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

Excessive Oil Consuption Significantly Worse in 2010 Model?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by bchaney, May 23, 2015.

  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    But the thing is, YOU don't have this issue. There are many owners that experience hv battery failure, you want to worry about that while you don't have this problem either?

    The longer OCI might have something to do with it, but there's no proof on that. If you want to be proactive about this issue, you can start changing your oil at 5000 mile OCI vs 10000 miles OCI
     
    #61 JC91006, Jun 3, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2015
  2. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,137
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I don't have the issue perhaps because my car doesn't yet have the mileage of those that do, typically. I don't want to have the issue later, so I'd like to know what's at the bottom of it. So far, we're only speculating. Oil change intervals might not even be a significant factor, as you said yourself.

    Somebody should be finding out what Prii with that problem have in common in their maintenance history, and in their owners' other relevant habits.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well I would like to appoint you with finding out, since you are so proactive on this subject. I hate how my 2010 keeps burning oil
     
  4. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
  6. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    i don't think that's important anymore. modern engines don't require extended break in as the parts are precision made with polished surfaces at the factory. by the time the car leaves the factory, 90% of break-in is done.

    besides, if break in was the problem here, oil consumption would persist from the beginning.
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Let's say there's some contaminants in the engine/oil, mixed with super heavy footed driving during the break in period, wouldn't that cause damage? Toyota does have a 600 mile break in period in their manual.
     
  8. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2013
    1,160
    392
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    im not sure if its been mentioned or not but the pcv valve is a likely suspect..i know my gen 2 was burning just over a qt between changes and less than half after I changed the pcv valve.it cost 6 bucks on e bay.if the car isn't smoking you can rule out rings most of the time
     
  9. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,519
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    For the record:
    83,000 miles
    10K OCI (do it myself)
    Due for oil change within the next 2K miles.
    Just checked the dipstick yesterday - Still at the FULL mark
     
  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    sorry for not sugar coating, but this is a complete BS and has been since they started using cat convertors.

    did you vote for the record?
     
  11. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2013
    1,160
    392
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
     
  12. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    RE: my 2004 caravan blew smoke from bad rings and valve guides seals and it had a cat.

    because when the oil consumption exceeds 1qt/500 miles or so, it kills/overwhelms the cat converter.
     
  13. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,519
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Ya!
     
  14. Skunkworks

    Skunkworks Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2013
    101
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I have a 2011 built in 2010 and its got 127k on it, it uses 4 quarts in 10k miles more when its hot. Dealer swears its normal, my 7.3 ford diesel truck that makes 400hp 700lbs Tq uses less than one qt every 10k I call BS on Toyota. they say 1qt per thousand miles is acceptable. im down to 35 mpg and they still say its ok.
     
  15. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2012
    775
    360
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I believe the one quart per thousand miles is an Industry standard or maybe a Toyota general standard. While one quart every thousand miles might be "acceptable", it's definitely not "normal."

    Avi
     
  16. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,744
    6,542
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I was thinking that Toyota's definition of 'excessive oil use' was a bit more than 1q/1000 miles.
     
  17. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2011
    1,355
    487
    0
    Location:
    District 6
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Unless you never want to check under the hood between oil changes (which isn't too bright if your oil change interval is once every six months), adding oil when needed isn't a major headache. Unless, of course, you're really burning it and needing to add weekly or daily - which I've never experienced with the 25 or so cars I've owned since 1976.

    My 05 has been using a qt every 3000 miles for the last 75K miles. I top it off every 1000 miles until 4000 miles and don't add any again until I change the oil at 5000 miles. The Prius only cost me $7K when I bought it nearly five years ago when it had 134K miles. I'd say I've gotten my money's worth and then some. The question now is how much longer will it last before the HV battery dies. Hopefully not until the odometer freezes at 299999.
     
  18. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,519
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Owner's Manual, p. 428
    Screen Shot 2015-06-05 at 7.07.21 PM.png
     
  19. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    yah, if your car consumes more than 1L of oil per 1000km, contact your dealer, so they can sell you a new $5000 engine, LOL.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,420
    38,651
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe they should put this in the spec. section of the brochure? :whistle:

    Capture.JPG