Rich - I only asked about driving in L to get a sense of how much you were using the regen vs. how much you might be using the pads. Your history with your Durango answered my question. I use the L and D about the same as you do. Good call getting both sets of pads changed at the same time. Incidently, I recently took my FEH in for a 10k service (oil/filter change, rotate tires, various checks) and there was no charge ("warranty"). Did I miss something? I paid bottom dollar for the vehicle in last February and I know I didn't pre-pay for any services. And they changed out the HVBattery A/C filter for free as well. Did I miss something?

 

Sounds like you got lucky to me!

 

Glenn, When I had the first HV battery air filter changed on my FEH, the dealership also replaced it free of charge (and it was being worked on at a different dealership than where it was purchased.) I'm not aware of any "Warranty" for the 10,000 mile service. I do know that after 2 more oil changes, my next one is free (something my Ford dealership does...)

I've also noticed that the lightest weight for synthetic oil in any auto parts store is 10W-30. Has anyone found the 5W-25 weight synthetic oil the FEH requires? I have gone to a different place one time and had them put the 10W-30 synthetic oil in (was all they had.) Once that oil was in, my FE suffered until my next oil change. Since the dealership is the only place that stocks the 5W-25 weighted oil, I just go there...

 

I know that my dealer, offers their first service for free. I think in the hopes that I will develop a habit and keep returning thereafter.

They also give free state inspections, for as long as I own the vehicle.

None of this, has anything to do with it being a hybrid.

 

I assume my 10k service was provided for free to entice me to return for future service - even got the little sticker reminding me to return at 20k - we all know that now-a-days dealerships make their money in the service dept and not on sales.

I used the 5W-20 I bought from Ford when I performed an oil and filter change at 5000 miles. This is a "premium synthetic blend" which means is is part synth and part crude oil based. I have purchased a case of full synthetic 5W-20 from AMSOil(via their website) for all my future changes from 15k on.

I owned a 1983 Toyota Camry for 20 years and got over 220,000 miles on the engine before I sold it - changed the petroleum based 10W-40 oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. Same with my 1988 Isuzu Trooper....changed every 3-4000 miles and have 217,000 on an engine that typically needs an overhaul at 175,000. My best guess is that my FEH ICE operates about 75-80% of the time in my particular travels.......so a 5000 mile change interval is my intention.(possibly longer, if I can be made to believe the claims that AMSOil makes). I haven't seen a 5W-20 Mobil1 but I think it exists.

Further off topic, I passed a Prius painted-up as a yellow cab on I-95 this morning. Less than a minute later I heard a report that Toyota has petitioned the USGovt to extend tax credits on the Prius because they hit the 60,000 vehicle number earlier this summer and noticed a significant drop in sales when folks were told they would only get 50% of the original $3150 credit.

 

This is off topic, but Mobil 1 full Synth comes in 5w-20 and even 0w-20.
( Or it used to, haven't looked in months )

Since I have below freezing for half a year or more, I use 0w-20 every 10,000 miles with excellent results.

My brake pads are good too at 28,000 miles! Less than half gone!

 

Back on topic -

John - have you noticed the "half as much wear on the front brake pads relative to the rear pads" so explicitly predicted by Ford?

 

No... my front pads have 1mm more "meat" than the rear at 27,500 miles.

Like 11mm front and 10mm rear. Not much different at all, but I'm a gentle driver, and slow most of the time with regen only.

-John

 

Its important to note however that on vehicles I've replaced brakes on, the front brakes wear faster. Since it is reveresed Ford is right in pointing out there is a difference from normal, its just not as large as they implied.

 

Since I started this topic/thread as brakes and the questions regarding the brake job I had to have performed on my FEH: I do have another question. At 1 point I did know the answqer to this question; but since I have never thought of it that much before, I forgot it. Which is better? Drum or disk brakes?

The reason I am asking this is pretty simple. In this day and age, where most vehicles are using and switching to 4 wheel disk brakes, I wonder why Toyota put rear drum brakes on their Prius (at least the 05 model) And does anyone know how their regen brake system works in comparison to Ford's? (Or should this start a new Thread?)