1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Tell me why I can't change my oil every 10k?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by sl7vk, Nov 1, 2006.

  1. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    So, I want to change my oil every 10k instead of 5k. If I buy my own oil, and filter, and do the changes myself, what is to stop me from going 10k per change?

    Of course at 5k intervals I'd purchase synthetic oil and a filter, for my "receipts" and then keep both for once the car falls outside of the warranty period, or use the oil in my wife's Subaru Outback.

    What am I missing, and why wouldn't this fool Toyota into thinking the changes have been made regularly at 5k.

    Thanks.
     
  2. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2005
    3,862
    18
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Nothing's stopping you. Go right ahead. You might have problems with the warranty, but only if they could prove you didn't follow the recommendation.
     
  3. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    1,378
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Nov 1 2006, 06:20 PM) [snapback]342317[/snapback]</div>
    Warranty coverage.
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The only issue would be if you had an engine failure toyota could, potentially, refuse repair under warranty since you failed to follow their scheduled maintenence.

    At 60k miles I'm going to start doing mine every 10k miles.
     
  5. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Guys your missing the point. If something hit the fan, I'll have all my receipts and oil filter boxes that "went into the car" every 5 thousand miles. Even if half of the filters and oil are still sitting in my garage.

    How could Toyota possibly tell how often the changes where made?
     
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Nov 1 2006, 08:37 PM) [snapback]342325[/snapback]</div>
    Ah, well that would work. It's fraud, but there's not really any way anyone woud discover that.....unless they read Priuschat....and track your IP..... :eek:
     
  7. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 1 2006, 10:41 PM) [snapback]342329[/snapback]</div>
    Everyone knows that we only speak in hypotheticals around here Evan..... :D

    Plus calling it fraud makes it sound so dirty....... ;)

    I call it "environmental proactive oil and waste disposal minimization." Sounds better then fraud really. :rolleyes:
     
  8. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    1,293
    0
    0
    Location:
    Abingdon VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Nov 1 2006, 09:20 PM) [snapback]342317[/snapback]</div>
    Nobody is gonna make you change your oil. I doubt that you'd see any problems before the warranty expires, but seriously, changing it yourself even using Mobil 1 and a dealer filter, you're only saving $25 a whack, versus the nagging feeling that you may be taking life off your engine. If you're worried about costs, change it every 5K and use regular oil. What's your peace of mind worth?
     
  9. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I've read on another forum that someone used 0w20 (or 0w15?) and had their oil tested after 10,000 miles. According to the poster, the oil tested at levels considered minimally worn and near-new. I'm just reporting; don't think that I'm condoning it.

    However, like Evan, I think I'm going to start "pushing it" after about another year.

    With your 2006, I would recommend normal 5,000 oil changes for about the first year. It's just that I always hear people talking about metal bits and wear and other things. So I'd just give it about a year or perhaps 15,000 miles.
     
  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Nov 1 2006, 08:46 PM) [snapback]342333[/snapback]</div>
    Since you put it that way....then I'm all for it!
     
  11. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    466
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    well- if your oil sludges they know it's not a defect in the engine design. the cause would be lack of oil changes. [edit: prius engines are NOT prone to sludging, a sludged prius engine will automatically raise eyebrows]

    if you wanna take the chance, go for it. you may be able to fool them. most likely, damage won't be evident till the powertrain warranty is expired.

    DH has a sludged highlander engine on his bench with 62k on the clock- 2k out of powertrain warranty. the oil wasn't changed often enough. engine's dead, needs to be rebuilt from top to bottom. they have "receipts", but toyota's not going to cover it and the extended warranty company knows they're full of it. complete consensus is lack of oil changes- the evidence is there. even under powertrain warranty, you'd have a very difficult time convincing toyota to rebuild your prius engine.

    other effects known from inadequate oil changes include piston wear, ring wear, cylinder wear, bearing wear.

    oil starts to oxidize and loses lubrication properties after a certain number of heating-cooling cycles. it's not in a sealed container away from air supply.

    the choice is yours to make, don't count on toyota to take care of any problems. in fact, you can probably count on a alternately worded "screw off" or the like.

    i think our stance on the matter is pretty clear after this post.

    if you're buying the oil and filter anyway... why not put it in the car? protect your investment.
     
  12. smackoww

    smackoww Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2004
    60
    0
    0
    i think the point the original poster is making is that the european prius does have a 10k mile interval. if this is true, whats so different about the US one?
     
  13. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    1,293
    0
    0
    Location:
    Abingdon VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Keep in mind that oil also gets moisture and acids from combustion byproducts. The hybrid may be easier on oil, which I'm not completely convinced of, but why skip oil changes, even for environmental reasons? It's not like I'm pouring the used oil into the wetlands, it gets collected and recycled, and compared to the gallons of gasoline that are burned, the 3.5 quarts per 5000 miles is trivial. And I always look at it in these terms too, in the bigger picture, if the car is junked sooner because an engine goes, then a lot more oil will be needed to make more cars than might have been needed otherwise.
     
  14. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(smackoww @ Nov 1 2006, 11:41 PM) [snapback]342362[/snapback]</div>
    Ding ding ding!!!!!

    But wait, I guess the US one sludges up and dies without a change every 5k. Give me a break people. Toyota is protecting their dealers service centers on this one. With an engine like the prius which is off on almost half my comute each day, the ICE is probably running for 6k or so of the 10k.

    But I've forgotten that the US version has sludging issues that the European one has bugged out. Give me a freaking break.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Nov 1 2006, 11:54 PM) [snapback]342365[/snapback]</div>
    So why is it that I lived in my Dad's village near Chamonix I would only change the oil every 10k in the Prius even though the driving conditions are far more brutal then my 6.5 mile joyride to work and back?
     
  15. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    466
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    well... to get picky the EU prius has a 9k mile interval.

    anyway, DH's 1989 camry has a 7500 mile oil change interval. which we'd be happy to do if we didn't actually need the car. ;)

    the prius has a high compression engine, and it circulates oil even when the engine isn't sparking so long as the crank is spinning. the crank is spinning quite a bit even when the engine's running. increasing compression ratio increases output force from each cylinder, transferring more force into the piston, connecting rod, crank than the standard 1nzfe. this makes the oil work harder.

    the only reason that the engine can have such amazingly tight clearances is because the oil fits in there and separates the metal. after 10k or so the oil tends to thicken. the shear point decreases more easily, which means the oil can be pushed out of the way so to speak and metal can contact metal.

    there are a lot of people who are attempting to push their oil life. DH has had to deal with many of them. in most cases, engine damage has already happened before he sees the car. the entire point of all this typing is that you can go ahead and try it if you like. if (er, when?) damage results you're going to be stuck with it, no passing it off on toyota. they know about sludge from engine design now, they're not going back there. you made a sizable investment in your car. why risk damage from something so simple as an oil change? why not risk it on something more fun like a prius hack? ;)
     
  16. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 1 2006, 11:38 PM) [snapback]342360[/snapback]</div>
    What the hell is this supposed to mean? Are you Toyota corporate?
     
  17. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    466
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    whoa. calm down there. no need for hostility.

    DH is a technician at a toyota dealer. OUR stance = his stance and i back him up.
     
  18. sl7vk

    sl7vk Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    518
    23
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 2 2006, 12:08 AM) [snapback]342376[/snapback]</div>
    Ok, so I'll change the oil every 9k?

    You still haven't answered why the US model is susceptible to all this BS and not the European one. I imagine both are made in Toyota City Japan? Or is the EU version made in extra long oil interval, minimal engine compression crank shaft turing land?


    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 2 2006, 12:12 AM) [snapback]342380[/snapback]</div>
    My hostility? Read my OP and then tell me why I deserved to be bitch slapped with what a moron I am?

    Still haven't addressed the European intervals vs. the US.
     
  19. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    1,293
    0
    0
    Location:
    Abingdon VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Nov 1 2006, 11:08 PM) [snapback]342373[/snapback]</div>
    As I said before, no one is forcing you to change your oil.

    I follow the schedule, since in my case it's probably cheaper and easier than getting an oil analysis, and I always plan on keeping a car 10 or 12 years or longer, and the cost of oil change are trivial compared to say, the insurance bill for a given year. Not sure why you only changed it every 10K in Chamonix, different spec engine? Different warranty? Why do you think it was different?

    As for protecting their service centers, I don't think most people don't go to dealers for their service, most of my "car guy" friends DIY, including myself. The folks that aren't tend to get into a Jiffy Lube or other system where they end up with 3K/3mo oil changes, or they change it once a year "whether it needs or not." As I said before, I doubt you'd see any problems before the warranty expired, but I'd feel like I was potentially reducing the life of the engine. I don't really feel like I'm arguing, you started the topic here, and folks are just giving you their opinion. Just trying to be helpful.
     
  20. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    466
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    sure there's no design difference in the engine. there's no explanation for the difference in requirement for warranty service, but here the interval is 5k if you want warranty coverage. arbitrary or not, noone can change that but toyota.

    noone's calling you a moron... as far as i know facts and educated opinions can't be construed as a bitchslap unless you want them to. you wanted to know why this wouldn't fool toyota. that's what we addressed: there's plenty of evidence when sludge is caused by too-long oil change intervals.

    your car will probably be okay. just know toyota likely won't be fooled, which is what you asked to begin with. so long as you understand that you can't expect warranty coverage should something go wrong here. we offer our sincere apology if we made you feel like a moron in the process, there was no intention to do so.