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Low oil indicator light?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Prius Five Guy, May 4, 2016.

  1. Prius Five Guy

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    Called 5 different Toyota dealers in my area and NONE were able to provide a competent answer; NONE. Does such a warning display on the vehicle's dashboard? If not, I'll have to do it the old fashion way and look at the dipstick.
     
  2. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Be careful, you may get an inguinal hernia by doing so.......:ROFLMAO:
     
  3. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

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    The Prius does indeed warn you if you have low oil. HOWEVER, when the warning comes on, your in a bad way. What I mean is, for this light to come on, you are WAY low on oil. I don't remember the exact amount, but it is more than a quart low. Many members here, have reported their Gen II and Gen III Prius, to burn oil at or near 100,000 miles. I did not experience this on MY Gen II, but I did change the oil and filter, religiously, at 5,000 miles. I also do the same, on my Gen III, despite the manual. My hypothesis, from reading many threads, is long interval oil changes and failure to clean the intake manifold/egr AND little cut-outs that feed it, will result in an engine that burns oil, at or near, 100,000 miles.

    So, the summary is, check your oil manually, every couple of thousand miles, because from what I have read, it just happens, and fast.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ As far as I know, the only warning is low oil pressure. Low oil will eventually lead to low pressure, but by then, yeah: oil level would likely be very low, and damage may have been done.

    Yup: check the dipstick. I found the side nearest the front of vehicle is a little clearer to read, less subject to smearing.
     
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  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    What is a competent answer? One that you'll accept?
     
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  6. Prius Five Guy

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    Thank you!
     
  7. Prius Five Guy

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    Any chance you use the factory 0W 20 synthentic from Toyota? If so, how often do you change the oil? 5K, 20K? Thank you!
     
  8. Prius Five Guy

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  9. drash

    drash Senior Member

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    In my case since I average less than 6,000 miles (let alone 10,000) in a year, I still change it once a year. I think oxidation plays a role in oil breakdown.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes, using Toyo 0W20 oil, and filter too. My change intervals are very short so far: I've stuck with (Canadian) 8000 km or 6 months. It's the 6 months governing, and actual kms only around 5000.

    I've toyed with switching to yearly, but my DIY changes only cost me about $24 all in, and I enjoy doing it.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, May 4, 2016
    Last edited: May 4, 2016
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    change it every 10k or once a year if you don't drive that much. i don't bother checking mine between changes, these engines don't burn oil for at least a hundred thousand miles, and in the pip, a lot further than that.
     
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    the guy with the low oil light said the same thing
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did he have a 2012 pip with 40k?:eek:
     
  14. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    did any of them tell you to read the car manual?
     
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  15. Adam H.

    Adam H. New Member

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    I have a 09 prius with 160,000 miles and she burns quite a bit of oil about a quart every 800 miles and I haven't been on top of it for the past month and oh boy! The other day I checked it and I was shocked. The dipstick came out totally clean, so I though OMG ok... and I cleaned it again and reinserted it and took it out... still totally clean dipstick...


    What boggles me is that there were absolutely no warning light that popped up and she was driving just as she would normally drive... I really do not know what to make of this... does anyone have any ideas? Engine is still fine and I filled her up with 4.0 quarts of oil.


    Keep in mind that I got the car at 106,000 miles and noticed she was burning oil to begin with.

    I've tried everything almost and she still burns oil like mad.
     
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  16. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Welcome. You might not get much response about your Gen 2 Prius in the Plug in forum since there aren't very many of us and not everyone else checks this forum, so you might want to hit the "Report" button on your post and ask if a moderator can put it in the right place.

    That said, neither your engine or mine has an oil level switch, just an oil pressure switch. If the oil pressure didn't go low enough to trigger the light, then your engine is no worse off than before. If it did trigger the light but the light is burned out, then there probably is more damage than before. Does the light come on when the car starts and goes through its test routine?

    Either way, with an oil burner, you really need to keep a close eye on the dipstick. I'd be checking yours at least every time I got gas. And be saving up for a new catalytic converter or another car.
     
  17. Adam H.

    Adam H. New Member

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    Hey buddy,

    Thanks for the reply.

    No there is no test light at all, I'm pretty sure its burned out.

    Do you have an example of the light that is supposed to come on? But the only light that has ever come on was the check engine light which was for an O2 sensor.


    This car is a total Frankenstein
     

    Attached Files:

  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, it's not really a light, exactly. From the 2009 owner's manual:

    oilcan.png
    oilcan.jpg

    My understanding is that the pressurized oil pumped through the oil galleries never was the whole story of how the engine stays lubed. I thought some of the lubrication of the cylinders below the pistons depended on plain ordinary splashing of the oil as the crankshaft spins around down there.

    There can also be little jet holes out the sides of the connecting rods, spraying out on the cylinder walls that way. The 2ZR engine even has little fixed oil nozzles mounted to the block and spritzing up into the cylinders:

    nozzles.png

    but I don't think the 1NZ has those at all.

    So, even though the low oil pressure light coming on does mean the pooch has really been screwed, even if that light never comes on, having the oil level ever get low enough for the crankshaft not to splash it would be nothing to celebrate.

    Really, that dipstick has to be checked more often than that.

    -Chap
     
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  19. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I find it absolutely crazy, that some people never look under the hood and never check the tire pressure. Just gas it up, and drive. I know lots of people that never even get an oil change! :ROFLMAO:

    They willingly fork out $25K to $60K (or more) for a vehicle, and then just drive it until it's out of oil. Maybe those are all people who lease a car, and they don't care?
     
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  20. Adam H.

    Adam H. New Member

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    Thanks so much for the info.

    You know I really dont know if it's my luck or what? I drove over 200 miles on a totally dry dipstick and the engine is still fine after that.

    These are some tough engines I guess.


    But it's really still a mystery on why there was no warning light of a low oil pressure on the touchscreen.

    I guess that sensor has been long malfunctioning.