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

Time/miles between Oil changes

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by harold, Nov 16, 2024 at 12:03 PM.

  1. harold

    harold Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2005
    227
    36
    0
    Location:
    SoFla
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Good afternoon all,

    I’ve been having the oil and filter changed in my 2013 Prius V (82,000 miles currently) every 6 months with full synthetic oil since new. We recently moved from Florida to DC and I’m at 7 months now and 4,500 miles since my last change. I'm Florida it was easy as I had a guy I trusted and it was nearby and I waited for the car. Here , not so easy and I guess with moving, unpacking, getting settled…so my question is, how long do you go between oil changes ?

    thank you !
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,498
    5,061
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Change at 5k miles if you value the engine, especially if it’s not burning oil yet. Change the coolant every 50k or less for the same reason.
     
    harold and bisco like this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,144
    50,053
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    around 5k if you can, i don't think the months are as important.
    read up on the egr circuit cleaning, all the best!
     
    harold likes this.
  4. harold

    harold Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2005
    227
    36
    0
    Location:
    SoFla
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Thank you for your replies.
     
    bisco likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    With 6 months corresponding to 4500 miles, yeah, stick with 6 months.

    I'd second EGR cleaning, soon, including the intake manifold (it has EGR passages, important ones). My 2 cents: every 50k miles would be the max you should go between cleanings, if you don't want to blow a head gasket around 150K. See top two links in my signature, on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures.
     
  6. harold

    harold Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2005
    227
    36
    0
    Location:
    SoFla
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Thank you. What should the cost be for the EGR service?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Pro's doing this are kinda sparse; you're fortunate to have Tampa Hybrids, I believe they charge $600~800 USD, somewhere in that range. And it's a regular thing they do, and they do it right. @jerrymildred, a member here, was working part-time for them, doing a lot of those.

    If you DIY it's virtually all labour, mainly depending on whether you replace the (pliable) intake manifold gaskets. The gaskets on the EGR components are metal, quite durable. I did replace the intake manifold gaskets on our 2010, seconds time around, but the original ones looked fine. That was about $35 CDN. Cleaning supplies: rags, brushes, a can of brake cleaner, and something a little more esoteric for the EGR cooler, either Oxi-Clean, or lye solution is what I'd use. Only on the cooler.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,144
    50,053
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    just to give you an idea of the work involved:watch
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Videos 13, 14, 16, 17 and 24 here are also worth a watch.

    If you DIY, do read the tips in top two links in my signature; there are ways to avoid a lot of the coolant spillage shown in the above videos. Or do the work in conjunction with a engine coolant change.
     
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,498
    5,061
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    At least a $1000 at a dealer and they would try to talk you out of it without a proper code.
     
    #10 rjparker, Nov 16, 2024 at 3:09 PM
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2024 at 3:18 PM
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,686
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Dealerships will not "stoop" to cleaning, will only replace parts. They might bend that rule for the pipe between EGR valve and intake manifold, but other'n that, it's likely to be replacement. The retail prices for an intake manifold, EGR valve and cooler alone, are likely close to a grand USD.

    And yeah, by the time a code manifests for reduced EGR flow, you're likely screwed.