2010 Prius, 5000 Miles Oil Change?

[mycnam]

Our 2010 Prius is going to hit the 6 months mark and 70k miles soon. The last oil change was 6 months ago during the pre-cert service at the dealer using 5W-20. This car always had 5W-20 changed at the dealer every 5000 miles, because the dealer offers lifetime free regular oil change (non-synthetic). Maintenance manual calls for 0W-20 for a 10000 miles/12 months interval. I am going to switch to 0W-20 anyway either this oil change (free at the dealer, supply oil myself) or next spring (DIY myself).

This car gets a 6 miles round trip everyday, and a 100 miles trip every few weeks or so, and occasionally road trips. Toyota asked for a 5000 miles/6 months interval even for 0W-20 if the short trips are in temperature below freezing. The New York winter is definitely colder than that.

The maintenance manual says:
Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F / 0°C:
Replace engine oil and oil filter

Should I change 0W-20 annually in spring or every 6 months?

 

[Redpatches]

I use 0W-20 and change every spring/fall even though my OM specs for 1 year unless severe use. I plan on keeping my Prius 10+ years so I go the extra change.

 

[901Memphis]

10k or 1 year sounds about right

 

[user52165]

Have you asked them why they use a grade different than spec'd?

 

[lubedude13]

Short trips are hard on oil. Use 0w20 and do it 7500 miles.....that's a good compromise.
I've seen mostly highway miles on a used oil analysis still show good after 12000 miles and some with mostly short trips get used up in 5000 miles.
If it were my car I would use 0w20 and go 7500

 

[zerosoma]

I know you probably want to baby your Prius, which is fine (I like to baby mine too)! However - I wouldn't worry too much because that Prius will run forever. Our engine runs great at 180k and uses only a little oil. I used to commute over 100 miles round trip to work 5-6 times a week and usually changed the oil once every 2 months or every 10 weeks with conventional or once every 4 months with synthetic during the winter months. I always use a cheap but good filter like the Purolator Classic or the Quaker State equivalent (QS4683) and a Pure One or Napa Gold during the winter time when the anti-drainback valve counts a little more. I live in South Dakota so we have harsh winters that often will reach negative 20.

Every time I use a quality synthetic of 5w30 or lighter, the Prius starts and runs smooth even in record breaking weather. Last winter I ran Mobil 1 and had a used oil analysis done, there was still 3.7 TBN and lots of active additive left at 7500 miles. If you supply a good synthetic with great TBN retention you can plan on changing it at 10,000 miles. As you can see I'm running EDGE right now which I'm actually not a fan of SO FAR (a little noisy), but I know it will go the distance this winter.

I'd say stick with Mobil 1, Castrol Edge, Pennzoil Platinum, Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic, etc etc and run it out to 10k or spring, whichever comes first. Short trips are hard on oil but these better synthetics are engineered to withstand those conditions a little better. Oh, don't forget a good filter too. I'd recommend a synthetic filter like the Bosch D+ or a Mobil 1.

 

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted By: mycnam
Our 2010 Prius is going to hit the 6 months mark and 70k miles soon. The last oil change was 6 months ago during the pre-cert service at the dealer using 5W-20. This car always had 5W-20 changed at the dealer every 5000 miles, because the dealer offers lifetime free regular oil change (non-synthetic). Maintenance manual calls for 0W-20 for a 10000 miles/12 months interval. I am going to switch to 0W-20 anyway either this oil change (free at the dealer, supply oil myself) or next spring (DIY myself).

This car gets a 6 miles round trip everyday, and a 100 miles trip every few weeks or so, and occasionally road trips. Toyota asked for a 5000 miles/6 months interval even for 0W-20 if the short trips are in temperature below freezing. The New York winter is definitely colder than that.







The maintenance manual says:
Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F / 0°C:
Replace engine oil and oil filter

Should I change 0W-20 annually in spring or every 6 months?


How long is the NY winter and how many miles do you put on the car during winter, and yearly?

 

[fdcg27]

If the dealer is willing to change the oil every 5K for free using a conventional 5w30, I'd let them have at it.
5K drains are probably a good idea given the way you use the car.
Six miles round trip is not getting the oil up to temperature even during the summer, especially with a Prius.
How much of that six miles is spent in EV mode?

 

[mycnam]

Thanks for all the replies!

Originally Posted By: zeuloa
How long is the NY winter and how many miles do you put on the car during winter, and yearly?


It really depends, the winter can start next week, or later...

I expect we drive 3000 to 4000 miles every 6 months.

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
If the dealer is willing to change the oil every 5K for free using a conventional 5w30, I'd let them have at it.
5K drains are probably a good idea given the way you use the car.
Six miles round trip is not getting the oil up to temperature even during the summer, especially with a Prius.
How much of that six miles is spent in EV mode?


The thing is the dealer is out of state, across the Long Island Sound with a toll bridge in between. I happen to drive by the dealer next week, so I can try to get the oil changed. In the future I plan to DIY, and do a oil change every spring. This is not a plug-in hybrid, can't keep it in EV mode. I guess during the three miles each way the car is still warming up...

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: mycnam


The thing is the dealer is out of state, across the Long Island Sound with a toll bridge in between. I happen to drive by the dealer next week, so I can try to get the oil changed. In the future I plan to DIY, and do a oil change every spring. This is not a plug-in hybrid, can't keep it in EV mode. I guess during the three miles each way the car is still warming up...


The Prius prevents start up wear by having a sort of thermos filled with hot liquid. The hot "liquid" can stay heated for up to 8 hours after shut down. This hot liquid is injected into the engine while the car is in READY mode. It's a brilliant design.

 

[fdcg27]

So it would be a lot more convenient for you just to change your own oil? That makes sense.
I'd get some pricing on TGMO 0W-20, and there's always Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy and a host of others.
NAPA's rebadged Synpower would be a potential pick while it's on sale at $3.49/qt.
I'm not sure that 10K is doable with any oil given the way you use the car. You might just take Toyota's advice, which is probably pretty conservative or you might try a used oil analysis after 7K of winter use to see whether the oil looks suitable for continued service.
Incidentally, any Prius will run in EV mode under the right conditions.

 

[fdcg27]

The Prius has a thermos for the coolant, not the oil.
This will allow for faster warm-up under all conditions, but the oil will still start out at ambient or close to it and will only warm up as the engine is run.
This design feature may reduce start-up wear but it can't eliminate it.

 

[mycnam]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The Prius has a thermos for the coolant, not the oil.
This will allow for faster warm-up under all conditions, but the oil will still start out at ambient or close to it and will only warm up as the engine is run.
This design feature may reduce start-up wear but it can't eliminate it.


I think Gen III (2010+) Prius don't have this anymore...

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Having the dealer do free OCs at 5k miles is a no-brainer to stay with as long as possible.

Conventional oil works just fine in this application. My Prius C is on EV about 25-30% of the time, so the oil doesn't have anywhere near 5k miles on it when the tires have rolled 5k miles.

As far as the oil not getting warm at your short drive (my drive is 4.7 miles) there's nothing keeping you from taking a longer way to work. I have a 20 mile route that i can take any time I have a few extra minutes. Or, I TAKE a few extra minutes and go the long way just to keep the oil happy. But with your regular long trips, I don't see that your oil will be sludging up with condensation.

DIY changes here means going to WalMart for a $4 Purolator filter and a 5qt jug of Mobil 1 0w-20 for $25. The next oil change I only have to buy 3 qts.