1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

How much Oil does your Prius use?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dmark2012, Apr 23, 2012.

  1. dmark2012

    dmark2012 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2012
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have a 2008 Toyota Prius. Never a problem until recently.

    I took my car in for an oil change and they did not put any oil in my car.
    The mechanic said this was not possible. It is the only possibility according to all the other technicians I have talked to. He said I should check the oil dipstick every time I fill up. I drove my Prius for 7000 with very little oil if any? I know there will be damage in the long run. What is my recourse?

    The dealership keeps telling me it is my fault there was no Oil, how is that possible?
     
  2. 09Priusman

    09Priusman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2010
    58
    5
    0
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Why have you posted this two times?
     
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Quiet clearly I would think it's your fault if you didn't check your oil level.

    It's the mechanics fault if they changed your oil and didn't put any in, and/or left something untightened and it leaked out.

    If you drove 7000 miles since your last Oil change I would think there was some oil in your vehicle at some point.

    I don't check my oil dipstick every time I fill up (maybe I should) but I do check it after every Oil Change, and then about once a month. I also take cursory glances underneath places I've parked to look for signs of a leak.

    If the dealership is not going to admit to any wrong doing...and after 7000 miles? That's going to be hard to prove. Then you don't have too much recourse.

    Also it's not so much about Oil Useage...if you are at totally devoid of Oil after 7000 miles, then it's not a matter of it falling under "normal" parameters of oil useage.

    If you were burning oil at that rate, you would of noticed (I'd hope) lots of smoke.
     
  4. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    The lack of sufficient oil after 7000 miles is not evidence that they didn't put any oil in you car?

    Yep they're correct. You need to check your oil level on the dipstick from time to time. Once it gets more than about a quart low (depending on exactly where it started from) the oil might start degrading more quickly and the rate of loss can increase. Once it's down by about 2 quarts then both engine wear and oil loss will almost certainly accelerate.
     
  5. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You can have a car that burns over 1 qt/1000 miles and not have any noticeable smoke.
     
  6. kohnen

    kohnen Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2007
    317
    57
    0
    Location:
    Fullerton CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    The oil change interval on your Prius is 5000 miles - you apparently ignored checking your oil level for well past one oil change interval. Your mechanic's right. You aren't taking proper care of your car.
     
  7. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2008
    772
    95
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    wouldn't a warning light have come on if there was insufficient oil in the sump?
     
  8. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No, very few cars have oil level lights, it's difficult to do because the oil level changes depending on engine speed and other things.

    Cars typically has oil pressure lights and if the oil pressure light (idiot light) comes on while you are driving down the highway, you have probably already damaged your engine.
     
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Didn't we have a similar thread to this a couple weeks ago where someone didn't check the oil for about 11,000 miles and tried to blame everyone but themselves.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...g/105526-11-000-miles-overdue-oil-change.html

    You should check the oil every week or at the very very least before a long journey, but just not checking it is an expensive and sharp learning curve. :(

    You might be lucky and your engine could be ok and run for a long life. If you're a little lucky it might run for a while but burn a little more oil now. If you're unlucky it'll burn massive amounts of oil and kick out lots of smoke and attract the attention of the Police quicker than you'd like.

    Good luck.
     
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah but the OP is saying his vehicle is or was operating with NO Oil....

    You can't run your vehicle down to operating with no oil without noticeable symptoms.
     
  11. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You'd be surprised!

    I am aware of some taxis that had been run with no oil because nobody wanted to take the time to take it to the garage and have it topped up -for free!

    I noticed one car when I went to move it to another parking bay that it clattered a little on start up. Decided to check the oil and there was none on the dip stick! This car had done about 2,000 miles in the previous week. When it was topped up it took 4 litres, whereas the engine was designed to take 4.5. It had been running around for who knows how long with 0.5 litres of oil in it.

    It didn't cause any long term damage and is still running on the original engine.

    I will add that I also know of cars that have had permanent engine damage caused when the oil level just went below the low mark. So always ensure you check your oil and keep it topped up correctly.
     
  12. kacton

    kacton New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2012
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I just got back from the dealer for my 2005 Prius (90,000 miles on the car, taken for oil change every 3,500 miles). My Prius is two quarts low and has only been driven 500 miles since my last oil change (at the dealer who also replaced the 12v battery at that time). They told me the car is showing signs of "blow by" Code P0505 Idle Control System. They advised they need to take apart my engine ($1200) to see if it's a valve and may need to replace the engine. Last time I brought it they advised I was losing oil but there was no leak. This is the result. The reason I brought it to the dealer in the first place was I suddenly was getting a 'transmission lock' error upon starting the car - which wouldn't let me shut the car off.

    I told the dealer I can't afford $1200 for them to see if it's the valve. He advised I may need to buy a new car (hello I don't have $$$ for a new car!)
     
  13. saechaka

    saechaka Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2004
    225
    18
    0
    I currently have 250k on my car. I believe I have had the red triangle from low oil on 4 occasions. She goes through 1qt every 1000 miles. Still getting great mileage 50-52 right now.
     
  14. northwichita

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2006
    481
    102
    29
    Location:
    Wichita KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    My Prius is two quarts low and has only been driven 500 miles since my last oil change

    Aside from your engine problem, have you considered just renting a car when you do need to drive one? That is a really low mileage per oil change. What are your trips like when you do drive, many short trips may be part of the problem.
     
  15. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2004
    15,140
    611
    0
    Location:
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    Persona
    now ya make me want to go out and check my oil. over 3 Priuses, i have never burned a drop. sooner or later, my luck is gonna run out
     
  16. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    A "one post" OP, and he's nowhere to be seen. I'm starting to wonder if this is another one of those posts, and perhaps there's a bunch of guys on a VW or a BMW site somewhere having a laugh?
     
  17. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'll concede to your superior experience...as a Grumpy Cabby. I however have no desire to test this theory on my own vehicle.
     
  18. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Personally I think it would be wrong to assume that the OP even has clue what (s)he is talking about.
     
  19. Mike Mc

    Mike Mc '16 Prius 4, '13 Prius 3

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2011
    88
    35
    0
    Location:
    Fort Worth
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have never burned a drop. 160k. I have never heard of a car without oil in it not making a horrible racket. However, I am not willing to test that theory on my car either. I manage a fleet of over 2000 cars and just the other day someone drove up while I was in the parking lot in a 2010 Impala that sounded like someone had wedged a hammer in the engine. I ran over and had her shut it down, and of course she said " i was wondering what that noise was". NO oil was even showing on the dipstick. She failed to heed the last 3 maintenance notifications. The engine was saved though!