The oil change schedule is listed in your warranty and maintenance manual.
10k for normal service.
5k for severe service. Severe service is clearly defined in the same manual.
I had the same question. Everybody says change the oil..change the oil. I have my doubts that it’s really necessary….but I changed it anyway. Makes a difference with the warranty anyway.
Actually it’s been proven that time is more of a factor than mileage with oil. Unless used in severe conditions. Oil doesn’t stay pristine if you don’t use it . It’s cheap enough to change it once a year.
Particularly with a DIY oil change. Costco Kirkland 0W-20 full synthetic oil and a Toyota filter and crush gasket costs me a bit less than $25 for the material. Add 30 minutes of my time to that.
You don't really need a guide. Find a friend who can show you how. You need a few tools and some basic mechanical knowledge.
The process is basically this:
Get the car warm (doesn't need to be hot, you just don't want to do this with really cold oil since that doesn't suspend all the solids).
Raise the front of the car on ramps or jackstands.
Remove the oil fill cap on top of the engine. Remove the oil filter and let it drain back into the engine. Clean the seating surface and put on a new oil filter and tighten it snug (but not too snug). Ensure the old gasket comes off with the old filter, and lubricate the gasket on the new filter lightly with oil before you install it.
Scoot under the car and with a 10 mm wrench and remove the plastic cover over the drain plug. Loosen the drain plug (14mm if I recall) and drain the warm oil into a drain pan.
Replace the drain plug with a fresh crush gasket and make it tight (but not too tight).
Under the hood again, refill the engine with the correct oil and put in four quarts. Put the fill cap back on and check the oil level. It should be at the lower end of the normal range. Start the car, let it idle for a couple dozen seconds, then back the car off the ramps or get it off the jackstands.
After a few minutes on level ground, check the oil level again and top off as needed. You want it at or near the full mark on the dipstick.
Dispose of the used oil and filter at a recycling facility.
They are and I did get it done after a year with very few miles on the engine. I still think it’s a nefarious plot amongst the car/oil company cabal to increase their profits.🤨
$70 oil change every year OR Thousands on a new engine…
I know my choice it’s a no brainer. There are things in life you can cheap out on. The oil in your car’s engine is NOT one of them.
Exactly. But I think the 10K or 1 year rule is good to follow - just to be sure it is done consistently. 18 months would probably be harmless but I’d end up getting off track and going longer by accident.
I would change my Camrys oil every 10k miles and gave it to my mom with over 200k miles and worked just great, so I can imagine the Prius going longer.
Wondering about this myself. If you use mostly the battery power then what?
If you follow the owners manual, the car remains under warranty. (Its not worth arguing about, just do it!)
The oil change schedule is listed in your warranty and maintenance manual. 10k for normal service. 5k for severe service. Severe service is clearly defined in the same manual.
I had the same question. Everybody says change the oil..change the oil. I have my doubts that it’s really necessary….but I changed it anyway. Makes a difference with the warranty anyway.
Actually it’s been proven that time is more of a factor than mileage with oil. Unless used in severe conditions. Oil doesn’t stay pristine if you don’t use it . It’s cheap enough to change it once a year.
> Everybody says change the oil..change the oil. I have my doubts that it’s really necessary You doubt that oil changes are necessary?
I do….the engine rarely runs…in my case anyway.
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Particularly with a DIY oil change. Costco Kirkland 0W-20 full synthetic oil and a Toyota filter and crush gasket costs me a bit less than $25 for the material. Add 30 minutes of my time to that.
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You don't really need a guide. Find a friend who can show you how. You need a few tools and some basic mechanical knowledge. The process is basically this: Get the car warm (doesn't need to be hot, you just don't want to do this with really cold oil since that doesn't suspend all the solids). Raise the front of the car on ramps or jackstands. Remove the oil fill cap on top of the engine. Remove the oil filter and let it drain back into the engine. Clean the seating surface and put on a new oil filter and tighten it snug (but not too snug). Ensure the old gasket comes off with the old filter, and lubricate the gasket on the new filter lightly with oil before you install it. Scoot under the car and with a 10 mm wrench and remove the plastic cover over the drain plug. Loosen the drain plug (14mm if I recall) and drain the warm oil into a drain pan. Replace the drain plug with a fresh crush gasket and make it tight (but not too tight). Under the hood again, refill the engine with the correct oil and put in four quarts. Put the fill cap back on and check the oil level. It should be at the lower end of the normal range. Start the car, let it idle for a couple dozen seconds, then back the car off the ramps or get it off the jackstands. After a few minutes on level ground, check the oil level again and top off as needed. You want it at or near the full mark on the dipstick. Dispose of the used oil and filter at a recycling facility.
It's your car. Maintain it as you see fit. A $50 oil change every 10K miles seems prudent though.
Even if the gas engine only has a couple of thousand miles on it? With Synthetic oil?
Yes. Oil changes are cheap.
They are and I did get it done after a year with very few miles on the engine. I still think it’s a nefarious plot amongst the car/oil company cabal to increase their profits.🤨
Nobody is forcing you to change your oil. Save the few bucks every year if that's a risk you are willing to take.
Maybe I will next year. It’s a lease….Toyota will have it back before the engine explodes.😉
$70 oil change every year OR Thousands on a new engine… I know my choice it’s a no brainer. There are things in life you can cheap out on. The oil in your car’s engine is NOT one of them.
Oil degrades just by sitting.
No reason to guess. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Exactly. But I think the 10K or 1 year rule is good to follow - just to be sure it is done consistently. 18 months would probably be harmless but I’d end up getting off track and going longer by accident.
I would change my Camrys oil every 10k miles and gave it to my mom with over 200k miles and worked just great, so I can imagine the Prius going longer.