Prius 2010 Oil Change Interval Revised? Not yet... (closed)

it sounds like the best option for your situation ... i don't think you need to concern yourself with 2010 Oil Change Interval Revisions if and until you get a notification not to bring your car in for the 15k, 25k, 35k, etc. OCI's

:thumb:

 

Yeah it does, but what I’m trying to find out is what is the real total cost of regular maintenance up to 120K miles... you know how some of these sales folks are... thy will do whatever it takes to sell it…

 

ok, well i can do the 24 required oil changes over the life of the 120K with dino 5W20 or 5W30 plus filter for a present value cost of $360

or twice annual Amsoil plus filter changes for $300 total

the tire rotation doesn't cost a dime, i got two floor jacks, don't even need the compressor, just use the lug wrench ... it ain't a race

tell me what else is included ... ?

this may not be a fair assessment, as i don't think you're going to be doing the work yourself

but aren't you really buying piece of mind?

 

Sounds like a good deal to me in your situtation.

 

Still, 24 oil changes at $20 a pop is $480. Where is the other $1520?

You'd only have to change the Coolant once within 120k, and assuming the Gen III have inversion coolant, there's $200...we'll call it $400 if you do it twice. Spark plugs? We'll call that $200.

$600+$480=$1180

Still doesn't add up to me, but if it gives you piece of mind, go for it.

 

$200 for four spark plugs?

 

I don't think the value is always judged in dollars and sense.

I could save a few bucks by cooking at home allot more, but if I don't want the fuss and feel like someone else can cook better than me and I don't have to clean up the dishes, its worth it to me to eat out.

Some people don't enjoy doing anything mechanical and never have and never will.....

Driving a prius does not pay you back for the gas you save, but we do it anyway for a dozen other reasons.

I personally would never buy a maintenance warranty.

But I have a few tools and I don't feel like I will ruin anything and I don't want anyone messing with it unless absolutely necessary, but others trust the mechanics much more than themselves. Thats ok and I can appreciate that.

If I had to tear into the engine, I would be in the same boat.

 

i'll do the oil changes, you do the plugs and coolant, we'll split the money
i'm spending my $600 on Pirella Diablo Corsa III's and Racetech Gold Valves for my ZRX ... how about you?

good post ...

'cept nobody is a better cook than me :thumb:

no thinks as highly of me as me either

 

If he wants to have the dealer do everything, that's fine. I'm just not for giving them any money up front. I doubt there are any savings. I may at some point have the dealer change my spark plugs, maybe even the inverter and ICE coolant, but by the time 120k comes around for me, throw in all the oil changes, no way will that come up to $2000. What if the car gets totalled, or he trades it in early? They'll probably pro-rate his refund. What if someone pisses him off by giving him crappy service, or performing some service wrong.... and he never wants to see that dealer again? He's now married to them.

 

Its true about the negatives, but the positives are that the Prius intimidates many people since with the exception of very routine maintenance, you really don't want even a good shade tree mechanic working on it.

There is comfort in knowing that someone with proper tools, settings, and the common know how of the workings of the Prius will be periodically looking at your car to troubleshoot any problems before they become serious.

The downside of that of course is they are not usually honest.. wanting you to replace air filters that are perfectly clean which at worst just need to be blown out, or some other story to gender easy money.

Some people want to do as much as they can themselves, and then others are suckers to do anything and everything the dealer says, and then there are those in between that want the opinion of the dealer but then will decide on their own whether its warranted, but at least they were made aware.

They have the comfort of knowing if anything serious cropped up, that a trained pair of eyes and gauges will most likely catch it.

That peace of mind is like insurance... you pay for something you don't always profit from, but the peace is worth it.

 

As far as I know the pre-paid maintenance only goes up to 48 months or 55,00 miles. The 120,00 Miles (8 years) is for the extended warranty - two totally different animals.

 

Toyota Financial Services


I see 2 or 4 years.

 

Wow, never even heard of this kind of analysis. Facts! Where are these kinds of results published?

 

Post #515 (the one you quoted me from) has two links, and one already laid out on the page.

 

Well, let me see how I respond this...

My sales guy from the Toyota dealer already gave me the information and pricing of the 120K prepaid service agreement....

You know, it's like my Dad likes to say... boy you've got to stop trusting in anything you read in this thing you call internet...

 

Sorry, should have been more specific: looking for databases out there with results from many analyses. Published white papers, other structured comparisons.