Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Toyota Prius Basic Care & Maintenance
262 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 12:39 PM
You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
I was getting my oil changed on my 2000 Accord at Firestone yesterday and since I'm considering getting a Prius in the next month or two I asked the mechanic if they could change the oil on those. I am a 52 year old woman who does NOT change her own oil so I just wanted to make sure it could be done at one of the quickie oil change places. Anyway, he said yes they could do it, but that it requires synthetic oil and it costs $50 to do it. As opposed to the $20 they charged for my Accord. I'm guessing this guy was either misinformed or outright lying, but I'd like to confirm that. So does the Prius require anything different regarding oil changes than other cars? Of course, the same guy also told me Mazdas all have rotary engines and the engines are half plastic. That's not true either, is it? Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience! |
|
|
Replying to: cslasor (Oct 06, 2009 5:19 am) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: cslasor (Oct 06, 2009 5:19 am)  a cost of $13 bucks EVERY 3-4 K miles. Last note.....Buyer Beware!! Why women are always looked upon as helpless targets is, in itself, a dilemma that some neanderthal men choose to perpatrate is besides me. ps...There was a lengthy study that found "Synthetics" were no better than oil over a 100K comparison. Cost difference was in excess of $300.00 per same 100K miles. Next time you see a car going down the road farting blue smoke like a mosquito fogger chances are that person neglected oil changes. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: cslasor (Oct 06, 2009 5:19 am) Buy 3 quarts of synthetic oil at any automobile parts store or most department stores or farm supply shops. Look in a parts book or ask a salesperson for a good quality oil filter to fit a Toyota Prius. If you do not have one, buy a socket wrench and filter wrench, a drive-up car ramp, and an oil drain pan. Buy a roll of paper toweling, too. Park beside your county oil recycling tank about every 6 months or 7,000 miles of driving. Set the drive-up ramps in front of your forward set of tires. Drive up the ramp. Set the drain bucket beneath the large bolt on the bottom of your engine. Use a socket wrench to turn the bolt counter-clockwise. Unwind it by hand until the bolt drops and oil runs into your oil bucket. Then, take your filter wrench and set it around the filter under your engine. Turn counter-clockwise until it drops and empty it into the oil drain bucket. Now, empty the oil bucket into the oil recycling tank. Replace the bolt, which is called a drain plug, into the hole on the bottom of your engine and tighten clock-wise. Wipe a little fresh oil on the rubber ring on the new oil filter and tighten it onto the filter threads in a clock-wise direction. Then, open the oil fill cap on top of your engine. Pour 3 quarts of fresh oil into your engine. Pack-up your tools. Back off your ramps. Drive home and wait approximately 6 months or 7,000 miles to do it again. You are now a Prius owner. Have fun! 
|
|
|
Replying to: snowboarder4 (Oct 06, 2009 8:51 am) Like not being able to get enough leverage to remove the oil drain bolt. Or the oil filter. Or trying to fish the bolt out of your oil-filled drain basin. Or spilling oil (hot!) on the ground or all over your hands and forearms. Or even getting the car up on the ramps without overshooting it. Or backing your car off the ramps forgetting to remove the oil drain basin from underneath. Yes, all of the above has happened to me, except for overshooting the ramps. 
|
|
|
Replying to: 210delray (Oct 06, 2009 9:07 am) Anyway, I usually figure these guys may or may not know anything about cars and had already decided this particular guy was an idiot. But I did want to make sure oil changes for a Prius wouldn't cost $50. That would certainly negate some of the savings I'd expect to see from the mileage. I'm looking forward to my Prius test drive! |
|
Recently bought a 2010 Prius and really love the car so far. Recently had my little "ding" sound alerting me that I needed to fuel up. It brought to mind a question. If I literally ran out of gas, could I continue on electric only and if so, about how long or how many miles could I go without the system going totally dead. Would never like to try and push it that far, but was curious. Thanks, Jim 
|
|
|
Replying to: 63pro (Dec 03, 2009 9:24 am) |
|
|
Replying to: 63pro (Dec 03, 2009 9:24 am) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: 63pro (Dec 03, 2009 9:24 am)  Also, I suggest carrying a spare battery charge pack that costs about $60 in automotive. When I took a group of union officials to the airport for a week-long conference, someone apparently failed to close a door or the rear hatch. Fortunately, I did not need to call for assistance when my starter battery was dead because I always carry an emergency charger. It usually has helped other drivers in hostile winter weather, but also provides power for portable air pump, lights, and other emergency equipment.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Toyota Prius Basic Care & Maintenance
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Prius
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
