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Any luck slowing oil burning with a stop leak (lucas, blue devil, bars, etc.)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by MilkyWay, Mar 28, 2019.

  1. Graeme1949

    Graeme1949 Member

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    STP?

    -Graeme-
    2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
    Sent ?.
     
  2. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    well...the thing is our prius have higher than "common" high compression engines.

    Most common is 10 to 11:1

    we have 13:1

    oil burning is just a part of the nature of high compression engines. Just do not make the oil tooo thick. there's a trade off



    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    It’s basically the same parts as a scion engine that does run continuously so I have to disagree with you. Do the scions and Yaris 1.5 engines burn oil? I know that some Corolla 1.8’s have massive oil burn problems. Worse than their gen 3 Prius equivalents.
     
  4. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    It may be technically 13-1 I’m not sure, but the engine never gets close to that due to the Atkinson cycle pushing some of the fuel - air mixture back into the intake manifold during the compression cycle. No engine could run on 87 octane fuel at that compression without something to suppress detonation, like water injection.
     
  5. will the engineer

    will the engineer Active Member

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    Good point.

    It is a claim by Toyota, but as always trust but verify

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  6. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    It's not a huge deal, my car was bought at 215k and burned a qt every 1000 miles until 270k when the headgasket blew. Those products are prob really thick oil intended to thicken your existing oil. Keep an eye on the cat when you get a p0420 code it's time to get a cheap eBay replacement as the burnt oil will clog it. That's probably what ruined my headgasket. But if you keep the oil toppedup it will run fine.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Which begs the question, just try going to a thicker oil first? It's a more controlled experiment I think.
     
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  8. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    yup, totally in agreement there. But if you get cold winters like we do, at some point you have to decide what is more important, burning oil or having that cold start protection. So I ran 5-20w synthetic in the winter and topped up weekly, since I put on about 130 miles each day. Generally even though your engine is burning oil it will not fail unless one of the following happens

    -run low of oil/spun bearing
    -fouled spark plugs from oil deposits
    -plugged cat

    which you have to weigh the cost/benefit of topping up oil, changing plugs more frequently, and possibly changing the cat. FWIW with a junkyard engine you don't know what you're going to get. I swapped a junkyard motor with 76k miles on it, it runs great but it also burns oil too. So my preference is just to keep driving the car and don't fix what isn't broke.
     
  9. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Reason I chose Liqui Moly is because we bought a BMW Z4 that had a real bad tick and I believe it fixed it. BMW forums recommend that product (hydraulic lifter additive)

    Last several oil changes if I go until 2000 miles without checking I'll be at least 2 quarts short. I'm about 10 days away from knowing if this works so stay tuned! (500 miles in and still full).

    liquid.jpg
     
    #29 MilkyWay, Apr 6, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2019
  10. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    Also note that the compression ratio is actually 9.5:1, while the expansion ratio is 13:1. Because of the Atkinson cycle, it is possible for them to be different.
     
  11. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    1000 miles update: Hard to read...It's either full and really clear. Or....? Not sure. I'll know if I found the magic potion to cure oil burning by 2k miles.

    My guess is instead of burning 2.5 quarts I'll burn 1.5 quarts. Will see shortly....

    oil1.jpg oil2.jpg
     
  12. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    update at 1600 miles in. I think I'm down 3/4s or maybe 1 quart so I may have halved the oil burning...not really sure. Or possibly reduced by 60% can't do the math off the top of my head.

    Nothing too "exciting". If I can go 3k miles without having to worry about adding then I guess that is a drastic improvement as I was burning 2.5 quarts in 2k miles before.

    It's also roughly a $65 oil change. $40 for royal purple another $12 for Liqui Moly another $15 for local shop to change.

    Pic of dipstick at about 1550 miles in...it does still look really clean:

    oil.jpg

    I will probably do 1 more round of this combo at next oil change. Do you think I should stick with 5W30 or go to 10W30?
     
    #32 MilkyWay, Apr 17, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2019
  13. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    @ 2050 miles I believe I'm up to the dot about 3/4ths the way between the min/full dots...Rainy/gloomy day and hard to see...and for whatever reason when you flip look at reverse side of dipstick it doesn't match up...it is less.

    I would guess I'm down 1 quart in 2000 miles vs. 2.5 quarts. I already purchased new oil/additive which I think I'll change at 3k miles and reset trip to see how it goes on change #2....I crossed 207,000 miles today.

    prius oil.jpg
     
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  14. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    @ 2500 miles I'd say that's got to be 2 quarts low? Prius battery guy said he uses Nano Pro MT ($25 on Amazon!) and that has him burning 1 quart in 4k miles. Going to do 1 more trial with royal purple / liqui moly and try Nano...

    20190422_120509.jpg 20190422_120517.jpg
     
  15. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    OK, gotta ask:
    Why are you stuck on using Liquid Moly in this situation ?
    Do they claim it will help with oil burning ??
    I don't think so.
     
  16. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Fixed a lifter tap that sounded like a rod knock on my mom's BMW Z4. Never heard of brand was recommend in z4 forum.

    I believe it did help. I can safely go 3k miles without being bone dry. At nearly 2600 today. I think it *at least* reduced burning by 1 quart but it's not a scientific experiment --- I just know I was drastically low at 2k miles before. Almost 3 quarts burned up in 2k miles two or three oil changes ago.

    Went from burning no oil pre-180k miles to having a severe oil burning problem post-180k miles. (I'm at about 207k miles right now).

    ***To make it a scientific experiment I've documented in this very thread the oil level at 1k, 1.6k, 2k, and 2.5k...will document again @ 3k....change it...and compare levels at those intervals to see if it gets reduced on the 2nd change. :D
     
  17. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Fixed extremely loud lifter tap a couple weeks ago on BMW (hydraulic lifter additive) so figured I'd try their "oil saver" product.
     
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    It is only 1.6 qts between the top and bottom dimple. If you were down by 2 qts, it wouldn't even register on the dipstick.

    It looks to me to be about ½ way between the dimples, so 0.8 qt low.
     
  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Well it is kind of important that you mention which specific member of their product line that you are talking ABOUT.
    Because their original basic "super-slick engine treatment" certainly won't help with oil usage.
     
  20. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    I linked and posted image of can but here is amazon description. Capture.JPG