Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified!)

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Okay -- I have empirical data here. This is an analysis of my oil from Blackstone Laboratories covering the oil in the crankcase from 10,000 miles to 15,000 miles.

Based on their analysis, the TBN (Total Base Number) is 3.9. According to various [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Base_Number"]articles[/ame], a TBN of less than 2.0 is considered inadequate for engine protection.

Now, I did not have an analysis of the "virgin" oil performed. Perhaps I will send off a sample of the oil fresh out of the bottle as well next time in order to have a baseline.

Subjectively, Blackstone recommends running somewhere between 6,000 and 7,500 miles on this oil change and having another sample tested in order to give an idea of the rate of degradation. However, testing a fresh sample would provide the additional data point needed as well.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Chris, what brand oil was it?

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

For Blackstone a TBN of 1.0 is what is considered used up - just look over at bobisthoilguy for many, many examples of them stating this. Here is an example.

Since Toyota 0W-20 starts off with ~7 TBN (see here ), a TBN of 3.9 indicates that you have used up about 1/2 the acid neutralizing additives and can go the full 10,000 miles. Do note that TBN useage is often not linear so you should take a sample when you change.

Rumple

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

@Spiderman: It was Toyota's 0W20 full synthetic.

@Rumpledoll: If I remember correctly (and please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), the TBN drops rapidly at first, then the rate of descent drops dramatically. What I don't remember is if, after the slowed rate of descent, the rate of degradation increases again.

The other thing to keep in mind is TBN is only part of the picture. If the insolubles percentage is high it may mean the filter isn't up to the "task" of a 10K OCI.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Here's my last UOA, at 15k miles based on a sample from the engine. I'm going another 5k miles on this oil fill:



I've been doing UOA's from the very first oil change, so there's some history here. All the changes have been Mobil 1 0W-20. According to Mobil, this oil has a new TBN of 9.5. The Blackstone folks think I can go another 5K miles before changing.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Oh Wow, UOAs prove 10k OCIs are nothing to worry about, and these oils can even go to 15k miles. Pretty much debunks all the people who still insist on 5k OCIs on synthetic because they want more "insurance."

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Every time I've changed the oil here in Chicago on my 2010 Prius, the dealer has given me a sticker with the 3mo/3000 miles on it. And that's after paying the inflated 160 bucks for the change.

I really do worry about when I need service done on this vehicle in its later years. I feel like I need to go to Toyota as the Prius is such an advanced piece of technology. Yet they are already ripping me off.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

No doubt they are ripping you off!!!!! If you have any experience doing an oil change yourself, don't let the technology stop you... it really is pretty simple.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Yes you are paying to much and of course, as you know, the oil change interval is 10K miles if you use 0W20, 5K if you use 5W20. If you are so inclined do it yourself as Spiderman suggests. If you can't do your own find a good independent mechanic or at least another dealer.

The other stuff that is listed as part of the maintenance, except tire rotation, is just inspections and checks that you can do yourself in a few minutes. The tire rotation doesn't need to be done at all, or at least you can do it every 10K vice 5K miles. I rotated mine at 10K and now I have 32K and just checked the tread depth this morning, they all 4 look fine so I won't rotate them again.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Thanks for the above info. I just bought a 2010 Gen III basic model, USED. It came with just over 11K miles and was Certified by Toyota. I took it in today to get a new FOB and was told by the service dept that 'Certified' means that they would have just put in new synthetic oil when they certified it. It had been with a rental company - which is slightly worrisome. They told me that it's good for 10K miles.

So I'm wondering, as the Prius ages, how many 10K oil changes will it tolerate and should they all be synthetic? Will it require more frequent changes? Thanks!

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Here is a UOA from my 28K oil change with 8500 miles on the oil, changed 1500 miles early due to upcoming trip.

I think you can safely change oil at 10K for the life of the vehicle with no adverse effects as long as you use good quality synthetic oil, such as Mobil 1, Amsoil, Toyota's branded oil, etc.

I wouldn't worry about the fact your Prius was with a rental company for a short time, the Prius seems to be pretty tough under the skin. The car has been engineered to protect it's self.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Here in Europe the oil change interval for Toyotas (and for other cars as well) has been 15 thousand kilometers (9320miles) for ages. Heck, Volkswagen's current oil "change program" (Long Life) is 30Kkm or two years. Although, as a former VW owner I have to say that VW's program does not really work in practice as you often have to add oil and there has been a fair share of engine problems in the VWs' as well.

Yes, you should be just fine with 10K oil changes for the years to come. I would definitely use all synthetic as well, since engine repairs are sooo expensive.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

You are comparing apple to oranges as engine oil standards in Europe are much higher than US (you pay for it more too). Toyota used to have 7500 miles intervals in US and got problems with oil sludge in late 1990's early 2000'. They had to scale back to 5000 miles. VW also had oil sludge problems here in mid 2000'.
However, with quality synthetic oils, there should not be problem with 10000 miles or even longer than that.

 

Re: 2010 Prius Vehicle Oil Change; Is 0 W 30 an Option?

I change oil in my 2010 Prius (solar roof & Navi) about 7500 miles. Mobil 1 pure synthetic 0W20 is hard to find locally. Toyo suggests 5W30 synthetic as alternative. What about Mobil 1 synthetic 0 W 30? Have not called Toyo 800 # to ask. Local Toyo dealers say "only 0W20". Any advice on difference between 0W20 and 0W30? Both are considered 'mpg efficient' oils. Thanks in advance.

 

Re: 2010 Prius Vehicle Oil Change; Is 0 W 30 an Option?

I think the 0w30 will work fine as far a the engine is concerned, however, there may be a question as to the warranty coverage because Toyota says use 0W20. If you look at the maintenance schedule in the warranty book you will find that 0W20 is the required oil if you want to go 10K between changes, you are allowed to use 5W20 for one oil change but it must be changed out for 0W20 in 5K miles.

0W20 is required because that is the oil used when they perform the emission control and fuel efficiency tests for the EPA mileage numbers. The EPA requires that the oil used for the tests be the required oil for the vehicle.

You can order 0W20 oil on line from Amazon and others but I am surprised your local auto parts store or Toyota dealer doesn't sell it. I live in a town of 17K people and there are at least four places I can get Mobil 1 0W20 and the Toyota dealer stocks their 0W20. I just picked up 6 quarts of Mobil 1 0W20 at Napa Auto Parts on sale for $5 a quart. Auto Zone usually has it for somewhere between $6 and $7 a quart, and when they have it Wal Mart charges $6.27.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

I don't want to read the whole thread so I'd like to ask this question: this means putting up with the reminder after 5,000 miles? No fix for this?

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Correct, no fix for it. Every 5,000 miles the reminder will go off.

Rumple

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

There is no oil and filter change required at 5,000 miles, but everything else at that interval is still required. Look at your maintenance schedule and see.

The reminder is still required so you don't forget to do the rest of the required maintenance. When you take the car in for the other 5,000 maintenance, the dealer will reset the reminder light.

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Strangely enough, Toyota Canada still has not change the Oil Change Intervial for Canadian Prius despite Toyota USA has changed it to 5000 mi. Has any Canadian member experienced otherwise when you visit dealer recently?

 

Re: Some 2010 Toyota Vehicle Oil Change Intervals Officially Revised To 10000 miles/1 year (verified

Probably because of the extreme Canadian winters that mandate severe usage schedule?