engine oil went dry

I use the aluminum looking washers, although one oil change I dropped the plug and it landed on top of the oil drain pan, I picked up the plug and screwed it in. I then filled with oil and started the car, I slid back under and checked for leaks and when I pulled the drain pan from under the car, there laid the new washer. I checked the plug a couple of different times and no drip or moisture around it so left it till next oil change and made sure the washer was on the plug.

 

I had Toyota change my oil 7 times and I did it 11 times (checked my logbook) and always used an aluminum looking washer bought with a filter element, o-ring and 5 liters of Toyota branded 0w-20 from one of two different Dealerships. Since my "Holy Crap" experience the next 17 oil/filter changes are on them, but will ask my parts guy next visit if they changed.

 

The plain washer should easily outlast the car, if not abused. The original plain aluminum washer on my Mazda survived roughly 100 oil changes without problems, and it was thinner.

 

INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION PAST 100K MILES NORMAL FOR A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AT 1 QUART PER 2000 MILES?

OIL SOOT WIPED FROM EXHAUST PIPE.
YELLOW LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT AND BEEP SOUNDS WHEN MAKING HARD TURNS.

ON JUNE 1, 2015 AT 101131 MILES, OIL LEVEL WAS DOWN 2 QUARTS AND REQUESTED AN OIL CHANGE AND FILTER FROM DEALER.

ABOUT 2000 MILES LATER ON JUNE 26, 2015 AT 103300 MILES,
TOPPED OFF WITH 1 QUART OF 5-30 SAE MOBILE 1
FULL SYNTHETIC OIL FOR HIGH MILEAGE CARS.

 

sounds about right.

 

I think this CR rant over 'excessive oil consumption' has been mentioned already, but good reading
Excessive Oil Consumption Isn't Normal - Consumer Reports

I just find the story a bit sad since it will encourage owners to blame the manufacturer rather than take care of their cars, notwithstanding the fact that in some cases it is the car and not the owner. CR should also consider that the oil change interval changes the oil consumption amount. Presumably it is better for all concerned to add a quart by 5k miles rather than exchange every 3k.

2nd point: By the CR survey 2% of all cars need a top-off before the next oil change by the time they are ~ 3 years old. That makes the issue a lot more common than the reports we see regarding the Prius, particularly since the average car has a shorter oil change interval than the Prius.

 

Mine used to go through a quart/1500 - 2000 miles, and had that "knocking" under load, then I put a can of seafoam into the gastank and another can into the oil filler cap, drove 100 miles, then had the oil changed, and both the knocking went away and the oil consumption reduced significantly. Not sure why but i am sure glad to not have to add a quart every couple thousand!

I still check the oil levels on occasion, I was alerted to the oil consumption issue after an oil change left only 2-3 quarts drained out of 4.75ish.

 

seafoam is the best, isn't it?

well, to be fair, we don't really have enough to go on.

 

no

 

+1
The Prius also has a fairly small oil sump, which exacerbates the early onset high oil consumption.

This is all pretty simple stuff.
You can't start exercising and eating right at age 60 and expect to get the same benefit as those who adopt a culture of fitness earlier in life. You will however get some benefit no matter when you start taking ownership of the ownership task.
Most of the SeaFoamers and other devotes of the Marvel Mystery Oil aisle of their local WalMarts are trying to make up for 80-100K miles of sloth - either on their part or the previous owner(s.)
If you buy a quart of whatever oil that your car is using ($4) and you check your oil about once a month or every other tank (1,000 miles or so) then probably 90-percent of "sudden high oil use" would simply not occur.


It's even easier and cheaper than eating right and exercising!

Hmmmmm....


Danny needs to work on his spyware.....