Considering the first oil change is at 7500, has anyone tried an additive in the crankcase to decrease friction? I did and it made a BIG difference! More power, less shuddering from the ICE (more seamless with electric motor) and my mileage has increased slightly! Maybe next step, a K&N air filter and SPLITFIRE sparkplugs? <br><br>-Mchael<br>CA "01 PRIUS"

Which additive did you use? I have not regularly used them in the past, but I like the concequences that you mention.<br><br>Craig

Ok, I'll bite. What is a SPLITFIRE sparkplug and why would it be better than the Denso Iridium plugs that come stock?<br><br>My understanding is that the Iridiums are used because of their very precise, dependable, reproduceable ignition timing characteristics. The computers use this to carefully time ignition for the most power without knocking. What do SPLITFIREs bring to the table and are they as precise? The Iridiums are very expensive, are the SPLITFIREs cheaper? The Iridiums last 100K miles (probably more in a Prius where the engine doesn't run all the time). How long do SPLITFIREs last?<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

Splitfire spark plugs are a scam. <br><br>I'm not sure of accepted spark plug terminology so let me define a couple things. The spark goes between a point on the bottom of the spark plug (which I'll call "the point at the bottom of the spark plug") and a piece of metal that curls down around that point (for brevity's sake, I'll call that the "Doohickey.") <br><br>The idea of behind the Splitfire is to divide the Doohickey into a two-pronged fork, thereby generating a spark from the tip of each prong. Twice the spark! Increased combustion! More fuel efficiency! Yadda yadda yadda. (Add your own snake oil marketing line here.) <br><br>Electricity doesn't work that way, though. Despite the forked Doohickey, the electricity will always flow from just one point on the Doohickey to the point at the bottom of the spark plug. <br><br>If you're interested in purchasing some Splitfires, be sure to get the special deal where they name a star after you in the "International Star Registry" as well... (That's a book they keep under the counter in the back room.)<br><br>Cheers,<br>Jay

In Message 7147 busterbo2001 asked:<br>&gt; Considering the first oil change is at 7500, <br>&gt; has anyone tried an additive in the crankcase <br>&gt; to decrease friction?<br>Yep! Called 5W30 synthetic blend.<br><br>&gt; I did and it made a BIG difference! More power, <br>&gt; less shuddering from the ICE (more seamless <br>&gt; with electric motor) and my mileage has <br>&gt; increased slightly!<br>Wow! Did it clean your gutters and neuter the cat too? :-)<br><br>&gt; Maybe next step, a K&N air filter<br>Why? Toyota provides replacements for FREE?<br><br>&gt; and SPLITFIRE sparkplugs? <br>Ah! Be the first one to fry your engine and warranty at the same time?<br>Toyota is EXTREMELY SPECIFIC about spark-plug types and there are ONLY TWO that fit the bill.<br>Rumor has it (till I check it out) that the spark is always hot so long as the engine is turning. That's NASTY on a plug and, with the "strange" Atkinson-Miller cycle used by the ICE, I'm not looking to toast my ICE.<br><br>Let us know how it works out 12,000 miles from now.<br><br>Over 16,000 miles and still thrilled!<br>Bill Powell - NJ "HALFGAS"<br>Prius Resource List and Issues Database<br>(Prius: Just Drive It!)

I put ProLong in the day I got my Prius. It seems to me that I get better gas mileage on the highway (where the gas engine is used the most) that I am supposed to. For example, I made a round trip from Eugene to Portland (Oregon) this week, and averaged 51 MPH in both directions.<br><br>I have gone 3300 miles so far. Today, I checked my oil, and I would say it is honey colored. I will probably change it this weekend, since this is the original oil, but I suspect I will be able to follow the recommended schedule of 7500 miles in the future from what I've seen so far.