How often: Oil changes for 2013 Prius II

most modern cars using synthetic oil have 10k changes for normal usage. mechanics would prefer you pay them twice as often, ignore them.

as for your mpg's, there are a lot of potential culprits. start by checking your oil level, air filter and cabin filter.as for the 12v, you're checking it incorrectly. you need a volt meter. put it on the jump point under the hood in the morning, before starting the car. 14v is when the car ie ready and charging the 12v which is almost meaningless.

 

how many miles on your car? you might need an ear circuit cleansing

 

That's EGR circuit. Video #17 here:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

Also check the linked thread (in the video list).

To vindicate the mechanics: Toyota Canada advocates oil changes every 6 months or 8000 kms, whichever comes first.

They have changed to match the US schedule as of 2016, at least for the Prius. Still, you can't go wrong with 6 mo or 8K kms. Especially if you're DIY, it's not a lot of expense.

 

Ear circuit .

Probably would need more than a Q-Tip.

We know what you meant though.

 

Yesterday was ego, today ear, who knows what tomorrow brings...

 

Tomorrow would be rear cleansing

 

I would check the caliper pin if the grease dry out the brakes start to drag and that pulls down fuel economy

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My wife has accused me of needing an ear circuit cleaning. I think she mentioned something about selective hearing. I don't know... I wasn't really listening.

 

eye have no idea what youse guys are talking about

 

Yes that is not right.

Best way to check the 12 V battery is to get ready the night before......by leaving the hood cracked open so you won't have to open any doors in the morning.

And what has been dipping over the past year, the battery voltage or your gas mileage ??

As for your original question, if you are going to change oil only every 10K miles, you need long life oil. I wouldn't trust any "blend" oil and would use only "full" synthetic that is rated for 10K miles. Certainly NOT conventional oil.

Are you having your tires rotated more frequently than 10K miles ? That is kind of important.

 

not sure what 'clicked the power without the pedal' means. acc or on mode? don't think you should see 14 volts in either of those modes, but i'm not positive.

 

There must be over a hundred threads here that revolve around someone adamant they don't need a volt meter.

 

They also don’t need to check the dip stick either .

 

If you been changing your oil at 10K intervals then it's something else regarding your MPG decline. As others have said, check the 12V battery. It's 5 going on 6 years so it's possible the battery is going. 75K miles seems young for the EGR System to be clogging. But then again it comes down how the car is driven. A lot of short trips can accelerate the clogging. Other items to check, tire inflation, wheel alignment, ICE air filter. Keep us posted.

 

NO !!
And not mentioned, in this thread, is that you should expect your fuel mileage to go down a bit in the winter time.
The fuel chemistry is a bit different and your engine runs more in the cold weather.

 

I don't believe there's any way to see 14V on the battery alone. You must have been in READY mode, which provides 14V to recharge the 12V battery, whether or not the ICE is running. The Prius uses the traction battery to recharge the 12V, not the ICE.

 

Start with those items first, and check your tire inflation and air filter before moving on. Please keep us posted.