Excessive oil consumption solved by a Ford dealership

Why didn't Toyota just use a simple spin-on oil filter for the Prius engine!

 

Waste reduction. The cartridge is much easier to deal with (if desired, it completely burns to ash). It seems they may be going back to spin-on though. Too many monkeys holding wrenches tightening the housing too much. And I guess also not installing the "o" ring with grease! Every filter comes with a new "o" ring.

 

do all these nhtsa complaints help anyone, or are they toothless?

 

Somewhere out there, there has got to be some GOOD monkeys with wrenches.

 

This car was made to be environmentally friendly, it would be counter productive to have a metal oil filter that take up landfills, energy to compact, recycle or destroy the metal element.

 

Would you not see the oil all over the car, if it were losing oil this way?

 

Title of this thread misleads, consumption is not the same as leaking.

 

And to compare a Prius to a corvette.

But I bet te ratio of Prii sold and corvettes sold equates to the same value.

 

Proper positioning of the O-ring is problematic. Also, it's recommended to apply fresh oil to it. Couple that with installers using impact wrenches or whatever to spin it on, there's been more than a few instances: owners attempting their first DIY change and finding the the oil filter near-impossible to remove. Last but not least: it's possible to reinstall the cap without a filter. And what can be done, will be done...

I like the concept, think they need to sharpen their pencils a bit though, on the application.

Oh, and what's with that little metal tab? I've done about 15~16 oil changes, and can attest: that thing does NOTHING. Seriously, you forget it's even there. It's some fussbudget engineer's brainchild, and it really is innefective/useless. At least it doesn't impede anything.

Sounds like me sometimes...

 

Agree. Corvettes builds are built for speed and power so they are much more solid. And most of those owners are probably great DIYers so less complaints.

 

Agree.
Attention mods, the title needs to be changed to "leak."

 

Or the smell of oil when parked at regular spot at home.

 

I think it's the OP's call. But, I'm sceptical you'd "leak" a quart every 2000 miles. I think that's the OP's oil loss rate, it's a little convoluted.

 

More like the lake of oil?

When I was a kid the cross-the-street and up-a-block gas station did oil changes, and disposed of it by going out the back and pouring it off this small rock bank. That was a nasty little lake of oil.

 

My oil has never been changed by the dealer. I use the old oil to lubricate the O-ring and never fail to put a filter or new O-ring in. I have no oil leaks. But I do have oil consumption which is about two quarts in 9000 to 10,000 mile OCI. I have my oil tested every time and all looks well. Metals are all below average and viscosity and TBN is strong at 133,000 miles. I wish it didnt burn oil but it is a small price to pay and is considered normal for this vehicle. A whole lot cheaper than new car or engine. I do take good care of it and have only had rough starts a couple of times when it was younger. It is the cheapest car I have ever owned as far as maintenance and has never given me trouble or left me stranded. Except for the tires. But thats not the vehicles fault.

The metal tab on the oil filter housing is there to stop the cap from getting loose. It is made to move out of the way when a wrench is used to remove the cap and if the filter cap were to loosen it would still hold it from loosening from vibration. So it does work if you dont bend it out of the way.

YMMV.

 

Yeah maybe. Still, when I consider the substantial effort I need to exert to get the oil filter started unscrewing (after torque to 18 foot/pounds), that wee piece of plate seems like a butterfly in a tornado, lol.

 

Never torqued mine, it has never come loose. I screw it in until it "bottoms" but I don't tighten it there. There is no way it would come loose. Torque is also not needed to stop it from leaking. The seal is on the sides of the "can" with the "o" ring. I use grease (lubriplate) on the "o" ring. And I agree with Mendel's comment on the "tab". I can't see it doing anything. My "socket" doesn't touch it and it doesn't stop me from removing the "can".

Can't comment on consumption, Pearl S has just under 40,000 km on her. If there were oil loss problems at that mileage Toyota would -really- have a problem.

Fifth oil/filter change coming up in a month or so. So far have trashed only two plastic fasteners. Door hinge still fine. Now that I've said that it will probably fall off this time.

 

I find backing out the filter cap, I need the wrench all the way, till the O-ring's finally out of the bore.

 

have you cleaned the egr and intake manifold?