Generation 3 oil consumption

We have a similar issue. Our 2010 has around 85K miles on and has started to consume oil. I have not quantified how much yet, but have had to add small amounts here and there between oil changes. The oil consumption is most apparent on long highway trips ( i.e. - engine is always on ).

I am currently giving Mobil 1 5w20 "High Mileage" a shot to see if it helps any. I just changed the oil so no observations yet.

Edit : Forgot to add that I also did the "EGR pipe cleaning" maintenance to see if that will help any ( I doubt it but who knows ).

We are planning on taking the car on a 3,700 mile road trip to Colorado/Utah in early August. I'm wondering if I should give Mobil 1 5w30 "High Mileage" a try during the trip? I have heard that 5w30 has helped for some. At any rate, it would be an interesting experiment. Any other ideas?

 

Keep us posted. Seems some folks have this issue but no one knows why.

 

5W-30 has helped me. Went from a quart every 4,500 miles on 0W-20 to a quart every 6,500 miles. Long highway trips have a great effect especially at high rates of speed (80+ mph for long stretches). 136 k on the clock with a 40 mile one way commute a day. 90% or more of my driving is highway.


iPhone ?

 

Once you start with oil identified as "high mirage", best to to stay with it: it swells rubber components, that may shrink back, if you go back to reg oil, accelerating oil consumption.

 

I doubt this is true. High Mileage oils such as Valvoline Maxlife are now on GM's Dexos1 approved oil list; if there was an issue with high mileage oils causing irreversible seal swelling, GM would not allow those products to be on their approval list.

 

I would hope it's not true, it's scary to think you could try such an oil on a whim and then there's no turning back. I've read this about the swelling seals, but yeah not sure about it. If I can find anything more I'll post.

Addendum:

It was probably this Pat Goss video I watched. And just Googling a little, the consensus seams to be the oil will swell rubber more than a conventional oil, you should go to it only when you have to (due to oil consumption), and you'll need to stay with it once you do.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi4tonou6DOAhUUUGMKHdlKDsQQtwIIMTAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3De6HmEqFdeIY&usg=AFQjCNE6QrxV6U8Qg8QZeioqhObov2UBuw&sig2=6x7kAwC9Z3GUnVFERoeGEw

 

We just got back from the trip and it turned out to be around 4000 miles due to side trips, etc... Unfortunately, I did not switch to 5w30 during the trip. Consumption was a bit over 2 quarts. Conditions were pretty excessive compared to what I am used to. We went up many mountain passes ( the ICE was working VERY hard in PWR mode ), used braking mode during the descents, etc...

Here is the map that is pretty close to what we did :

2016 - SW USA


I'm planning on doing the 5w30 oil change soon and will see what happens.

 

Thx for the link! Very interesting. Wow...this resurrected an old thread!

One can only hope that Toyota does something..but I'll bet money they won't.

BTW - we took another road trip to Utah/Colorado in summer '17 ( see 2 posts above for our '16 trip )

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xHF9v2dpDqkYzE939LNQDA07UR0&usp=sharing

The engine was screaming thunder many times up and down the mountain passes (down was in B mode). Used a fair amount of oil...but I didn't really measure it precisely ( I've given that up ). I just check every time I am at the gas station and top off when needed.

 

Our daughter's 2010 Pilot (135K kms) has a moderate "drinking problem" now, roughly a liter in 5000 kms. That's not much I guess.

That video above, they're sort of all over the map, not really clear who or what they're pointing the finger at. There's repeated mention of the 10K oil change interval by that mechanic. The inference there is maybe: with a 10K interval, and so many owners never checking their oil level, perfect storm?

I know that was our daughter, when I mentioned checking the oil level she didn't really comprehend at first. I think she's catching on though. I'm trying to be more involved now.

 

Yeah I agree, they are a all over the place! It's just good to see a news outlet covering this issue.

Yeah some Hondas drink some oil too! Thankfully your daughter doesn't have to worry about a headgasket blowing. (Not that she would worry even if it was a possibility haha!! )

 

@farmecologist ! How is it going so far? I bet you have some experience now! at least you are the one who shares it. I truly wonder why there is no recall on this. If all ppl from priuschat who face the problem file a complaint (guessing hundreds), would they trip?

I just went on a 2k mile trip, mostly highway, 75+ Mph, 2L oil went in! Quite disappointed by the "green and eco" Prius now ( I wonder when it will die under me
Even tried the 5w20
Is there a way out?

 

These TSB's make an interesting read. The first one is basically how to test for excessive oil consumption, which they peg at one quart, in "1100 to 1300 miles". The unfortunate punchline: you have to have under 60K miles on the odometer. The pistons and oil rings they proscribe as the fix, come standard in model year 2015. 2014 has just the revised pistons.



The second TSB budgets "16.6 hours" for this repair. I did a check of costs for the parts, comes to roughly $475 US (plus taxes).



Assuming (uhoh...) $100 per hour for labour, roughly $2100~2200 all in, if it was on your nickel? That would include new head gasket, plus pretty much all the other gaskets. Google the gasket kit part number for more info.

And just maaaybe: if you sweet-talk Toyota, they might fund some of it???

 

Interesting. Has someone done it before? I might consider investing if that indeed helps! If you consider Prius usually has much lower maintenance costs compared to other more complex engines/systems.

I also heard *from someone* that there is a special method at Toyota service which loosen up those gaskets...

 

how many miles on her?

 

Only 130k

 

have you done the egr service?

 

yep, clean.

 

how much oil are you burning per 1,000 miles?

 

Took 3-3.5l on a 2200 mile trip