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  1. Austin Longenecker

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    I know I know it's a common topic, but I haven't seen any solid solutions yet. My 2010 is burning oil like crazy, since my last refill, I burned an estimated 3 quarts in 1,300 miles. I keep the oil topped of so it won't run dry, but in concerned about long run reliability. I'll take it to the shop soon, but before I do, is there anything I should know? Have any solutions been found that don't involve replacing the engine?

    I'm a college student so I can't afford engine replacement unless its absolutely necessary.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    clean the egr circuit, add oil catch can. see @NutzAboutBolts youtube videos

    there are some threads here about treatments that may or may not help.
     
  3. Austin Longenecker

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    I've looked at those threads, didn't figure much out.

    Not that long ago I had half the EGR system replaced and the other half cleaned. Supposedly it was cleaned twice. However, since you bring that up, I took it to have that cleaned and the first location i took it to did a lot of damage to my car that I had to have fixed under warranty at another location. After that, oil consumption skyrocketed.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
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  5. Austin Longenecker

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    115,000. Bought used 2 winters ago. When I first bought it, I'd change oil every 5K miles. I've changed my oil maybe 4 times in the last 8 months, driving maybe 8K miles total (Rough guess). I had minimal oil burning until after I took it to the mechanic who busted my EGR and windshield. I took it to a different mechanic my family has experience with and trust very much, he fixed all the immediate issues. The increase in oil consumption was not noticed at the time, so that was not addressed.
     
  6. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Switch to 5w30
     
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  7. Austin Longenecker

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    I've seen other threads say that that only reduces MPG, but am willing to give it a try, I was considering upping to a heavier oil after I check in with our mechanic.
     
  8. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Works for me
     
  9. Austin Longenecker

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    I'll definitely give it a try.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Considering those two, engine swap might be the best. @Ragingfit has swapped in fourth gen engine, keeping original intake/exhaust mainifold and EGR. Thread's in kind of an odd location, involves a Prius v, but the process is the same:

    Swapping in a Gen 4 Prius' 2ZR Engine into the Prius v | PriusChat

    Did it stay busted, because disabled EGR might be a factor. Damage is probable done now though. I'm (purely) guessing carbon clogged piston rings?
     
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  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Boy this is a bummer that this happened to you. However, the fact that the first mechanic that worked on your vehicle did a lot of damage to it seems like it opens a whole can of worms in terms of our oil consumption discussion. What damage did they do? Are you sure something isn't still hosed up from the first mechanic?
     
  13. Austin Longenecker

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    That's a long story.

    One day last fall, my check engine light came on. I had just started college so was in a new place and had to find a new mechanic to take it to. The car was running fine but I wanted to check in on it. They told me my EGR system was insanely clogged. The *claim* to have replaced half the EGR system and cleaned the other half. Taking my car home that afternoon, my car was violently shaking so I take it back and they replace another part of the EGR. In the process, breaking my windshield (which took them almost 90 days and several disappointing phone calls to replace. I was done with them after that so when I had the chance to go home one weekend, I took it to the trusted mechanic my family has always used and after explaining what happened, they checked the EGR and guess what? no attempt had been made to clean it, AND a gasket was MISSING that the bad mechanic removed and never replaced. The guys at home replaced and fixed everything under warranty which fixed the immediately noticeable issues. I get my oil changed while I'm there, and only weeks later my low oil pressure warning comes on, and I'm burning oil substantially faster than before this whole scenario. I am positive something happened at the first mechanic that went unnoticed.

    So the damage that was done and was noticed by the trusted mechanic and I have been fixed. The only issue I've got now is slightly lower MPG than it should get and the insane amount of oil consumption.
     
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  14. Austin Longenecker

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    As far as my trusted mechanic and I know, the EGR system was fully repaired and cleaned after that, I put very few miles on it with the damaged EGR.
    If I do go with the engine swap, can the 2010 take any gen 3 engine, or does it have to be a 2010? I'd rather replace it with an engine that doesn't have so many oil burning issues.
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ Cautionary tale. DIY is probably the best way to go, if at all possible. Third gen EGR is a real bugbear. It's hard and time consuming to get to and clean, and Toyota's still mostly got their head in the sand.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Apr 11, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Any third gen engine will be 100% compatible. Still, fourth gen engines are more available, often low miles from wrecks, and can be made to work with some tweaks. Per the videos I linked above.
     
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  17. Austin Longenecker

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    Thank you. I'm a college student with no mechanical skill so I don't think I'll be doing many DIYs.
     
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  18. rosencrantz

    rosencrantz Member

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    I’m sorry to hear about your Prius - especially with only 115k miles. You can swap any gen3 engine into your 2010. HOWEVER, unless you locate a 2010-2013 engine with VERY low mileage, I’d only swap in a 2014, or preferably, a 2015 engine.....Because of redesigned pistons and rings. With some additional modifications, you can also swap in a gen4 engine. Any of these engine swaps are going to be some $$$, though.... especially if you are unable to do the work yourself.
     
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  19. Austin Longenecker

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    That's about what I expected. I don't plan to replace it yet, only if it gets worse and I can't find a mid-term fix. If I do, I'll definitely go for a later engine.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    2014 has revised pistons, 2015 revised pistons AND rings. How much they're improved is still a question. Still.
     
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