Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Prius Basic Care & Maintenance

323 messages,  Last post on Nov 27, 2012 at 10:24 AM

You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Auto Repair, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback

Messages Page 33 of 33

#317 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [canyonboy] by 63pro

Nov 26, 2012 (8:38 am)

Replying to: canyonboy (Nov 26, 2012 1:29 am)
Good morning. I, too, have a 2010 and had changed over to synthetic about a year ago. I don't think I am kidding myself, but I do feel I may have increased my mileage from one to two mpg. At this point your issue just may be one of $. Do you want to spend about $50 to get the change or can you be OK with running your car for another 5K and then change over. I am not a mechanic, but we drive a lot and one of the reasons I switched to synthetic was to be able to go 10K without a change. I think it is a decent savings for me, plus the small addition to mpg. Sounds like you will go synthetic either now or at your next change, but I think you'd be fine letting it go the 5K and then change. That's probably the route I'd take. Great car, have fun with it.
Jim

#318 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [63pro] by canyonboy

Nov 26, 2012 (11:39 am)

Replying to: 63pro (Nov 26, 2012 8:38 am)
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply. I'm not worried about the money right now, I'm worried about keeping my car up to spec. Toyota says use 0W-20, that's what I want in it.
 
I guess my main question was do I need to get a new filter too, since it will have some non-synthetic oil in it when I swap to Mobil 1, or save the expense of a filter since it's brand new and I've only driven about 100 miles with the non synthetic oil in it.
 
Mike

#319 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [canyonboy] by bioman

Nov 26, 2012 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: canyonboy (Nov 26, 2012 11:39 am)
Since the car was recently serviced with non-synthetic oil & filter, why not wait 5K and do the switch to synthetic then. It really can't hurt the car. More important, was the engine air filter replaced??

#320 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [bioman] by whitey9

Nov 26, 2012 (6:45 pm)

Replying to: bioman (Nov 26, 2012 1:02 pm)
0w-20? My '07 uses 5w-30. Re: air filter; air filters are now less important than they were on previous models in the earlier years. The MAF sensor will take care of just about anything this side of a SEVERELY clogged air filter. That shouldn't happen during normal maintenance intervals.
Do yourself a favor and leave the oil in 'til the next scheduled oil change. And wait until the regular interval...that is do NOT change the oil at ..like 2,000, or even 3,000mi. Wait until 5,00mi. or whatever the regular interval is on a '10 model. Our landfills are filling up!

#321 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [whitey9] by canyonboy

Nov 27, 2012 (2:42 am)

Replying to: whitey9 (Nov 26, 2012 6:45 pm)
Reading the 2010 manual it states that 0w-20 oil is to be used. It says 5W-20 can be used but you must immediately switch to 0W-20 at next oil change.
 
I don't even know what oil is in there right now! Gonna go talk to the mechanic there and find out tomorrow, then probably just get rid of it and put in the right oil. Even if I wait 5000 miles to do an oil change , I'm still not gonna be on the recommended Toyota schedule, rather just get 0W-20 in there now and run it for 7000 miles, then change again and be on schedule.
 
I guess my main question is if I can get them to drain the oil at the dealer I bought it from (I'm more than happy to provide the 0W-20 for them to refill it) do I need a new oil filter too? Will whatever is left behind of the unknown oil that's in it do anything to the 0W-20 that goes in?
 
Be a lot easier to just take care of it all myself but I live on a mountain street with no level ground to work on, and my garage is now a recording studio

#322 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [canyonboy] by whitey9

Nov 27, 2012 (6:39 am)

Replying to: canyonboy (Nov 27, 2012 2:42 am)
Do whatever the manual sez. If it calls for 0w-20, then do it. ( Mine is an older model w/smaller engine. ) I would replace the eng oil fltr, cause if yours is like mine..it is sooo very small the oil it contains is negligible but a new oil filter at each oil change is a must. Is 7K mi. the recommended drain interval? I would do as they recommend. Forget the "severe conditions" schedule. That is a waste of money, time, oil, and landfill space. All this, of course, if you do NOT do a whole bunch of stop and go driving. By that I mean short trips when the engine never gets up to operating temp. ( That is hardest on an engine. ) Long idling periods too. Luck.

#323 of 323 Re: Just bought a 2010, oil swap-out question? [whitey9] by canyonboy

Nov 27, 2012 (10:24 am)

Replying to: whitey9 (Nov 27, 2012 6:39 am)
7k is not the recommended interval, but it will get me to 40,000 miles which would be the correct interval for the 10k oil changes. After that I'll be on the regular maintenance schedule.
 
I'll be driving all day all over Los Angeles, meaning lots of short trips and stop and go on the freeways both rush hours, but L.A. is swarming with Priuses, lots of taxis are Prius too, so let's hope the car holds up. I have 225,000 miles on my 2002 KIA Sorento in the same driving conditions, and I'll alternate cars daily til the KIA finally gives up. If it ever does, the thing is built like a tank.

Messages Page 33 of 33

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement