Oil Change: 18 Months Or 15,000 Miles

Why not just buy a few 5qt jugs of Mobil 1 at Walmart with the $12 rebate (which makes it like $14 after rebate) and do 10k changes with OEM filter (I get whatever YZZF2 filter+plug for ~$5 at my local dealer)? I mean you're seriously only talking about saving maybe $50 a year?

If the tires were old, even if they weren't dry rotting, I would. Don't wanna end up like Paul Walker.

 

Bought my first Prius in 2010 which initially came recommending 5K mile OCI...later notice came Toyota changed it to 10K mile OCI. Coencidentially at the same time Toyota offered the free maintenance for 25K miles which included only 2 each 10K mile OCIs. I continued with 5,000 OCI regardless and had a few "warm" discussions in here about saving the planet, OPEC and waste...because the the hybrid system does not require ICE be used like a regular car. Later I bought a 2015 and continued the same regiment and had he same discussions.

Low and behold...there happens a large rash of oil burner threads from 10K OCI and never check their oil owners. I've turned a wrench for a living longer than some in here are old and since you asked...5,000 mile OCI or one year...which ever comes first.

 

Had the same question in 2010. Draw your own conclusions.

 

They said that then too...shortly before all the oil burner threads started. I do respect a car owners right/choice to do as they will with their own, but when asked I give my respectful answer. So, in this case...neither. Enjoy you car.

 

i don't think anyone who actually got an oil analysis, and extended their interval based on that, came back with an oil burning issue.

 

I track that so I would get a MPG value but it still doesn't tell me how many miles the engine was running since I have no idea what the MPG would have been without the EV range.

I use Trip B to monitor oil change miles. With @Salamander_King's suggestion to use the Drive Monitor, I should be able to calculate how many miles were with the ICE running.

 

i have not seen the drive monitor menu.... where is that found? how do i get to it?

just had my first routine maintenance visit with my trusted mechanic, he changed the oil 5k after the last change... i think it was too soon... would like to use the drive monitor to manage oil changes (i am after the free 2 years, 25k dealer option at this point)

 

"Drive Monitor" is a part of information display in MID. You switch the display by wheel buttons. It will show the corresponding lifetime EV Driving ration when "ODO" is displayed on the side, if and only if you have not reset the ODO fuel efficiency.

That said, for the oil change, I would just stick with every 10K miles or once a year whichever comes first. It is far easier to remember than trying to calculate actual ICE mileage.

 

You mean the ICE has run for somewhere between 9133 and 9627 miles, but where in that 500-mile range is unknown. With no decimal for the percentage, all we know is that it is somewhere between 37.01% and 38.99% (depending on the precise point at which the digits are programmed to change).

 

If the margin of error is important, I would err on the upper side of the range for the actual percentage ICE has run. I think the sensor is fairly accurate for measuring the distance run on EV using battery power, however, there are numerous occasions when the car is in EV but ICE remains running.

 

ON my last Prius, I did oil and filters every 5K. That was a non-plug-in Gen II. On my next Prius, which will be a 2020 Prime, I am pretty sure based upon my driving the combustion engine will be running 90% of the time. I will likely still do 5K oil and filters. I buy the oil at Walmart and filters at the Toyota dealership, 6 at a time with drain plug washers. I sold my last Prius with 190K miles on it and the only thing it ever ended was a water pump. I sleep better knowing the engine has clean oil in it. Yes, I am weird like that.

 

Just wondering if you got an UOA done and what the results were. Thanks.

 

Amazon sells Valvoline 0W16 for $70 for a 3-pack of 5 quart jugs. That's 3 oil changes for $23.33 each. I've not found any name brand 0W16 for any less than this price ($70 for 15 quarts = $4.66 / quart), and most of the name brands are considerably more, in the $6.50 to $12.00/quart range. Valvoline and Castrol have been my go-to motor oil brands for 45 years. They're both excellent engine and gearbox oils.

 

Walmart always carries Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Full Synthetic Motor Oil 0W-16, 5 Quart @~$22. Sometimes it goes on sale for less. That's ~$4.47/quart.

 

Top it off with a $10 rebate on the 5 quart'r jug!
Been doing that a few years now.
Under $20 for M1 oil, OEM filter/plug gasket and 5k, 10k or 15k OCI at your leisure.