Problem Changing Oil

EricGo · 10-22-2006, 07:17 PM

I changed oil at home 10K miles ago with top rated syn oil and AC Delco filter. Today I went to change oil again, and am *really* non-plussed to find out that the oil will not drain! I checked the oil guage, which showed half-way full. I then added 1/2 a pint of oil, and the oil guage shows full, so I am confident that oil is present, just not draining. I drove the car about 15 minutes before the oil change, and the oil is warm, but not hot, to touch.

The bolt that takes the oil filter can itself be removed. Is this the next reasonable step ?
I presume there is crud blocking the oil exit, and in the pan. Is a trip to the dealer needed to clean it out ?

Any other advice ?

Thanks!

**TonyPSchaefer** · 10-22-2006, 07:40 PM

That's odd. Of course, you already knew that.

I just changed my oil yesterday. Took three quarts just fine.
Did you put in 1/2 pint or 1/2 quart. A half-pint is a very small amount. Not that it matters much, either way it's apparently not doing it correctly.

EricGo · 10-22-2006, 07:42 PM

Oh, you are right. A quart. Damn these US measurements

IsrAmeriPrius · 10-22-2006, 07:47 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Oct 22 2006, 04:42 PM) [snapback]336563[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Damn these US measurements
[/b]

יהיה יותר קל אם תשתמש בליטרים

darelldd · 10-23-2006, 02:26 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Oct 22 2006, 04:17 PM) [snapback]336553[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Today I went to change oil again, and am *really* non-plussed to find out that the oil will not drain! [/b]

Do you mean to say that NOTHING comes out? Not a single drip? Try poking a sitck up into the drain hole. If that doesn't work, you've got a real mystery on your hands. There sure as hell shouldn't be anything in the pan large enough to block the drain hole!

You're sure you're removing the drain bolt, yes???

pinball · 10-23-2006, 03:48 AM

EricGo - if you have oil in the ICE as the oil guage indicates then you must have oil in the sump. I can only think you are undoing one of the bolts that holds the black sump plate onto the base of the ICE and not the bolt for draining the oil - which is slightly offset to assist draining.
If on the other hand you are undoing the right bolt and no oil is coming out - get a tow to your nearest Pruis dealer - don't drive it.
Pinball

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Oct 23 2006, 07:26 AM) [snapback]336665[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Do you mean to say that NOTHING comes out? Not a single drip? Try poking a sitck up into the drain hole. If that doesn't work, you've got a real mystery on your hands. There sure as hell shouldn't be anything in the pan large enough to block the drain hole!

You're sure you're removing the drain bolt, yes???
[/b]

EricGo · 10-23-2006, 10:42 AM

Pinball, Darrell -- thanks for the hint.

I am an idiot. I forgot about the drain bolt completely, and only removed the oil filter ! It was from the oil filter drain that some 30 ml of oil came out. Now that I think about it a bit, the oil filter drain must be pressurized in normal operation, explaining why gravity drainage did not work.

My daughter was helping me yesterday. She is *never* going to let me forget this.

aaf709 · 10-23-2006, 12:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Oct 23 2006, 07:42 AM) [snapback]336732[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Pinball, Darrell -- thanks for the hint.

I am an idiot. I forgot about the drain bolt completely, and only removed the oil filter !
[/b]

Glad it was solved so easily.

Hey, look at the troubleshooting section of a manual for an electrical item. The first question as to why it doesn't work is, "Is it plugged in?"

And here I was going to comment on whether the oil fill cap was removed or not. That can create a vacuum that'll slow a draining.

tumbleweed · 10-23-2006, 12:17 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Oct 23 2006, 07:42 AM) [snapback]336732[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Pinball, Darrell -- thanks for the hint.

I am an idiot. I forgot about the drain bolt completely, and only removed the oil filter ! It was from the oil filter drain that some 30 ml of oil came out. Now that I think about it a bit, the oil filter drain must be pressurized in normal operation, explaining why gravity drainage did not work.

My daughter was helping me yesterday. She is *never* going to let me forget this.
[/b]

Thanks for your honesty Eric, makes me feel better about some of the really dumb things I've done. I haven't done that one but I've done some other stuff that is really astounding.

BTW that's what daughters are for isn't it?

EricGo · 10-23-2006, 12:20 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Oct 23 2006, 12:06 PM) [snapback]336768[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Glad it was solved so easily.

Hey, look at the troubleshooting section of a manual for an electrical item. The first question as to why it doesn't work is, "Is it plugged in?"[/b]

Thanks

10-22-2006, 07:17 PM	#1
EricGo Three cats, one Prius, and assorted humans Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM (SouthWest US) Posts: 1,810 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I changed oil at home 10K miles ago with top rated syn oil and AC Delco filter. Today I went to change oil again, and am really non-plussed to find out that the oil will not drain! I checked the oil guage, which showed half-way full. I then added 1/2 a pint of oil, and the oil guage shows full, so I am confident that oil is present, just not draining. I drove the car about 15 minutes before the oil change, and the oil is warm, but not hot, to touch. The bolt that takes the oil filter can itself be removed. Is this the next reasonable step ? I presume there is crud blocking the oil exit, and in the pan. Is a trip to the dealer needed to clean it out ? Any other advice ? Thanks! __________________ R2-E2: 2004 Prius, 37K miles, lifetime MPG 57.1 as of 8/2006. Rolling 12 month average: 61.05

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10-22-2006, 07:40 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,498 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	That's odd. Of course, you already knew that. I just changed my oil yesterday. Took three quarts just fine. Did you put in 1/2 pint or 1/2 quart. A half-pint is a very small amount. Not that it matters much, either way it's apparently not doing it correctly.

10-22-2006, 07:42 PM	#3
EricGo Three cats, one Prius, and assorted humans Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM (SouthWest US) Posts: 1,810 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Oh, you are right. A quart. Damn these US measurements

10-23-2006, 10:42 AM	#7
EricGo Three cats, one Prius, and assorted humans Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM (SouthWest US) Posts: 1,810 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Pinball, Darrell -- thanks for the hint. I am an idiot. I forgot about the drain bolt completely, and only removed the oil filter ! It was from the oil filter drain that some 30 ml of oil came out. Now that I think about it a bit, the oil filter drain must be pressurized in normal operation, explaining why gravity drainage did not work. My daughter was helping me yesterday. She is never going to let me forget this.