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Toyota Prius. More than a car, it is a lifestyle and a movement that has been changing people since 1997. The Eco-conscious vehicle was a massive shock to the automotive industry. Many hated the car for what it stood for. Still, as time has gone one, many "haters" have now embraced the technology and found that the future is exciting.
Toyota built the Prius as a car that would last. They created it to be eco-friendly and in more ways than just a fuel miser. Prius takes less engine and transmission oil. The coolant is changed far less often, and the brakes last what seems to be like forever.
Please watch this video about the longevity of Toyota Prius engine and share your comments on how you maintain your Prius. Also, please click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube channel for daily automotive news reports.
Still, Prius is not without problems. Hybrid battery failure plague many owners, along with EGR problems, head gasket issues, and other things. Between Gen 2 and Gen 3 Prius, there are plenty of things that can go wrong.
While these issues exist in a mass-produced vehicle, there are many things that Toyota did get right. I want to cover why the engine in Gen 1, 2, and 3 Prius is better than most may think and why they should last longer than most give them credit for. I also want to share with you how you can get yours to last longer as well.
The Toyota Prius Engine 1.5 and 1.8L - Built To Last With Proper Care
I know some people will read this and say to themselves. Well, my Prius consumes oil, or my Prius had a head gasket failure, so this does not apply to me. Actually, it does. The reason for this is called consumer education.
I am an automotive technician, as well as an automotive instructor at my local college. Education helps dispel the ignorance we all live in one way or another. The "why" this applies to you is this. You have not been taught to care for your Prius properly.
Most people will buy a car off of a recommendation they get from someone who may "know cars" better than themselves. People may rely on a salesperson to tell them everything they need to know about the car before they buy it. But what most people fail to get from their buy experience is how to care for the darn thing.
Many consumers know that you need to change the oil, fill it with fuel if necessary and fix it if it breaks. But what about taking care of it before it breaks? Preventative maintenance is something I know many do not see the value in because they are unaware of the benefits of such services.
For instance, oil consumption is a significant problem with Gen 1, 2, and 3 Prius. Many consumers are going to places like Wal-Mart or Jiffy Lube for "cheaper" than the dealer oil changes. What they are doing is causing more harm than good. These places do not use the same quality oil and filter that the dealer does.
The second part of this is what lands on you as the consumer. You are not changing your oil when it is needed. Here is why. Prius goes through a lot of starts and stops scenarios. This action is one way Prius achieves high fuel econ ratings. What you are not told, is that this action wears your oil down, heavily. Couple that with short trips where the oil does not get to operating temperature, and you have a recipe for sludge, varnish and oil consumption,
When oil breaks down, it turns into hardened carbon and chokes piston rings keeping them from pulling oil away off the cylinder walls. The oil gets burned in the combustion chamber and thus consumed over time.
Toyota makes an impressive engine, even if there are some flaws. These flaws mainly come out when the engines are neglected by the owner/operator of the Prius. There are plenty of Prius on the road today with hundreds of thousands of miles on them doing just fine. The engines are ticking away perfectly, and why? Maintenance. Do it, learn it, become one with it.
Toyota often does not make junk. There is a reason behind the following they have and the loyalty of the customers that keep buying their products. Think about it. When the MK5 Supra was being designed, even though it was using a BMW engine, Toyota engineers still went through it with a fine-tooth comb. Why? Because they believe in giving their best work into all they do. Prius is no exception to that.
If you want your Prius engine to last, take better care of it. In an upcoming video, I will be explaining oil and filters along with what you need to know when changing your oil.
Conclusion
Toyota makes a great engine. Prius is meant to last, but you need to do your part and take care of it. Do the right thing and put only quality filters and oil in that are meant for your driving habits.
Prius has given many owners hundreds of thousands of miles. I see many post all the time of 300, 400 and over 500 thousand miles on their cars. So to answer the question, can the engine last forever? I think that Prius is well on the way to proving that statement true.
Thank you for reading, and I will see you in the next story. What are the differences between the 2nd and 3rd Generation Toyota Prius?
Watch this Toyota Prius truck with a nice little bed and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube for daily automotive news analysis.
Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Instructor of Automotive Technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.
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Comments
Nice article and thank you
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Nice article and thank you for this valuable information
My 2011 Prius had a major
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In reply to Nice article and thank you by john ajax (not verified)
My 2011 Prius had a major engine repair costing $2000 at 120,000 miles as it began burning oil. It lasted to 161,000 miles when it started shaking & needed a new engine. The last 41000 miles it had oil changes every 5000 miles and a quart of oil added in between changes. I wish I had known to change the oil more frequently. I was hoping to get 300,000 miles but gave up & traded it for Honda rather than spend $6000 on a 10 year old Prius.
Hey Pete! Wow, I'm so glad to
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Hey Pete! Wow, I'm so glad to have found this article. I have a 2012 Lexus Ct200h with 128K miles on it. It recently started making the horrible "I have coolant in my spark plugs" knocking noise of death and I'm trying to decide whether I should listen to 60% of the mechanics who say I should just repair the head gasket or the 40% who say I should replace the engine. And if I replace my engine, should it be with another used 3rd generation, or spend the bucks to get a 4th generation engine put in. What do you think?! HELP!!!
Hey Melissa! I think you
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In reply to Hey Pete! Wow, I'm so glad to by Melissa (not verified)
Hey Melissa! I think you should sell that car to me and get a new one! BUT if I have to give you advice, I would swap a 4th Gen Prius engine into it.
Prius 2006, 240 500 mile.
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Prius 2006, 240 500 mile. Engine oil is totaly consumed by motor in 3 months and fill up again in another time in last 6 month. Why appear engin oil sign so often with yellow triangle?
What is the problem of my car?
If your car had 50,000 miles,
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In reply to Prius 2006, 240 500 mile. by Saroar (not verified)
If your car had 50,000 miles, I would answer you like this: "You have a car that has a terrible problem." But your car is actually being normal for an old car. Old cars use oil by various leaks, by worn and clogged piston rings, and by leaking into the cylinders past the valve stems. In summary, it is normal to use that much oil. So what can you do? One: Learn how to check your oil level and how toput oi in your Prius. Two: Keep a written record of what you do. "At xx miles I added yy liters." Three: Learn how often you shouldadd oil by doing this for several months. Four: Make a habit of checking and adding oil. Five: Learn to love your old car, and take care of it like you would care for any old person.
A Prius is a good car for non
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A Prius is a good car for non-mechanical people until about 150,000 miles, if the owner changes the oil at least every 5000 miles, changes the Automatic Transmission Fluid every 50,000 miles, uses thecar every 3 or 4 days, and keeps up on general maintenance issues.
After 150,000 miles _any_ car requires more attention, and Priuses do too. Spark plugs, water pumps, brakes, 12 volt battery, belt, and idler pulley need to be changed around that time. The health of the main battery, engine, the pcv system, egr system, vapor recovery system, fuel monitoringsy stem, cooling system,and the braking system must be monitored carefully to be asafe and reliable vehicle. The high mileage vehicles you hear about usually have owners or someone who can do this. One thing a Prius is not--It is not a "400,000 mile car if you just change the oil." It is a well engineered car ( except 2010 to 2014) that can last a very long time in the hands of a mechanically minded, disciplined person who spends money to keep it running well.
I just read article on the
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I just read article on the Prius. I own a 2006 VW Jetta TDI (168500 mi) still get 44 mpg city. This engine is supposed to be good to 500000 to 750000 miles before overhaul. Love this car. Bought it new.
I have got a new thing to
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I have got a new thing to learn about this article. Thank you for sharing the information.
I have a 2011 Prius with 301
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I have a 2011 Prius with 301,000 miles. I use it these days for delivery work, which really racks up the miles, but in the years I've owned it, the greatest problem it has had is that the little battery died. I have it checked every few years, and it seems to be doing fine. My question is: when the hybrid battery finally dies, is it worth it to replace the battery and keep going? I only use this car for making Doordash deliveries. It is also without AC and the body is pretty badly banged up. However, I would hate to buy another car just for this little side hobby of mine. Any recommendations? I have found a shop that could replace the battery for $1,400, but just not sure it is worth it at this stage.
As a former Toyota/Mazda
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As a former Toyota/Mazda dealer tech. And subsequently a shop owner. I retired 25 years ago . I own 2 Prius. 08 an 2011. Change oil every 5k. Mostly at dealer. They are reasonable. My gen3 gets 0W20. I used that in my gen 2 from 30k to 120k then was advised to use 5w30. Gen 2 has 200k . love my prius...
My wife still drives her 2005
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My wife still drives her 2005 Gen 2 Prius on a daily basis. It has 112K miles on it with no ICE problems. I did have to replace one [of 28] Hybrid Battery cells at about 105K miles for $30 on Amazon but the Hybrid Battery has been running fine since then. Spring 2021 I also replaced the left and right rear shock/spring assemblies because they had rusted thru the support plates and the springs were broken at the bottoms. Having said all that, it is being replaced by a shiny new Model Y LR in February 2022. Let'em steal the catalytic converter off my Tesla!
I have 2012 Prius C Hybred.
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I have 2012 Prius C Hybred. Everything gets regular Toyota servicing. 159,000 miles. Running great. 50.5 - 62 mpg depending on road. Questions: How long will the electric battery last? Is there a way to check if it’s weak? And how much does a new one cost?
The battery HV last at least
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In reply to I have 2012 Prius C Hybred. by Sharon Young (not verified)
The battery HV last at least 10 years normally/200 000 km. If you live in mild weather, not hot or park under garage all the time and drive regularly, 15 years is the minimum. In UK where cloudy and rain all the time, we all get 15 years warranty as default . Toyota is not stupid giving 15 years warranty if iy will fail before it.
Hi Sharon,
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Hi Sharon,
Depending on the model year of your car, a new hybrid battery can cost anywhere from ~$2500 to $4000 to replace. In May of 2019 Toyota wanted $2700 to replace the hybrid battery in my wife's 2005 Gen2 Prius. I decided to rebuild the hybrid battery myself for about $35 and it has been working fine ever since then. It is not something that the average Prius owner can do themselves so I don't recommend that approach unless you are comfortable taking apart a 220+ volt battery and putting it all back together again.
A skilled technician telling
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A skilled technician telling people to go to the dealer for anything, even an oil change, is pure comedy gold. Don't ever do anything with the dealership unless the car is 100% under warranty and they agreed to fix it free. After that,never go to a dealer for anything if you can avoid it. Change your oil at home.
My 2013 Prius 2 had all
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My 2013 Prius 2 had all maintenance on time, at the dealer. It never leaked oil & fluid levels were maintained. Then suddenly the head gasket went on a road trip 700 miles from home at only 166k miles. I was so disappointed! I was planning on at least 250-300k from that thing like I got from my previous 2 Toyotas.
Our 07 Prius has 450,000
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Our 07 Prius has 450,000 miles on it , only thing that has been changed is 3 bad battery cells on its second hybrid battery. Everything on engine and generator is original.
I had my 2008 Toyota Prius
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I had my 2008 Toyota Prius and that 149 thousand miles it consumed so much oil that I needed to replace the engine.
I'm sick by letting Midas do
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I'm sick by letting Midas do my oil change, and sicker that I can no longer afford the high maintenance.charges at the dealerships. Yet, I invested $4000 in my 05 Prius to get catelytic converter replaced. Despite having total insurance coverage, State Farm totalled my car, rather than pay for it! So, you all get those cat shields on your car. I digress. My little Prius is only now falling apart here and there, and doesn't seem too good in the snow, especially with the cat Shield! Thanks for your article though. I usually turn to you with my Prius questions. I wish I took better care of it. The check engine light has been on for a long time, but the car is running fine, and I'm afraid to get it checked, but I will. I'll probably have to do a small fundraiser to pay for it though! Yep. My father bought that car, I wouldn't, but suppose I have now!
I have a Prius 2008 with way…
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I have a Prius 2008 with way more than 329.000 miles. I found that my car have the “black panel” issue, or the instruments doesn’t work in 6 times into 10 that you turn it on. In other words, when the instruments aren’t working the mileage isn’t counting. I believe my car have
more than 400 thousand miles. Now I have to send it to the scrap yard, cause someone rear ended my Prius and was totaled. But it’s a great car. I drove the last 30k of this car life.