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

2006 Prius using too much oil?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by JoySS, Feb 16, 2020.

Tags:
  1. JoySS

    JoySS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    26
    6
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Just had my oil changed a couple months ago at 135066k miles and it's used 1/4 quart in 1,250 miles, car currently has 136301k miles. My previous oil was very low after 6 months, in which the dealer said to keep my eye on it to see if it's burning more than usual. Is my latest usage something to be concerned about? Whats normal for a car this old? Thanks much!
     
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Your oil consumption is perfectly normal. Just don't let it get below the low mark on your dipstick and the car will last many more miles. I just serviced a 2005 today that I sold to my sons friend about a year ago. I did oil and swapped the HV battery. ODO is stuck at 299,999. It's been burning about a quart - quart and a half between oil changes and it's doing just fine.

    Toyota's max before they recommend engine work/replacement is 1 quart / 600 miles.
     
  3. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    1,057
    789
    0
    Location:
    Washington State, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    A quart every 5k miles is nothing to worry about at all. Make a habit of checking it regularly because it probably will start using more as the miles add up. I check the oil in our Gen 2 every Sunday morning without fail because it now has 283k miles on the odometer. Our car uses about a quart every 2k miles, still acceptable as far as I'm concerned.
     
    Aaron Vitolins likes this.
  4. cthindi

    cthindi Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2009
    177
    85
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    At 366K Miles I am at 1 quart every 1000 Miles. But now I am frequently getting Cat code P0420. That possibly is due to all the oil it has been using last 200K miles. It did not use any significant amount of oil first 150 K miles.
     
    davecook89t likes this.
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    THIS.
     
  6. JoySS

    JoySS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    26
    6
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thanks everyone. So I checked again and it's 1/2 down, used 2 quarts for 1912 miles, essentially 2 quarts/2000 miles.
    Im getting ready to do a 4 hr drive tomorrow and then a 14 hr drive the following week. A little concerned. I will bring extra oil with me but wondering if it's anything to be concerned about? It's a 2006, has 136,974 miles. The hybrid battery, regular battery, combination meter, two TPMS sensors and a main headlight going out. Two of these issues were covered under warranty by Toyota, but didn't happen to me till after their warranty stopped ( combination meter, headlight). Im not sure this car is worth investing in replacing not only the hybrid battery, but everything else. If its appearing to burn more than usual oil then it's clear car is not worth investing more in. Car has been well taken care of otherwise. Thoughts about the oil?
     
  7. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    1,057
    789
    0
    Location:
    Washington State, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    That's relatively high consumption for the amount of miles you have on the car. Are you sure none of it is leaking out of the seals on your engine or the drain plug? You aren't seeing any oil spots on your driveway or garage floor, are you?

    Assuming the engine is burning oil at a rate of 1 quart every 1k miles (ignoring for the moment the extra hydrocarbons that are being spewed into the atmosphere), you are paying an extra $5 let's say to go 1k miles, equivalent to 2 extra gallons of gas. So instead of buying 25 gallons of gas to go 1k miles (at say 40 mpg) you are paying for 27, equivalent to getting 37 mpg rather than 40. For a 14 year old car, many of us would consider that still acceptable.

    That's a good idea. I carry a gallon of oil in the hatch of our Gen 2 with 286k miles. I don't ever want the oil level to get down by even one quart. In my opinion, letting it get 2 quarts down on occasion might have contributed to your oil burning problem. When the car is low on oil, the rings on the pistons wear more quickly because of lack of lubrication, so they will allow more oil to get into the combustion chamber and you are in a never-ending vicious cycle. Our car burns less oil that yours and I believe that is because I have watched the oil level like a hawk ever since we have owned the car. You may also want to switch to an oil designed specifically for high mileage engines, as I have done.

    As to whether you should get rid of the car, that is entirely your call. As long as you keep oil in it, the engine will keep running. The hybrid battery will fail or need reconditioning at some point in the future, which would be relatively expensive or time consuming if you chose to DIY. Maybe have a plan of action for when that happens but keep running it and not worry about it in the meantime?
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    try some of the oil burn reduction methods mentioned in other threads
     
    Aaron Vitolins and davecook89t like this.
  9. Natalie Opsahl

    Natalie Opsahl Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2019
    39
    11
    0
    Location:
    Cortez Co
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Mine burns a quarter of a quart every day! I just check it every day

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Aaron Vitolins and davecook89t like this.
  10. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    1,612
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Franklin TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Other members have had good
    Luck reducing oil consumption by using one of BG oil additives, and some have done piston soaks with good results. At that low of miles, Id definitely look into slowing down the consumption. With your amount of miles I’m sure it can be at least slowed down, since the pistons won’t be worn out at 136k. It would be a different story if you had 300+k like some other members.
     
    Raytheeagle and davecook89t like this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    A quart a day? I don’t use that much gasoline :cool:
     
    Raytheeagle and Aaron Vitolins like this.
  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I think you have it figured out about right.
    I vote for shopping for a replacement.
     
  13. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    IF......you let it go for 4 or 5 days you might notice that it drops down near the ADD mark......and then STAYS there indefinitely.
    Might.
    Adding 1/4 quart every day is certainly not necessary......and maybe not even wise.
     
  14. Natalie Opsahl

    Natalie Opsahl Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2019
    39
    11
    0
    Location:
    Cortez Co
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I'll have to try that this week. But we stopped driving it the long morning trip were taking the banged up back up car.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. JoySS

    JoySS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    26
    6
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Ironically it cleared itself up and is burning only 1/8 quart every 1000k. Pretty amazing. I looked at oil change history and had dealer oil changes nearly it's entirely life except for the year and a 1/2 right before this issue showed up where I got 3 Jiffy oil changes. Then went back to dealer for last 2 oil changes and it's fine. Weird. We were thinking it was a piston ring that was stuck and loosened itself up. Not sure but all good : ) Makes me think I will never go to Jiffy again.
     
  16. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    It is possible that they weren't putting in the right amount of oil.
    I always try to remember to check oil level and tire pressure after every maintenance visit.......regardless of where it is.