Oil Consumption 2010 Prius

I work for a higher price .

 

Changed the oil yesterday. About 1/4 was down after the 10k or one year.. I use the Chevron fuel injector cleaner from time to time.

The engine was running more smoothly after the oil change. The 10K interval might be stretching. I think I will be changing after the 8k now.

 

How many miles on it?

 

Hi Folks - I have been using 0W-30 Mobil for sometime and have no oil issues. I just decided to go up higher and started using 0W-40 Mobil 1 which is the only true Synthetic oil they make and I have seen no issues and actually has increased my MPG.

 

My oil consumption issues began at 88K miles and at 147K it is still an issue. Dealer states no issue in consumption tests. Drove 2K miles and ran out of oil. So far I have spent big bucks on a bunch of small repairs, "in hopes of fixing the issue" with no results. My most recent fix was the PVC vacuum plug? and it is running worse, really rough idle and during deceleration. Now they stat it is a different issue not related to the PVC repair, that will be another $900+ and in fixing that they found my intake manifold is clogged and must be replaced for another big price tag and no one is addressing the oil consumption. Toyota Corp. is now involved and they are offering assistance with the parts only and no guarantee if that will fix the oil consumption issue, during all this my gas consumption went from 54 mpg to about 36mpg. does anyone here have any ideas on if the intake manifold will solve the consumption issues or is the clogged manifold secondary to the piston issues?

 

Intake manifold just needs cleaning. Dealerships will not “stoop” to doing this, so recommend expensive replacement. It’s oil filled primarily due to Toyota’s poor PCV valve design, and a little due to oil spit out from the engine intake ports. Clean out about every 30k miles will keep on top of it, and oil catch can install (traps oil between PCV valve and intake) will help a lot.

that won’t help with the oil consumption though. That’s primarily due to low tension piston rings, again poor design by Toyota: in their quest for higher mpg they specd piston rings that allow oil to get by. They gradually clog up with carbon, and then the oil consumption really takes off.

Toyota finally “saw the light” partway through model year 2014, so 2015 for sure have revised (higher tension) piston rings, and pistons. You can see a slight down tick in mpg, in fuelly (fuel economy site) ratings for 2015.

It’s labour expensive to cure; a “short block” replacement (revised pistons/rings preferably) for $2k parts and maybe $1500 labour will cure, but…. Or low like mileage salvage engine swap, about same price.

waiting in the wings is Exhaust Gas Recirculation clog up and consequent head gasket failure.

if you can’t diy or enlist low cost shade tree mechanic, I’d sell.

Some info:

Bad Flywheel | PriusChat

and links to @NutzAboutBolts videos:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

 

Toyota Corp. will not address my oil consumption issue because my dealer states that every oil consumption test is within normal specs even if it is down 1/1 quarts per 1500 miles. Time to trade it in for another car and I am DONE with Toyota. The brand is no longer a trusted brand (my last toyota lasted 232K miles with never a problem) I purchased a Toyota because my husband was terminal and I needed a reliable car. Boy did I get screwed. Now no husband and a dud for a car. Bye Bye Toyota.

 

Burning oil is not a big issue, all you have to do is add a $5 quart every 1500 miles. Most of the Prius cars I own now will do the same thing, but they are still quite reliable. I think if you only have to add a $5 quart every 1500, your car seems to be a pretty reliable car.

Here's a good video explaining the oil burning. Which really is not a concern, as the car won't be any less reliable.

 

I drive my Prius a lot, high mileage and it is at the dealership every 5K miles faithfully since I purchased my car brand new. If I should of had more frequent oil changes should my dealer have told me instead of every 10K mile oil changes? At 5K miles they did oil change and cabin air filter change, next 5K miles they rotated tires, no one told me to change my oil every 5K. I went to the same dealer/service since day one, now that my oil "consumption" is 1 quart per 600 miles and it is on me to cover the costs associated with the many issues the oil consumption has caused. I feel that if more oil changes were needed then my dealer should have told me after all they had the car in their possession every 5K miles faithfully. Because of this I feel Toyota failed me and I am stuck purchasing a new car because of this, they are not accepting responsibility for adequately taking care of my car when brought in for service every 5K miles. Every time they told me I needed anything, I had it done then and there without question, I would have been more than happy to do oil changes every 5K miles if I had known it would have prolonged the life of my car and was needed. They failed me.

 

It’s a bit of a perfect storm: low tension piston rings* and 10k oil changes**. As you say, the customer picks up the tab.

* to eke out slightly better mpg ratings, to reach epa mandated goals, or similar. This was 2010 to partway thru 2014, and then they revised pistons and went to higher tension rings, with the aim of reducing oil consumption.

** long service interval more attractive to potential buyers, boost sales.

 

You aren't "stuck" purchasing a new car.... Several other option that are $20-25,000 less than buying a new car.
New 2-15 pistons/rings
Remanufactured engine with the updated pistons and rings
Low mileage 2015 engine

5000 miles oil changes "may" reduce oil consumption. Too many "reports" on this though.... all are different.

How you drive the car is important also. If you drive it like a Formula 1 car, the engine will consume more oil.
If you drive it like a Prius, it will reduce the amount of oil consumed.

If the dealership did all the maintenence, you can't blame them.
The owners manual states when service should be done. What are the weather condition you drive in?
If it fits in the "severe" section, then more frequent oil changes are recommended. Few people follow that.

Where you adding oil between oil changed? If so, did you mention it when you came in for oil changes?

The EGR circuit and the oil consumption is certainly a problem with the 3rd Generation, but it can be managed.
Over all the Prius is a very reliable car. Every car has problems of some sort.
Have you had your EGR circuit cleaned? The cooler and intake manifold is the most important part.

Are you capable of doing the work yourself? Or do you know of anyone that could help you?

 

I think it's up to the consumer to identify which service level they fall under, the 5000 miles oil change or the 10000 miles oil change. It is outlined in your owners manual and up to you as a consumer to follow the correct service interval and required services. I do believe the service advisers at Toyota service centers need better training to advise customers which service interval their driving habits fall under.

Today's service advisers are just sales people working on commission. They don't make much money advising you to take care of your car with an additional $40 oil change. They make money when your car fails and you need a $4000 engine. That's unfortunately how their sales commissions (service sales) work to negatively impact the consumer.

 

You'll be back once you realize other manufacturers won't come close to meeting your unrealistic expectations.

Also, I run 15k mile oil change intervals. Last analysis just came back great.....

 

intake manifold is being replaced as we speak. I have realized that replace/rebuild would be cheaper. I have a great mechanic that is Toyota certified that I will be talking to for the repairs going forward, if he recommends rebuild or replace. I just need to get 36 months out of my car so I can buy something else and pay cash verses finance.

That is sad but yes you are correct, I should have been more aware of my car needs and not rely on someone to do it for me. My husband handled all that and since he has passed I have a lot to learn. I am not usually helpless (I have rebuilt and replaced engines in the past but with the onset of all the computers, I have not done that type of repair.) I must start being more with it and self sufficient going forward. This is a mistake I WILL NOT make twice.

 

pulease she is buying a new Tesla model x. There will not be any oil changes and egr cleanings ever!!!

 

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When I first bought my car in 2009 They had me doing 5K oil changes and then they said they are using a synthetic oil and I need to only have it changed every 10K miles. I should have been more aware as a consumer. I need to stop blaming a terminally ill then the passing of my husband as an excuse for not being aware of what my car needed and not rely on the dealer to tell me what was best. I am going to be kicking my own butt from here to the bank.

 

Just other QC issues and endless software updates that add/remove functions as Musk sees fit....

 

long as car is on the road and not stranding you

 

If you've been on Prius Chat long, you know there are jerks on here.
Don't let them put you down. We've all made mistakes, even them.

I put about 2000 miles a month on it and do 10,000 miles oil changes.
The oil has always been clear or just changing color. Other's have gone longer and send
a sample in for testing and say the oil is/was still okay.

Read the owners manual, that will tell you a lot about your car. And read what's on Prius Chat.
The more you read, the more info you will have to make decisions about your car.

Sadly, people prey on woman at dealerships, and independent repair shops.
It's best to get quotes from different repair shops.

As someone said, there are good and bad service writers and technicians. You just
have to find them.

Maybe there are other Pruis owners in your area that would be willing to help you out.

 

Don’t feel too bad about your situation, it might just be a sign to let the car go. As these cars age, they will need some major repairs to keep them running.

$2000 HV battery
$1500 brake actuator

Those 2 are almost guaranteed to fail soon, so maybe a sign to move on