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Excessive Oil Consumption on 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mark8007, Aug 10, 2016.

  1. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    BG Products EPR (also known as PN 109) is an engine flush. You add it to the engine oil prior to an oil change, run the engine at idle for about 10 minutes then drain the oil.

    You can buy it off of Amazon.

    I also add their Extended Life MOA with the fresh oil which keeps the oil basic.
     
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Okay, thanks!
    I've just drained the oil and filled the crankcase with transmission fluid and let it run.
    It does a great job of cleaning things out.
    But if you use synthetic oil and change when you should, you really shouldn't have a problem.
    I replaced the valve cover gaskets in the town&country at 150,000 and there was a very light film
    on the head. And I could wipe that off with my finger.
    At 374,000, it still looks good!
    But the last change I run transmission fluid in it. When I drained it, it was still a darker red, but not bad.
     
  3. bentbow

    bentbow Junior Member

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    374k Miles or km.
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Miles, I'm in Florida...
    Only idle, Maybe slight reving. Trans fluid is thin, and you could screw up the bearings if you put a load on them.
    But there are also several engine cleaners to put in the oil before you change it.
    I've use Gunk before, but not sure if they still make it.
     
  5. bentbow

    bentbow Junior Member

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    Holl moly that's a lot of miles. New hv battery, I bet. How is the engine holding up? What year is yours
     
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You missread... My 2002 Chrysler Town and Country has 374,xxx miles. I just turned 141,000 on the 2010 Prius.
    If i had not gotten the Prius July 31, 2017, I'm would have have had 400,000 on the Chrysler....
     
    #66 ASRDogman, Aug 3, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2018
  7. bentbow

    bentbow Junior Member

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    ohhhh, ya i didn't see that part. since we're on priuschat i assumed we were talking about a prius.
     
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Assume? OH NO! You know what that means??? :) :) :)
    But then, I should have been more specific.
    I'm hoping, and should, get the same mileage from the Prius. I really hope I don't drive as much
    as I have in the van. I've driven over a million miles in all my vehicles.
     
  9. Robert Holt

    Robert Holt Senior Member

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    I have only heard of ATF added to a crankcase and then run briefly before being drained once before in 1972. The owner claimed that the solvents in the ATF tended to both scavenge accumulations of gunk in the lower crankcase and oil-pan, as well as helping the oil seals on the hydraulic lifters swell up and seal better. The lifters were quieter but that effect was temporary. I would not think that the ATF would affect carbon accumulations in the combustion chambers, but does anyone have real evidence about what the ATF fill, run, and drain really does to an ICE , especially a Prius ICE?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    A Prius engine is the same as any engine. It works the same way.
    Transmission fluid has cleaning properties in it. That's why if you change the fluid in your
    regular auto transmission the insides will always look clean.
    It won't clean everything in an engine. It all depends on how dirty it is, and the oil you used and
    how often you change it.
    With 374,000 plus miles on my van, the valve train still looks clean. I've used Castrol or Mobil 1 synthetic oil.
     
  11. Longboardluv

    Longboardluv Junior Member

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    jeez I just bought a 2010 prius with 50k miles on it and now i'm worried that it's going to start consuming oil!
     
  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Pretty much every engine will eventually start burning oil.
    I just turned 160,000 and only use about 1/2-3/4 of a quart every 10,000 miles.
    I am the 2nd owner. The original owner took excellent car of the car, as am I.
    Don't drive it like a Formula 1 car and keep the oil changed, and other maintanence and you'll be fine.
    EVERY car has it's quarks and problems.
     
    orenji, Raytheeagle and Mendel Leisk like this.
  13. Longboardluv

    Longboardluv Junior Member

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    thanks for the comforting post, i'm just a little on edge.
     
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Main things is, don't panic! Read over Prius Chat. Lot's of good and bad, mostly good.
    There are always a few that jump the gun and are very negative.
    I also have the 2010. It has been VERY easy to work on!
    When I took on the task of the EGR Cooler cleaning, it looked like it would NOT be fun or easy,
    from the videos. I went step by step from the video, and it was simple. I have some specialty tools that
    made it very easy to get to the two nuts/bolts that everyone seems to have problems with.
    It's a very nice car. Take car of it and it will take car of you! :)
    I like your Bus photo. I had 1966 bus.
     
    orenji and mjoo like this.
  15. Longboardluv

    Longboardluv Junior Member

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    awesome will do! nice a fellow VW'er!! check out my youtube channel for our vw antics http://www.youtube.com/vwLifeVW
     
  16. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    My first was 63 bug, then the 66 bus, 72 type 3 wagon. My brother had a 73 fastback and my mom a 72 bus, my dad
    a 74(?) type 4. I still have the engine stand to rebuild the motors! And my sister was rebuilding
    a Karmen Ghia. I forget what year though
     
    #76 ASRDogman, Mar 11, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2019
  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I have a 2010 with 106,000 miles great car no oil burning. I would change the oil every 5,000 miles and don’t use 0W-20 weight oil. Depending on your location use 0W-30 or 0W-40 weight oil. I use 0W-40 but I am in California where is not too cold in the winter. Also have the transmission fluid changed out at 60k miles and every 60k miles after. Don’t drive it hard......
     
  18. boatmana116

    boatmana116 New Member

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    I have a 2010 gen 3 and started to recognize this consumption pattern about 6 months ago. 1qt every 1k miles. IM at 138K.

    Anyone had any luck doing a flush, increasing oil change frequency and type to regain a normal pattern? Vehicle still drives well, just want it to last a 300K. Thanks for any advice.
     
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    What brand oil & filter do you use?
     
  20. Jeff Tengesdal

    Jeff Tengesdal New Member

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    I have a 2010 Prius that started showing a loss of oil (not leaking out the bottom) about a year ago. I've had a consumption test and failed because it didn't burn enough oil in 1200 miles to warrant any action on the part of Toyota. Yet, nowadays, I'm putting in a quart of oil every 2000-2500 miles. Since I'm not adept at auto mechanics or repair, I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations in layperson-speak. Thanks.