Egine Oil

[johalareewi]

But if you a a driver who does short journeys then it is an excellent idea to change oil much more often. With the petrol engine not reaching and maintaining temperature at a high enough level then contaminates such as water do not get driven off. The result of this is that the additives in the oil get depleted. The outcome of this is that sludge levels start to build thereby choking filters and oil ways and acid levels are allowed to build creating corrosion. When a manufacturer talks in terms of adverse running conditions it is the short trip that they are thinking about in the main. Constant running on motorways put little strain on lubricant additives.

It is the additives that deplete not the lubrication ability of the oil.

Of course the situation is really aggravated with cars such as the Prius on short runs because the petrol engine runs for much less time than in an old fashioned set up.

If you are doing lots of short journeys, the Prius is not really the car for you. You should be looking at a PHEV or EV vehicle which you can charge overnight and then use electric power for the short runs.

On the other hand, the Prius does a very good job of looking after itself and its number one priority on start up is to get the engine up to temperature. Once it has done this, it can then concentrate on getting you the best mpgs for your money.

[Doesn'tExist]

I think it is just a bunch of amateur engineers getting too over excited, they are in every industry, gosh part of mine is ICT Security and if you listen to all the risks and take it for gospel it is better to not own any electronic device.

Just use the vehicle, stick to the manufacturers guidelines and you are covered for their warranty. The car will be absolutely fine, much more important things to be concerned about. Besides times have moved on a bit since the old British automotive engineering days

[Jan&tone]

I think it is just a bunch of amateur engineers getting too over excited, they are in every industry, gosh part of mine is ICT Security and if you listen to all the risks and take it for gospel it is better to not own any electronic device.

Just use the vehicle, stick to the manufacturers guidelines and you are covered for their warranty. The car will be absolutely fine, much more important things to be concerned about. Besides times have moved on a bit since the old British automotive engineering days

At last, someone with some sense!!

I spent just over 23k on my Prius, in fact I've had a new car from Mr T every 3 years for as long as I can remember. i've never had any problems from either of the two dealers I've used over all those years, nor have I had any problems with any of the cars, not even 'teething troubles', not that I would expect any problems in 3 years!

I test drive a car before I sign up for it, I know what I'm getting so I don't have any moans about what it does or doesn't do, or what it has or hasn't got. The SatNav may be out of date, I knew that it may have been, and accepted it, I only use it for the last 2 or 3 miles of a journey anyway and it's main routes that change generally in any case, by-passes and the like. All humans have an in-built sense of direction, everyone knows that London is in the south and Edinburgh is in the north, and it's stupid to get in the car and rely on an electronic gizmo entirely - look at a blood6 map before you get in the car, you will then at least head off in the right direction. SatNavs are for guidance, not obedience!!

As doesn't says, use the car, have it serviced by a main dealer so that any problems that they may possibly cause for whatever reason are covered under the warranty. I was lucky, both our Aygo and Prius are covered by a 5 year warranty, i have a service plan for the Prius and the Aygo came with 3 year free servicing... There is no reason at all for me to either do any servicing items myself or worry about servicing, which was the whole idea of buying the cars when we did.

Those that didn't get the extra warranty are unlucky - i believe that Fords still give 1 year warranty?? So all of us are better off in that way

Rant over

[acetip]

Hi acetip

Not aware of manufacturers doing this. Graphite is an excellent lubricant for certain applications. I am inclined to think that it may have extended the running in rather than advanced it. But on the basis that running in is the first stage of running out that may be seen as being an advantage, But experience says that todays lubricants are so technical in their make up that to add anything to them could well upset the balance of the product and that would mean bye bye to a claim on anyone in the event of any failure.

hi again j2d

graphite is used for running in because unlike molyslip etc,it does not coat the surfaces such as bores,bearings etc but fills the in those small irregularities in a machined surfaces .when put in at the factory the owners were advised not drain and refill untill the first service was due as this would lose the benifit that graphite gave in the lube oil.but oils are improving day by day,and machining of cylinder bores and materials used mean engines dont need kidglove treatment as they used to.if you stripped out an engine you could tell that graphite had been used as the bores shone like a mirror.

the firm DAG i mentioned earlier marketed there graphite in small tins for adding to sump oil,and was labled as running in compound.

i beleave somewhere in my shed i have a tin of it still.

a motorcycle shop near me used to stock it,when the business closed,they gave me a dozen of them for a £1.00.

last time i used it was in my 1.6 td passat in 1991.

[jont-uk]

Was a piece in the Telegraph motoring bit this weekend warning about Toyota's use of lightweight totally synthetic oil as a way of meeting emissions but also raising concern about inadequate lubrication !!

Anyone seen/ evidenced this ?

Curious ...

Jon

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Was a piece in the Telegraph motoring bit this weekend warning about Toyota's use of lightweight totally synthetic oil as a way of meeting emissions but also raising concern about inadequate lubrication !!

Anyone seen/ evidenced this ?

Curious ...

Jon

Nope.

Another dig at Toyota perhaps? Might want to do a story on why Skoda are buying back some of their new Superb models from some of my colleagues due to a 'characteristic' (they stress it's NOT a fault!?!) on the diesel particle filter system where it causes the car to buck and kangaroo! Apparantly they've had numerous complaints about this and the only fix available is to take the car back or put up with it! I've been told its like driving an old petrol car out with the choke pulled out too much and it happens on the clean up cycle on the dpf.

Should have got a Toyota!

[Opifex]

Yep, it was in the Honest John column.

A reader complained about poor gear change quality on the Yaris. The reply was

"Ask the dealer to switch to fully synthetic transmission oil. To get the car below the 120g/km tax threshold, Toyota used a special low friction oil that appears not to lubricate the gears well enough. It's a common complaint"

Not sure what, if anything, this means for the Prius.

[Jan&tone]

Yep, it was in the Honest John column.

A reader complained about poor gear change quality on the Yaris. The reply was

"Ask the dealer to switch to fully synthetic transmission oil. To get the car below the 120g/km tax threshold, Toyota used a special low friction oil that appears not to lubricate the gears well enough. It's a common complaint"

Not sure what, if anything, this means for the Prius.

Poor gear change? The Phrase about a workman and his tools comes to mind!

As for the Prius, it doesnt change gears... That's why it's so smooooothh....

[harrypotter:)]

05w30 Castrol edge fully syn is what is in mine and i get it serviced at dealership! oipe oils you can buy 4ltrs of Castrol edge 05w30 fully synthetic one of the best on market +two qaulity filters through Opie Oils with UFI filters £50 including vat and delivery but sign up as a customer (free) you get member dicounts

[johalareewi]

Toyota used a special low friction oil...

Isn't that the kind of oil you want?

[britprius]

So called light weight oils lubricate better and quicker than heaver oils. The likely reason for the gearbox problem is syncro lock out due to not enough friction on the synro hubs.