Is it okay to skip minor (5k interval) service?

You say, "...your ideal interval is WAY too long..."??? It's not MY interval, it's what Toyota recommends for their engines...10k miles. Do you accept that as "an authoritative source", or do you think they recommend this interval because they want to replace engines?

I don't have the time to search for and post the research. I spent 100s of hours, along with fellow TDI club members, discussing and reading various sources, re: OCI length. My post wasn't based on MY conclusions, but rather, what has been posted by a chemical engineer.

You can believe whatever you want, or do your own research. I'm content that what I read is fully supported by research. More important, my experience supports the research.

Once I have my oil analysed by Blackstone, I'll return to this thread and post THEIR results. I believe in THEIR science, and my engines seem to, as well, as I've NEVER had an oil-related failure, NOR have ANY of my engines burned oil with 10k OCI.

I would be happy to "put MY money where your mouth is" and send you a prepaid Blackstone UOA kit so you and we can see how your oil is holding up after 5000, 7500 miles, or 10k miles.

I'm serious about this.

 

You’re very welcome! I’m glad they were helpful to you. Sharing knowledge to other Prius owners, is what Prius Chat is all about.

 

I had a similar experience at an America's Tire in the LA area about 20 years ago when I was there on a temporary assignment. Glad they kept that attitude.

 

Very good business model. Too bad it's getting harder and harder to find brick and mortar tire shops like them.

 

Kal Tire is like that up here. At least the one near me.

 

When Toyota says 10K, that is a maximum number.
When you say it, it appears to be a minimum.

So you are indeed ignoring the recommendation from the vehicle maker in order to save a few pennies......and following suggestions from people who might not even have a high school diploma......or an IQ over 70.

YOU are indeed free to do whatever you please.
Recommending that to others, however, borders on being irresponsible.

This is another case of a "self appointed expert".
Sorry but it IS.

 

An accurate reading of my posts reveals that I've not recommended anything to anyone. Nothing I've posted is even remotely irresponsible.

There are infinite variables with OCIs, for sure. I say again, I will continue with 10k intervals, which is what Toyota recommends for normal service. When I have UOA results from Blackstone, I will post the results here. The results will inform ME what I will do with MY OCI.

Sam Spade2: you say, "...following suggestions from people who might not even have a high school diploma......or an IQ over 70." Blackstone labs (https://www.blackstone-labs.com/.) is an industry leader in UOAs. I've not asked, but I will assume that the engineers that WORK for Blackstone have IQs over 70, and for sure, have degrees well beyond a high school diploma.

For anyone interested, spend some time with "Bob's The Oil Guy." It is loaded with information, some of it BS. However, read the support he has garnered from reputable people in the ICE business. Make your own decisions, based on the information available to you.

Sam Spade 2: Why not take me up on my offer??? I would be happy to "put MY money where your mouth is" and send you a prepaid Blackstone UOA kit so you and we can see how your oil is holding up after 5000, 7500 miles, or 10k miles.

I hope moderators don't consider this as taunting, because the offer is real, and might very well provide useful information to those interested regarding oil change intervals.

TO BE CLEAR, let me restate, as it seems some people here might not have read my posts carefully:

I WILL CONTINUE WITH 10K OCIs. I hope that's clear.

 

Try not to let him get under your skin. In this otherwise extremely friendly environment, there are a few people who just aren't happy without some sort of confrontation. If he gets under your skin too much, you can hit the ignore button.

 

I fully understand that OCI and tire PSI discussions will create controversy. That's why my posts are simply informative. I can fully back anything I say with my 4.5 decades of automobile ownership experience. Of course, that experience isn't going to be useful to everyone.

I think we're all here, in the Prius forum, because of our interest in maximizing MPG, and minimizing petroleum use. Old-school philosophies die hard.

 

Don't ya just love oil threads. Now remember folks, DOT 3 and WS are lifetime fluids too...but only in a Prius...because they are special.

 

Toyota Canada at least recommends changing the brake fluid tri-yearly or 48K kms.

There's various corporate Toyota's 'round the world, with varying maintenance recommendations.

Another one: Toyota Canada tells 3rd gen owners to change the oil every 8K kms or 6 months. Then with 4th gen, essentially the same engine, they recommend 16K kms or 12 months.

 

Costco also provides "free" rotation, balancing and flat repairs for the life of tires purchased there. I've done the first two every 5,000 miles after buying tires there for numerous cars over the years. They also use nitrogen instead of compressed air.

 

... and here, it's 10,000 kilometres, 6 months.

 

Simple reason: since y'all live upside down in the southern hemisphere, and downhill from us, the air is more dense, loaded with more fine particulate. You should probably change your engine air filters and cabin filters more often, as well.

Sigh...even more justification for having a database with UOAs. The VW TDIClub has been doing this for years, and enthusiasts that participate have learned the joy/savings/convenience/VALUE of less frequent oil changes.

...and many of them have IQs over 70, and most even have High School diplomas! It's a win/win!!!

 

Harder work driving upside down too


It could be because our poor PRIUSes have to work harder because they have run more equipment - like having to fold mirrors and flash the mirror indicator lights .

Oh - and the infotainment has to work harder because there aren't any buttons or knobs.

And steering wheels on the right side.

TOYOTA have changed the service intervals on some of the latest models - not PRIUS though - recently - in line with better warranties etc to compete with other manufacturers. [Warranty now 5 yrs, 7 yrs on engine and drivetrain, 10 on hybrid batteries - all unlimited kilometres for private drivers.]

 

...Alanclarkeau: LOVE the robin's-egg-blue oil pan, up high, away from road hazards...

 

@alanclarkeau, that picture is brilliant!!! I wonder how many drivers have crashed while gawking at that ... ummm ... truck?

 

It is now. It certainly was not earlier.

Part of the problem with gauging your change interval by an oil analysis is that it completely ignores the "time" recommendation part of the change interval. If, for instance, you only drive 3000 miles a year, when will you change your oil ?

My whole point is: The average passenger vehicle (non-diesel) owner has NOTHING practical to gain by spending his time and money messing with an oil analysis.

 

Sorry you found my posts confusing. I never said I would extend my OCI beyond 10k miles, which is Toyota's recommendation.

It is my understanding that the recommended yearly OCI is based on acid accumulation in the oil, something that doesn't occur with fully synthetic oils. I DO NOT RECOMMEND GOING BEYOND YEARLY OCI. However, research, as I've read it, has discovered that even THIS recommendation is excessive. I will ask Blackstone when I submit my oil in a few thousand miles...

MY whole point is: If the UOA database for Prius' is large enough (as it is with the TDIClub folk), the average passenger vehicle owner doesn't NEED to spend the $25 on a UOA. For sure, every manufacturer does their OWN research, re: OCI, but if you've lived as long as I have, you learn that corporate decisions don't always relate to what occurs in the "real world", where you and I live. (Example: VW marketed a ton of diesels, early 2000s, that had defective [soft?] cam lobes. TDI OWNERS came up with oil weight options that helped to correct the issue. These oil choices ran counter to VW corporate recommendations!)

I want to do whatever I can to minimize my carbon footprint: recycling, less use of plastic, paper products, water, etc. etc. Sadly, OUR efforts aren't always helpful, as the recycling business in the states is virtually dead..too expensive...

Thanks for the continued challenging discussion. We're all in this together! (Sam Spade 2: what region of the US do you live in?)