the no-name low-bidder cheap bulk dealer motor oil.

    I'm currently looking at a new Honda CR-V for driving out to my hobby farm. I think I need an AWD, I got stuck last week near my hobby farm. I asked the Honda dealer about synthetic oil and he was quite honest: "don't waste your money changing early. Wait until the first scheduled oil change, then use any oil that claims to meet our specification."

    As my used oil analysis has proven, the Prius motor is very easy on oil, at least Mobil 1. If you can't do it yourself, find a dealer who isn't a jerk
     
  16. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Um, what bolt would that be? I'm curious now that I might have a loose bolt somewhere that will cause my Prius to fly apart while driving down Portage.
     
  17. Walker1

    Walker1 Empire

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    Car dealers are in business to make money. Some are honest, most aren't. Why do you think many people hate car salesmen?
     
  18. cmwade77

    cmwade77 New Member

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    They can't say you can only get your Oil changed at the dealer, but as I jsut found out in calling around a lot of places won't work on Hybrids, so keep those warranties in tact. One thing I found is that one Kiffy Lube won't work on Hybrids, but another will and has, go figure. The first one I called was located at:
    Jiffy Lube Service Center #565
    525 E PACIFIC COAST HWY
    LONG BEACH, CA 90806-5517
    (562) 591-5379

    They didn't even know that the Prius is a Hybrid, so I would not take any vehicle there, any mechanic should at least know this much to be a mechanic (and yes someone who changes the oil must be a mechanic in the state of California, unless you are doing it yourself).
     
  19. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    He surely meant the oil drain plug. It does need the correct crush washer when re-installing it, so I would hesitate to have a generic oilchange place do it. But lots of dealers change oil for less than $30; $90 is a donation to somebody's boating fund.

    And yeah, don't put in more than 3.5 quarts. I put in exactly three, and this leaves the level above the halfway point. 3.9 quarts is the capacity of the entire oil system when *dry*. There's always oil left inside at an oil change, so adding 3.9 quarts will overfill it.
     
  20. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    What surprised me is when I started changing the oil myself, 3 litres will put it about 2/3 past the Add dot. After a bit of fiddling around, 350 ml puts it right on the Full dot.

    When I first noticed the overfill, after my first oil change at the dealer, they were really puzzled and concerned. Apparently they only put in 3.3 litres for a Prius.