Transparent oil?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Johnsmith009, Feb 4, 2019.

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  1. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    One noob question after the other I suppose.
    Just before I went home for the day, I went to a gas station nearby, fueled up, checked oil and the sight of my once dark amber dipstick being silvery metal instead shocked me. "Could this be the oil burning problem? I've driven 200km and it was full then!" Upon closer inspection, there is a thin film covering it, and I DID do a full maintenance at a dealership on Friday. I know the answer is probably "yes", but Google doesn't help much and I want to be sure I'm not driving without oil:

    Can oil be transparent?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #1 Johnsmith009, Feb 4, 2019
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Yes
    It’s a frustrating task trying to read the level.
    Wipe it, re dip it, and look for the side without a streak
     
    #2 bisco, Feb 4, 2019
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  3. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    #3 Johnsmith009, Feb 4, 2019
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #4 bisco, Feb 4, 2019
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    On level ground, pull the dipstick and wipe, then wait five minutes, say check your tire pressures, clean windshield to kill time. Then reinsert and pull out dipstick and check, it should be easier to read.

    The dipstick tends to draw oil up the tube when you pull it out. Then when you quickly reinsert, you get that smeared half-way up the dipstick appearance, hard to read.

    I agree too about flipping it over: usually the underside's a bit easier to read.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Feb 4, 2019
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  6. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    By easier to read, do you mean to see where the oil ends on the dipstick? Because I can see that fine, it's just the color I was concerned about. (It's just above two "dots", I WILL admit I never learned the units...)
     
    #6 Johnsmith009, Feb 4, 2019
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the lighter the better(y)
     
    #7 bisco, Feb 4, 2019
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Burning oil is when the oil level dipstick measures less oil than the last oil level.

    Oil can also evaporate causing the oil level to dip lower.
     
    #8 Grit, Feb 4, 2019
  9. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    I know, but my worry was ALL of it somehow evaporated.
    Foolish I suppose, but I've never seen clear oil.
     
    #9 Johnsmith009, Feb 4, 2019
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    funny thing, but when you drain it, it's light brown
     
    #10 bisco, Feb 4, 2019
  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    No worries. Feel free to steal my method; get a lint free napkin, and place one side of dipstick on the napkin. Move the dipstick aside3 parallel to the oil that's soaked onto the napkin, where the oil stop soaking is where the oil level is.
     
    #11 Grit, Feb 4, 2019
  12. MichaelKnight

    MichaelKnight Junior Member

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    Above members have replied and given you the answer...

    Mobil suggested...
    "We recommend checking the oil level either before turning on the engine or 5 to 10 minutes after shutting down so you can have all the oil in the oil pan to get an accurate measurement".

    But always return to the manufacturers OM....

    This wasn't my time/era...But it would be nice to have attendants
    [​IMG]
     
    #12 MichaelKnight, Feb 4, 2019
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  13. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Man, your engine bay needs a good wash :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
    #13 NutzAboutBolts, Feb 4, 2019
  14. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Watch a lot of people jump in and say different :p
     
    #14 Grit, Feb 4, 2019
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  15. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Not the worst one I’ve seen;).

    But I’m no saint either:oops:.

    Dirt is character (y).
     
    #15 Raytheeagle, Feb 4, 2019
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  16. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    I'd love to. But not sure how. Any Prius specific guides so I don't fry/break it? Also given I don't really have any place near my house, it'd have to be somewhere else I guess. Maybe water from a self-serve car wash hose? They're pretty pressurised though.
     
    #16 Johnsmith009, Feb 5, 2019
  17. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Purple power and garden hose. We did a video for my Prius (y)
     
    #17 NutzAboutBolts, Feb 5, 2019
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  18. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    My oil is cleaner than that bc I drain it cold when all the oil is in the pan. I get 5.5 quarts out that way.
     
    #18 douglasjre, Feb 5, 2019
  19. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    You have a bonus size oil pan?
     
    #19 TMR-JWAP, Feb 5, 2019
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  20. Johnsmith009

    Johnsmith009 Member

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    Thanks! But seriously, I don't need to cover ANYTHING in a stock 2010? The fuse box, for instance, doesn't seem watertight at all.
     
    #20 Johnsmith009, Feb 5, 2019
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