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2008 Toyota Prius piston soak

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Jordanburch, Jul 29, 2018.

  1. Jordanburch

    Jordanburch Junior Member

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    Yes i am. not every fill up but every so often

     
  2. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    I use MMO for fuel injector cleaning too, it fixed a rough idle that gum out fuel injector cleaner and a premium gas couldn't. If you are afraid of hydrolock just leave the spark plugs out and let the car try to start the engine, leave a rag on top of the holes cause it will come shooting out.
     
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  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    That is really good news and glad it worked out for you. Give it some more time and report back again please.:)
     
  4. dbailey

    dbailey Junior Member

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    Hi all - I'm getting ready to replace the plugs and PCV valve on my 2007 (235k miles) and I would like to do a piston soak, too. I'm burning about 1 qt of oil per 3k miles. How did you make sure there was no fluid left in the cylinders before replacing the plugs? Were you able to turn it over at all with the plugs removed?
     
  5. wnrsm

    wnrsm Junior Member

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    The engine is easier to turn over with the plugs removed. I'm getting ready to do it to my Prius. I checked my oil and saw that it was barely reading on the dipstick! I have never had to add oil between changes before. It looked really clean when I had the valve cover off.

    To ensure you haven't left too much oil in the cylinders, leave the spark plugs out and turn on the car. The starter runs the engine with enough speed to violently force any dangerous amount of oil to spray out the spark plug holes. You might want to cover the holes with a towel else it will get messy.

    Any oil left behind will be insufficient to be a threat. The car will smoke really bad when you start it after it is all together. Do it at night so your neighbors don't have to see it. :)
     
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  6. Calimobber

    Calimobber Member

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    I just did a full seafoam job in my 2008. poured like 1/2 a can in the gas tank and the rest in the oil. I drove another 200miles or so and drained all the oil and filled with mobile 1 and a OEM filter.

    Yesterday I forced the car into maintenance mode so the engine stayed on and slowly dripped seafoam into the intake below the MAS sensor for about 2 minutes and then shut the car off. I waited a few minutes and then took it for a good hard drive. She sure smoked a bunch while I was seafoaming it but it burned off.

    Its been burning oil pretty good and I put a camera down when I chaned the plugs and it was pretty nasty. Ill try and get some before and after picks soon and update on the oil burning.

    I have about 237k miles on the motor, factory battery never replaced.
     
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  7. Lord Byron

    Lord Byron Member

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    098BD85C-15DD-4AA3-8A0B-E0D94C5CAA12.png
     
    #27 Lord Byron, Aug 14, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2019
  8. Lord Byron

    Lord Byron Member

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    I used one of these syphons to check for any mmo left in the spark plug holes. I was able to turn it over, but it took about 5 seconds because it ran the electric engine first. It was a loud bang and pushed mmo everywhere. I had had rags in the holes, covered with cardboard and taped down. Needless to say, that didn’t hold at all. Be prepared for clean up if you turn it over (without plugs of course). There was no mmo left when I checked with the syphon in the end.. better to check!
     
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  9. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    They sell that same pump at harbor freight for less. It’s almost always on sale for 5 or 6 .99.
     
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  10. dpower

    dpower Member

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    This is a bit old but I wonder if their have been any updates.
    After reading about the problems I put an oil air separator on my 2005. The amount of oil that is pumped through was a lot more than I expected. I also had my mechanic run the BG performance restoration for hybrids process. I needed a valve cover gasket replaced so we pulled the cover off to look at the condition. It wasn’t to bad but still had a considerable amount of build up. After the 3 hour process the difference was pretty amazing. It looked like I had pulled it off and run it through a parts cleaner. 189,000 miles, it uses about 1/2 quart between 10,000 mile oil changes.
    I’ve always used mobile 1 and then changed to mobile 1 high mileage. The first two oil changes to the high mileage version were extremely dark compared to my regular oil change. Now after the treatment the oil comes out looking pretty much the same as it goes in. Engine is quiet and idles and runs well.
    I’m having the mini treatment done every change. This consists of running BG EGR in it before the change adding their MOA oil treatment and the 44 fuel treatment.
    Engine is clean pulling covers and using a boar scope and a small camera in the oil drain hole. Everything is very clean.
    Now if the electronics keep running.
    No need for the piston soak yet.
     
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    TIFWIW.
    Concur!
    GOOD work so far!
     
  12. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Quite the restoration, could you please break down or tell us about the 3 hour process?
     
  13. dpower

    dpower Member

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    They add a solution to the crankcase and run the engine for a hour or better. Then a different cleanout oil is run through the system. Then some additives are added to fresh oil and the gas tank.
    There are some YouTube videos about that show the top and bottom ends of engines that are having this done ( before and after).
    It was close to $600 to have it done, the mechanic I use also cleans the air passage and sensors and fuel injection as part of the service.
     
  14. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    After all of these treatments have you noticed a reduction in oil consumption, or the amount of oil in the catch can?
     
  15. koco

    koco Member

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    The piston rings can get immobilized from lack of timely oil changes, and will cause oil consumption. The solvent soak can free them up.

    I saw a youtube video of a Rav4 that was smoking 2 packs a day until the mechanic poured seafoam into the cylinders overnight and drove it around a bit. There was no more tailpipe smoke after that.