2005 Prius Gobbling Up Oil

Hi Cathy, i also have a 2005 but mine has 242,xxx miles. Mine tends to use about a half qt every 3,000 miles. keep in mind thats very good for a high milage Prius.

First off, you need to figure out just how much your car uses. keep a regular eye on oil level, check every fill up, for right now when we don't know just how much it uses. i would try to figure out how much it uses every 500 miles, note that from the top dimple to the bottom dimple on the dipstick is about 1 qt of oil.

Also how often have you got the oil changed? how long have you owned the car? what type of oil do you use?

 

I don't mean to sound "snarky"...but what could be causing it?

You now have a 10 year old vehicle with 209,800 miles on it. That's now considered a high mileage vehicle any way you cut it.

And yes it varies from machine to machine, engine to engine, I know some people get more mileage and life out of their engines but it shouldn't be too surprising that your oil consumption seems to be pointing to an engine that may need rebuilding or replacing.

A worn out engine leads to high oil consumption. Piston rings deteriorating, the pistons themselves...all can be signs of an engine that has worked hard for over 200,000 miles.

That being said? You can do, what you are doing. Keep an eye on the oil and keep adding. There are some additives available that supposedly help renew the performance of aging engines. I suppose you have little to lose in trying those.

Have you noticed smoke from the tail pipe? An eventual side affect as the engine continues to deteriorate will be blow by and smoking. Which also can be ignored, but will make it hard to pass DEQ.

Oh....the only other "positive" possibility would be a leak. But you should be noticing oil spots under your car if that was the case. Have you noticed any oil spots?

That could possibly be the best and simplest possibility to explain you sudden increase in oil consumption.

Otherwise, I think eventually you will be forced into a decision about your Prius and Engine. Rebuild, Replace, or time for a new car.

 

Very true ^ but it could be that your engine has stuck rings, and seals. I know some people won't like this, but try putting about 8 oz of Marvel mystery oil in it, run it for about a thousand miles then change the oil. it sounds super sketchy, but hey! give it a try. I've used MMO before and my engine is fine.

Also, you could have a stuck PCV valve that is sucking in oil. I'd say change it! And like said above the poor little 1.5 engine could be plum wore out. Give it a fighting chance though

 

Good for you. You check your oil level! Sooooo many people don't. Ideally you are checking the oil on a flat level surface with the engine having been off, for hours (ideally before you drive it off in the morning). This ensures that nearly all of the oil is in the oil pan to give you as accurate reading as possible.

Consider switching to 10W-30, once your "winter," is over. This slightly thicker viscosity might slow the consumption down some.

But no matter what, the consumption will get worse over time, unfortunately. Eventually you will be faced with a choice of replace engine (new/used/rebuilt), or new/used car.

 

the cause is most likely wear and tear from 200,000 miles. but give aarons mmo a try, what have you got to lose?

 

First off, to those who've never owned a car with more than 200K miles, you're out of your element (as Walter Sobchak would say) so you should not toss your 2 cents into this thread (but I know you will anyway).

I have owned two cars with more than 200K miles. My 05 Prius with 231K miles uses a quart every 2500 to 3000 miles- depending on the season and how fast I drive it. I had a 92 Honda Civic with 236K miles that used almost no oil between 3000 mile oil changes - when changing oil that frequently was considered prudent.

Adding a quart of oil every 3000 miles is not a game stopper. Every 500 miles? That would be. Goodbye catalytic converter.

The OP did not provide the oil consumption rate but it seems that the rate is closer to 500 mi/qt than to 3000 mi/qt. It is likely that the OP is not the original owner of this oil burner.

With proper maintenance, most vehicles can make it to the 300K mile mark. But that's the key - some people don't and ruin their vehicles prematurely and off to the scrap heap they go.

So, as someone with personal experience, an engine with 200K miles is FAR from worn out provided the current and former owners kept up with the recommended maintenance (assuming of course that the automaker wasn't making lemonade the day your car was manufactured).

 

Actually, 1.6 US quarts.

OP needs to figure out exactly how much oil her car is consuming per 1,000 miles. Then we can say whether that is acceptable or not.

 

My owners manual says oil consumption bad as a liter per 1000 km is ok. That's ridiculous!
Unless it's defective or has been abused, an engine with so few miles shouldn't be worn out to the extent of guzzling oil. Among many other examples, my brother currently drives a (non-Prius) Toyota with over 300,000 miles, and it consumes very little oil.

 

I agree that having a high mileage vehicle that is burning oil isn't necessarily a game stopper. Which is why I say "You can do, what you are doing. Keep an eye on the oil and keep adding.".

I've owned high mileage vehicles that burned oil, and driven them safely and reliably.... well....until I sold them or traded them in.

But my concern is that the OP seems to suggest this has come on relatively quickly and the consumption rate sounds "high" when the phrase, "adding oil every 4-5 days" is used.

Plus once an engine starts burning oil, you can try tricks to slow the deterioration, additives, high mileage oils..etc...but it never really starts reverse aging or getting better. There is no mechanical Benjamin Button scenario possible.

I didn't mean to suggest that the OP need to drive the vehicle in tomorrow for a rebuild, or engine replacement. But YES depending on the amount of oil it is consuming....and I'm taking "gobbling" as suggesting the consumption is high, I'd say it's prudent to keep the reality that it could mean the nearing end of useful engine life is approaching.

With attentiveness to replacing oil, and assuming you can get it past DEQ. You can drive it until it drops. And yes, that could be for 100,000 more miles, and perhaps years.

Without really knowing exactly what "Gobbling" oil means? It's kind of impossible to tell how close to the end the engine may or may not be.

 

Question #1: How much oil loss
Question #2: Burning or leaking ?

 

Thanks, Patrick! Good to know

 

i don't see how a 10 year old vehicle could be burning oil. are you sure you're not imagining things?

 

Very easy.
1. An owner does not change engine oil on time.
2. The car has logged 100K+ miles.

 

#1 is not the only way an engine can be abused that might cause it to "gobble" oil.
#2 is not a valid excuse. Engines commonly go much farther without major increases in oil consumption.

 

I didn't design or manufacture the Prius engine and I have no need to make an excuse. I am merely explaining the reality that the Prius engine, being all aluminum, will not tolerate lack of maintenance or abuse such as overheating - and even if maintained according to the manufacturer's schedule, will eventually consume some amount of oil especially after the odometer logs six digits.

This is not the end of the world if the owner periodically checks the engine oil level, figures out that consumption is happening and on a timely basis replenishes the lost oil.

 

Well maintained Prius engines seem to overall consume little to no oil for upwards of 300k miles.
Patrick is right though -- well maintained is a very big IF

 

There are lots of possible variables that can lead an engine to decline, and decline at different rates.

In this case we don't even know if the vehicle was purchased new, or used.
We don't know how it was driven, maintained.

All we know is the vehicle is nearly 10 model years old, has over 200,000 miles on it, and is evidently requiring some amount of oil be added every few days.

The OP DOES say burn oil and doesn't mention seeing any leaks...so I'm assuming the vehicle is burning oil, if leak is discovered later? Well, possibly good for the OP.

If you've had vehicles that you've driven for 200,000,- 300,000 miles or more without an issue good for you, but it's kind of immaterial to the OP's situation. I'd say 10 years and 200,000+ miles is well within the realm where you "might" start to develop engine problems. Since this is what the OP is describing I think a debate over why or whether it should be happening, or could NOT be happening is a waste of time. It IS happening.

 

Is it even possible to burn say a quart of oil every 200 miles and not have black exhaust ?