1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Found oil leak

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by JC91006, Jun 24, 2018.

  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Does anyone know where this oil leak could have originated from? It's on the back part of the engine. In the center back part of the attached photo
     

    Attached Files:

  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The circled part Screenshot_2018-06-24-14-17-01-1.jpeg
     
    m.wynn likes this.
  3. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The infamous turd gen timing cover leak, JC.
     
    Raytheeagle and JC91006 like this.
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Great.....well good news is my car is probably not burning as much oil as I thought, it's leaking out.
     
    Raytheeagle and m.wynn like this.
  5. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My experience with our family '10 and '11 is that it just weeps enough to make that mess. Never forms a drip or any measurable loss over an oil change interval. My '14 isn't doing it at all...yet:rolleyes:, but it's only got 31k miles on it. Hopefully I'm wrong, but if you wipe it as clean as you can and start monitoring it, you may find it's just a mess maker.

    We'll see what others have to say, maybe it is a serious leak for some.

    I've often wondered if it's really just leaking from a bad seal of the oil pressure sensor or the timing chain tensioner. If you have a close look at it by pulling the passenger front wheel and the harrmonic balancer cover, it's really hard to pinpoint exactly where it originates. At the same time, people have documentation of Toyota resealing the entire cover under warranty.
     
    #5 m.wynn, Jun 24, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
    Raytheeagle and JC91006 like this.
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've never really noticed it but I've never tried looking for leaks. I only noticed it this time as I was topping up my oil. No drips but it's annoying to find a pristine turd gen with 108k miles start leaking.

    I just read some of the old threads, seems this happens to many people around 75k miles

    Next oil change I'll bring it to Toyota to diagnose, then submit this to them for a goodwill warranty repair. I have $500 goodwill credit from them, I guess I can finally use it
     
    #6 JC91006, Jun 24, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
    Raytheeagle and m.wynn like this.
  7. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I've always assumed it's kind of like the leaky hatch gunnels on the gen 2's. Probably more do it than we want to know:cool:...
     
    Raytheeagle and JC91006 like this.
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,481
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    How much is the consumption?

    Hard to see how bad the leak is. How wet is the back of the block?

    At least you know the cause.
     
    m.wynn and JC91006 like this.
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Consumption is not that bad, so far about 1qt per 2500k. But I really don't think the consumption is from the leak. I don't have any oil markings in my driveway
     
    Raytheeagle and m.wynn like this.
  10. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Does your '10 do it, RtE?..
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,477
    8,394
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    His was fixed under warranty
     
    Raytheeagle and m.wynn like this.
  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,481
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Sounds like this is just the standard weapage ;).

    Our 2010 did that and I had it in for the IPM flash and the dealer noticed it and fixed it:).

    That was at 90 k miles(y).
     
    JC91006 and m.wynn like this.
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,481
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    It did, but the dealer fixed it under warranty :).

    My old man will be out September 20-24 if you want to alert your daughter ;).

    The pressure washer got my spare egr cooler factory new(y).
     
    JC91006 and m.wynn like this.