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Oil consumption...what I did to correct it.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Aztechmaster, Sep 30, 2018.

  1. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    Engine damage to the lubricated internals IE crank shaft, rod and cam bearings, possibly piston damage and cylinder wall scuffing. Dont try this with an engine that already has some issues such as rattle on cold start before oil pressure comes up or excessive valve train noise when at operating temp. Use discretion.

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  2. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    My '07 uses about half a quart per 1,000 miles, which I consider not so bad. It makes no funny noises and runs great, car gets great mileage. Most cars I have owned used oil. Maybe it's my luck, but I have owned many, many vehicles of various makes and they all used some amount of oil. I bought a brand new Volvo in 1998 and that car used a quart per 1,000 miles from the day I took delivery on it until the day I scrapped it a few weeks ago. Volvo refused to address it under warranty stating that it was within normal and acceptable oil usage. I think people get really upset over oil usage, but not sure if that concern is valid. Can you, as a professional mechanic address this? Most manufacturers deem oil usage of 1 quart per 1,000 miles well within spec.

    I would love to have no or little oil usage in my '07 Prius, but I am not sure I want to risk all the items you listed above.
     
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  3. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    All manufacturers have guidelines for engine performance, fuel economy, noise, and yes oil consumption. I had a 2000 Volvo V70 GLT that never used any oil to almost 160k when I sold it. My 2000 S430 with 142k uses about 1.5 quarts per 10k miles, the normal service interval and well withing guidelines of consumption. Many times incorrect oil can cause issues such as VVT solenoid codes, clatter on startup, or even a check engine light with a dtc for incorrect viscosity.

    All I can really say is use the correct oil, and when buying a used car ask for maintenance records. No records no sale. Depending on the dealership and brand careful tracking of oil consuption showing an increase as time and miles accumulate by may warrant some action from the dealer.

    As modern vehicles become more complex warranty standards change, for example FCA will now deny warranty engine repairs if incorrect coolant is found in the engine, per their testing. So that cheap coolant flush with universal coolant might actually void your warranty!

    As always just follow the maintenance guidelines, and dont let a warning light stay on without having it checked out as soon as possible.


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  4. Merkey

    Merkey Active Member

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    The question I always have with high oil usage is will it harm the catalytic converter?
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Strange thing is: I've done EVERY oil change on our vehicle, since new. I never bend back the "oil change flap", instead remove the entire panel, carefully, wash all the plastic fasteners before reinstall. The panel looks and is like new.

    I'm doing the Canadian 3rd gen schedule, which is every 6 months or 8000 kms, whichever comes first. I took that last bit and ran with it, changing the oil and filter every six months, at 4000~5000 kms. Use torque wrench and the Repair Manual specs.

    A dealership service car could burning oil incessantly, and no one will likely know: the car goes up on the hoist, they bend back the flap, out comes the drain bolt, and the oil drains into a big catch-all waste oil container. They button the flap back up (or saw it off, it's knackered), fire the oil filter housing and drain bolt back on with an electric impact, maybe overfill. With luck they'll remember the oil filter cartridge in the housing (yes, this has happened to dealer serviced cars, a couple of reports of MISSING cartridges here, IIRC.)

    I do bring the car in for some things, primarily recalls, and deeper stuff, a recent AC refresh for example.
     
  6. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    It can yes. Especially repeated short drives.

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  7. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Have you ever tried this on one of the oil burning Corollas?
     
  8. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    I have not but know someone who has. It worked for him.

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  9. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Interesting. As it seems to be the oil ring I wonder if the same company made those rings for the Corolla and the Tercel that had that same oil problem.
     
  10. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    My understanding is that it's not the oil rings themselves but the ring land drains for the oil rings getting gummed up.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  11. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    I know a guy that had one of those Corrolas. He got his oil changed at some oil change place that gave free top ups between changes. They had to give up on him. They were putting over 1 quart a week, way more than 5 quarts between changes.
     
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  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Can I get an evil laugh? That really calls for evil laughter.

    Seriously though it does sound like a useful trick.
     
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  13. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Well, an Atkinson is an Atkinson. I must say I looked up the definition of “most” to try to get a better feeling of what that meant. Can you put an approximate percentage success rate on that?

    Thanks!!!
     
  14. Ben C

    Ben C New Member

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    Had horrible oil consumption on my 08. Dealership said it was normal.
    Drove me crazy. How can it be normal?
     
  15. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Neat. I had no idea how complicated a piston in an ICE is. I had to look ring land drain up and found this with some pictures.

    High-Po Piston Tech: What You Should Know About Ring Lands and Grooves - OnAllCylinders

    So the engines with this specific issue burn oil? And more than likely produce oil burn smoke out the tailpipe?
     
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  16. Fredsimm

    Fredsimm Active Member

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    I was using 1qt every 1000 to 1500 miles with conventional oil. I switched to mobil 1 and now its 1 half qt every 3000 miles.
     
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  17. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Wow, that’s significant improvement! There are several Mobil 1 versions: (Annual Protection, Extended Performance, High Mileage Extended Performance, plain Mobil 1). Would you mind sharing which specific one?
     
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  18. Aztechmaster

    Aztechmaster Member

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    I have been doing this for so long...I can recall two specific vehicles that this didnt work on. One was a 2.4 GM F motor in a Grand Am, the other an older Ford FE engine not sure if it was a 352 or 390. They showed zero improvement. Other showed some, and others significant gains. For example if the valve seals are worn out, there will still be oil consumption until they are replaced even if the oil control rings are working properly.

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  19. TheChip

    TheChip Senior Member

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    I havent heard too much about a catch can on the Gen2 Prius, but it works great for my Gen3. Any reason people arent installing one?
     
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    So this is really not too much different than just rinsing out your pistons in a solvent-fountain partswasher.

    Except you skip around 22 hours of labor and sustain a brief non-zero risk of spinning a bearing or scoring a bore during the procedure. Risks and rewards...
     
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