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What could be leaking

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by fsu23phd, Jan 1, 2023.

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  1. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2010
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    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hello all, thanks for your help.

    My wife drives a 2016 2 Eco. I rarely see the garage floor under it. I moved it today to sweep and noticed 2 white spots.

    I framed my 2010 into the photo so you can get a sense for the approximate location. It could be deceiving since my wife tends to park farther back than me. Still, it seems to be in both sides and near where the front row passengers may sit. It's also possible that it's only one spit and she parked farther right or left.

    It's a 2016 w. 56k miles.

    I had recently (about a month ago) added coolant to it, which was low but not empty. I checked the fluids a minute ago and I notice that the coolant is right in the middle (probably where I filled it to), but the break fluid is a bit low (just below the line). I think this was probably the case a month ago when I added coolant.

    It has been cold then hot here in north Carolina over the past 2 weeks. Swings from about 20F to almost 70 today. But the car had been in the garage pretty much the entire time.

    Thanks for your help. Hopefully it's nothing.
     
    #1 fsu23phd, Jan 1, 2023
  2. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Two
    Photos attached 20230101_162939.jpg 20230101_162944.jpg 20230101_174524.jpg
     
    #2 fsu23phd, Jan 1, 2023
  3. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Gen IV beginning in your model year are experiencing a heat exchanger failure located within the final catalytic converter stage approximately under the front passenger area, mid-vehicle. In most of the descriptions I've read, here or just search on heat exchanger or low coolant, the coolant leaks into the exhaust stream and is vaporized out the tailpipe. You might just have a leak in the flexible hoses down there and not a heat exchanger failure. Usually when the SLLC fluid dries it leaves a pinkish crusty residue, which doesn't look like what is on your garage floor. Might want to get the vehicle up on a lift and have a look.
     
    #3 AzWxGuy, Jan 1, 2023
    fsu23phd likes this.
  4. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Thinking some more about this, I assumed that Toyota Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC) was in use. Other types of coolant would leave a different residue. And in my experience, other types of coolant don't necessarily evaporate that quickly or soak into the concrete. Brake fluid doesn't evaporate or leave a residue, and will percolate into concrete rather quickly. Need to take a look underneath to sort this out.
     
    #4 AzWxGuy, Jan 2, 2023
  5. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    XLE
    DON’T PANIC. Air conditioner condensation. I have seen the same pattern with my 2022 with a whopping 2900 miles on it. If in doubt, have your dealership check it out.
     
    #5 Doug McC, Jan 10, 2023
  6. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Our road crews here don't put down salt but magnesium chloride and that looks very similar...it melts and dries to a whitish color. If you've checked coolant and oil levels and they are good, I wouldn't worry about it.
    FWIW, this is the reason I wash my cars every chance I get in the winter, including behind the wheels....get that crap off my car!
     
    #6 ColoradoBoo, Jan 11, 2023
    Doug McC likes this.
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