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3rd gen model year and oil consumption

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mendel Leisk, Nov 19, 2018.

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3rd gen model year and oil consumption

  1. 2010~2013 with minimal oil consumption

    51 vote(s)
    48.1%

  2. 2010~2013 with moderate oil consumption

    15 vote(s)
    14.2%

  3. 2010~2013 with heavy oil consumption

    20 vote(s)
    18.9%

  4. 2014 with minimal oil consumption

    5 vote(s)
    4.7%

  5. 2014 with moderate oil consumption

    1 vote(s)
    0.9%

  6. 2014 with heavy oil consumption

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  7. 2015 with minimal oil consumption

    17 vote(s)
    16.0%

  8. 2015 with moderate oil consumption

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. 2015 with heavy oil consumption

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For 3rd gen Prius, Toyota has issued a couple of TSB's regarding oil consumption. The first is a test to determine the amount of consumption, and if your consumption is enough, the second TSB is an instruction to replace the pistons and rings. Researching model years and parts numbers at an online Toyota dealership, I found the revised pistons were factory installed starting in model year 2014, and the both the revised pistons and rings were factory installed in 2015:

    upload_2018-11-19_10-31-7.png

    The question: are the revised pistons and rings reducing oil consumption? Toyota seems to think so, bets a a fair amount of labour and expense in retrofitting these, in heavy oil burners.

    Please take part in the poll. It'll hopefully give some idea if the 2015 model year in particular is less prone to oil consumption. I was not able to add enough poll "fields" for every year, so broke it down just by years with part number revisions.

    Obviously the newer cars are lower miles, and that's another factor: oil consumption is something that picks up over time.

    Also, for the sake of definition, the amount of oil needed to restore oil to dipstick top mark after 3000 miles (~5000 kms):

    minimal oil consumption: zero to 4 oz (zero to 100 cc)
    moderate oil consumption: 4 oz to 1 quart (100 cc to 1 liter)
    heavy oil consumption: more 1 quart ( more than 1 liter)
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Mendel Leisk, Nov 19, 2018
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  2. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    I voted my 2010, murdered last Christmas at 150k miles. It was the high-mileage version of yours, 5k miles OCI since new, TGMO every single change. Zero detectable consumption.

    My 2014 is also zero consumption but it's only logged 37k miles. I bought it with 24k, and it had only had 2 dealer oil changes - pretty sketchy:eek::rolleyes::D... I dumped it immediately, and did 2, 3k runs of TGMO to try and "clean it out":LOL:, a 5k run of Idemitsu 0w20 scored for $23 on Amazon and current run PP 0w20. I have no intent of this car becoming an oil burner:cautious:.

    PP = Pennzoil Platinum
    OCI = oil change interval
    TGMO = Toyota Genuine Motor Oil 0w20
     
    #2 m.wynn, Nov 19, 2018
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    doesn't mileage make any difference?
     
    #3 bisco, Nov 19, 2018
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah for sure it does, and I tried to acknowledge that in my initial post. 2015's are most likely to be lower miles, which could skew things. I'm not sure how to incorporate miles into the poll though.

    Also, nobody with a 2015 has contributed to the poll or posted yet, the smug bunch... :cautious:
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Nov 19, 2018
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    saw that, but i was thinking early years with low miles like ours, but maybe we don't really matter.

    it's probably enough to know if any higher mile '14 or 15's are burning
     
    #5 bisco, Nov 19, 2018
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    At least you defined the levels:).

    At least this can be quantitative rather than qualitative ;).

    Our 2010 with 191 k miles on the clock fits you “moderate” definition on the low end:cool:.

    But still running strong, so I’ll keep it(y).
     
    #6 Raytheeagle, Nov 20, 2018
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  7. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    2013 Prius V wagon. In 3K miles, my crankcase would be empty... literally.

    I have 136K miles on it, and have been tracking my oil consumption for about 40K miles -- I bought the car at 93K miles.
    In 1300 - 1500 miles, it burns 2 quarts! The variation depends on the type of miles driven: higher consumption with high speed/highway miles.
    I had Toyota do the oil consumption test back in August (at 123K miles). That time it was 2 quarts in 1280 miles!

    I had the oil consumption test done because I wanted the issue documented before I got to the 150K mile mark -- which was the mileage cutoff for the lawsuit on the Camry, Rav4, Matrix oil consumption lawsuit.

    The engines from that law suit are essentially the same 1.8 ltr as is in our Prii: 2AZ in the earlier vehicles, 2ZR in the Prius.
    The TSBs are the same: 1) oil consumption test 2) repair procedure -- which is basically a complete tear down to replace pistons & rings.
    (View TSB here)
    The only difference is that no one's filed a lawsuit yet on behalf of Prius owners. Unfortunately, that's what it's going to take for Toyota to step up on this.
     
    #7 tvpierce, Nov 20, 2018
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @tvpierce I checked piston and ring part numbers for Prius v (at McGeorge Toyota): they are sim to 3rd gen Prius except: 2014 still has the old pistons. 2015 has both pistons and rings revd to the new numbers.

    If you haven't already, please "vote", consider yours a 2010-2013.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Nov 20, 2018
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  9. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    @Mendel Leisk

    Mendel, you just posted at 4:23 a.m. your time:eek::D...
     
    #9 m.wynn, Nov 20, 2018
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    In the dog house again.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Nov 20, 2018
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  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Tryin to pull the PIP rims out of the shrine again:whistle:?

    Hopefully nothing too serious so you can keep regular hours again soon(y).
     
    #11 Raytheeagle, Nov 20, 2018
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  12. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    My feeling is the low-mileage data is relevant, too. For you guys, how long the oil has been in the sump becomes a factor, as fuel dilution and condensation break down both viscosity and lubrication qualities. The less the car is ever brought up to full operating temperature, the worse the contamination.
     
    #12 m.wynn, Nov 20, 2018
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  13. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    You have wifi out there? :)

    I already did. Thanks for starting this thread.
     
    #13 tvpierce, Nov 20, 2018
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  14. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    Ideally, this poll should be only for cars with more than 100,000 miles, because this is where the problems start according to my reading. Your newer car options will get diluted with low miles and useless to evaluate.

    BTW, thanks for that detective work on part number change. they realized there was a problem and (hopefully) improved that.
     
    #14 jack black, Nov 20, 2018
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  15. kc5dlo

    kc5dlo Active Member

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    I am on of the '14s that voted. 147,000 miles. maybe down half a quart at the end of the 10,000 mile oil change interval.
     
    #15 kc5dlo, Nov 20, 2018
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  16. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Dr. Wong's 2015 is in the house:cool:. Bump for the '15 peeps.
     
    #16 m.wynn, Nov 21, 2018
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  17. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    19K miles on my 2015. I certainly hope its oil consumption would be minimal.
     
    #17 Patrick Wong, Nov 21, 2018
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  18. Joele3

    Joele3 Active Member

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    I have a 2015 V 45k burns zero oil and 2010 188k burns about one quart per 1k miles.
     
    #18 Joele3, Nov 21, 2018
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ohoh: when setting up the poll I probably left it at the default single vote:

    upload_2018-11-21_17-49-55.png

    Which hamstrings owners with more than one Prius. I'm no longer able to edit, time limit has expired.

    Maybe @Tideland Prius can help? Give me unlimited edit time and I won't abuse it. Or tell anyone. Oops...
     
    #19 Mendel Leisk, Nov 21, 2018
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2018
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  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Your engine still running with Kseal in it or did the head gasket give up the ghost:whistle:?

    Glad to see it still on the road(y)
     
    #20 Raytheeagle, Nov 21, 2018
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2018
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