Oil marks on dipstick

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by C Clay, Jan 8, 2026.

  1. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I'm NOT using that crap. It's not worth the time. And it doesn't work.

    There's no point in changing the oil if you don't replace the filter also...
     
  2. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    I actually use protect and restore and have reported no oil use between oil changes for about the last 10 oil cycle changes. But maybe antifreeze is mixing with the oil
     
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  3. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    Hey there, thought I would wake up this thread and just ask a question. Last Friday I went out and added about 16 to 20 ounces of coolant, I thought that was strange. I haven’t really had any “hard starts” or any codes that come up or check engine light.

    In general, I’m thinking I may need a head gasket, but I’m not so sure. or not yet anyway. I’ve probably driven about 1000 miles in the last seven days, I drove 70 to 80 miles an hour around 300 miles one night, no issue. I haven’t had an issue at all… Except for adding another 16 ounces or so of coolant yesterday.

    I did do a combustion leak test, it didn’t report anything. Did it multiple times over 2 days.

    One thing I have reported is that when I first get in the car seems like I hear some coolant moving through somewhere behind the dash that I’ve never heard before. I don’t see any leaks, but what I need to do when it warms up is many take off the underpinnings of the car so that I could see anything that could drip and be caught on the plastics. Also I can check under it well. Also I have tried that coolant dye and black light to detect leak and I don’t see anything.

    Now- when I added 16 oz of coolant yesterday, I Did have a hard start- up and a P0301 code. Is it safe to assume that I definitely have a failing head gasket given what I have reported here?

    I’m just stumped how so the missing coolant is the bigger issue than the misfires .

    (2014 Prius, 360,000 miles, head gasket replaced 110,000 miles ago. Doesn’t burn oil. Have cleaned EGR, intake manifold, replaced PCV valve)
     
  4. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    To answer the question of when you open the coolant cap and you hear hissing or pressure.


    Yes that is a clear indicator that many do not know.

    After driving and letting it sit overnight
    a prius without a headgasket issue will not make a hissing or pressure sound at a cold start situtation.

    A prius with a headgasket issue will however still make a hissing or pressure sound when taking off the coolant cap.

    Normally a hot-warm engine will do the same, so a lot of people mistake this for that but it should never do it when cold.
     
  5. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    To answer the question of when you open the coolant cap and you hear hissing or pressure.


    Yes that is a clear indicator that many do not know.

    After driving and letting it sit overnight
    a prius without a headgasket issue will not make a hissing or pressure sound at a cold start situtation.

    A prius with a headgasket issue will however still make a hissing or pressure sound when taking off the coolant cap.

    Normally a hot-warm engine will do the same, so a lot of people mistake this for that but it should never do it when cold.
     
    C Clay likes this.
  6. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    Does it hiss? YES!