I've had my 05 for a week now and it has far exceeded my expectations! I'm amazed at the start and stop cycles of the Prius ICE. How is good engine lubrication achieved during these periods? Most of the wear and tear of a regular engine occurs when it is started, especially on cold mornings. There is an after-market device available (for Chevy V8's for example) that will pre-lube the engine before cranking. Does the Prius ICE have a similar device? With all this in mind, I've decided to go with a synthetic oil (Maybe AMSOIL) after the break-in period is over. It will probably be expensive but I want to give the little "JEWELL" the best lubrication I can. Does any one have any lube preferences or suggestions?
I've been using Mobil-1 because apart from marketing, there appears to be little difference between it and Amsoil apart from about $10 a quart. Amsoil's own tests have shown that it is perhaps superior under extreme endurance conditions, but the smart advice is to avoid those tests yourself and change your oil more often than every 25,000 miles. As for the cranking of the ICE, the wear you mentioned is not an issue as MG1 spins the ICE up to around 1000 RPM before spark is applied. This is a very different condition than the average starter motor.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Floyd\";p=\"81210)</div> As far as I know, the oil pump in the Prius is the same as a conventional ICE. I don't know why they didn't use an electric oil pump that would maintain pressure while the engine is off, like the Honda/Ford hybrids.
The engine is being lubed any time it is rotating. The Prius rotates the ICE without ignition or fuel at certain road speeds above the top end threshold of rpm that can be applied to the MGs. If you are coasting down an hill at 70mph, the ICE may not be running, but it is turning to keep from over reving the MGs. Movement of the crankshaft of the ICE initiates lubrication. What makes starting and stoping conventional vehicles so hard on them is that ignition happens at a very low RPM with low oil pressure levels, but with full ignition force. The start cycle on the Prius is a much higher RPM, with full pressure built up in the oiling system before ignition is applied. It doesn't take very long for a vehicle to build up pressure in the lubrication system, because ignition starts at 700-1000 rpm the system is oiled before any force is provided by the engine.
