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

EGR cleaning at 61k pics

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by amarino, Apr 19, 2021.

  1. amarino

    amarino Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    77
    61
    85
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Had my EGR cleaned by HybridPit over the weekend. They said they wished more people would do it early as preventive maintenance like this. Car is 2015 Two with around 61,000 miles that I've had since new Nov 2015. Total was just under $450 including some new gaskets / hoses and a bottle of MOTUL Hybrid 0W-20 for my next oil change (soon). I was gonna get an oil catch can installed but they didn't have the right bracket on hand.

     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    well done, that is a great price! did they say about how clogged it was? i was hoping the 15's wouldn't be a problem.
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,073
    14,982
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Were any flow numbers collected before or after the cleaning?

    That can be a very helpful addition to photos, given that most of us weren't born very good at translating from visual appearance to how much the flow performance was affected.
     
    SFO likes this.
  4. amarino

    amarino Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    77
    61
    85
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Didn't say. From the pics doesn't look clogged (blocked) yet but from the pics can see everything starting starting to have a coating of deposits. Probably a good thing to do early vs later if you can.

    Sorry didn't know that was a thing. I can try to get some numbers now to have a "clean" reading and see how they change over time.
     
    mikey_t and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,137
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good idea to get it BEFORE it causes a problem, and it's a lot easier to clean up!
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2019
    370
    384
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    They'll install an OCC? Would it be easily removable for when the emissions inspection comes up?
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I think owners need to be involved in the Oil Catch Can install, where and how it’s installed. Several methods can make it “stealth”.

    One is to mount it below the intake manifold. Then you’ll likely need a bottom draining can with a method to drain from below. It may mean draining during oil changes, likely with undershield removed. This method is stealth in that it’s just so far down as to be unnoticeable, and it’s what I’m doing.

    A variation would be to run a hose extension with tap on the end, to a drain point that’s a little more accessible.

    if your mounting location is up too, just make it easier to pull out. Also, since most are splitting the original PCV hose, splicing in the OCC hoses: purchase an extra PCV hose, and before inspection take out all the extra and mod’d hose and swap in this unaltered hose.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 28, 2021
    Last edited: May 28, 2021
    Paul E. Highway likes this.
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    sure is, but Xmas will come early in the driver side view.
     
  9. amarino

    amarino Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    77
    61
    85
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I haven't had to Smog my Prius yet, but with other newer cars I've taken in for Smog they just plug into the OBD2 and do everything through there. Don't even pop the hood.
     
  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Agreed and matches my experience in the Bay Area;).

    Since I found a good shop and have a catch can on our 2019 Prime, guess where I'll be going again:whistle:.

    I've caught over 2 ounces so far on the 2019 with 39k miles on it. And that's at 67% EV:cool:.

    So the oil catch can is working and the gen4 engine is not immune from blow by(y).
     
  11. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    2,254
    2,233
    2
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Recently had the "full Monty" done at Hybridpit. Great guys!! Next time I will bring pizza! They installed the OCC system behind the drivers headlight. I've only had to smog mine once and yep, they just plugged in to the system and it passed. Even if it comes to a visual, They really won't do anything. Most smog places don't see us as drivers who "modify" their engines in anyway.
     
    mikey_t likes this.
  12. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2019
    370
    384
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What's the "Full Monty" service?
     
    Montgomery and Mendel Leisk like this.
  13. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    2,254
    2,233
    2
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Intake cleaned, fuel injectors cleaned, EGR cleaned, new spark plugs, new tranny fluid, new coolant and OCC installed.
     
    mikey_t likes this.
  14. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Does 'fuel injectors cleaned' mean putting a PEA type product in the tank, a pressurized fuel rail cleaning, flow bench cleaning, or just removal of the built up carbon that forms near the injector base?

    What was the approximate total, with or without the OCC hardware?
     
    mikey_t likes this.
  15. gromittoo

    gromittoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2017
    718
    284
    0
    Location:
    philadelphia
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I am in PA. I have only recently heard of Oil Catch Cans. I am surprised that they would cause a problem with Emissions inspection. Probably not here in PA anyway. We just get the tailpipe test, and they check that enough of the DTC monitors are complete and none have failed. Heck if it did matter, I would just stencil a Toyota Part number on it;)

    Maybe this is a dumb question: I don't understand why can't you just have the OCC drain back into the oil pan (maybe by splicing into the dipstick tube?)? Even if the OCC is under pressure or vacuum, it should be simple enough to add a check valve or a vacuum actuated solenoid valve in the drain line, that would only open when the ICE is not running. If it auto drained, the OCC would not have to be as big either. Any crap included should be caught by the oil filter and oil change at 5k.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    With 2016 model year yeah. @rjparker has speculated that the revised piston/ring (commencing partway through 2014 model year) would cure/reduce EGR clogging; I don't see a direct connection.
     
  17. mikey_t

    mikey_t Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2019
    370
    384
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    They are technically illegal in CA. I don't know why.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I think any mod to the pollution control systems, regardless of how helpful, or where you are, is illegal. My Moroso cans came with a note saying they're not legal for street. Properly installed, non-vented, there's nothing wrong with them, but they're just not "vetted", by the appropriate government agency; I guess that's the deal-breaker.
     
    gromittoo, Montgomery and mikey_t like this.
  19. Paul E. Highway

    Paul E. Highway Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2020
    198
    126
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    My OCC is under the intake manifold, I loosen the Moroso clamp that holds it, unscrew the base of OCC, drop it down and empty it. 2 minutes maybe?
     
  20. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,137
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    They probably just put something in the fuel tank.
    To fully and correctly "clean" the fuel injectors, you'll have to remove them from the head, the fuel rail, and take them completely apart.

    It is not always something that "needs" to be done. There is a bench cleaner you can hook them up to
    and a pump to pump the cleaning fluid through until you have a mist pattern.

    There are pressurized bottles of cleaner that hook up to the fuel rail that will clean out the injectors, after
    you remove the fuel pump relay, or fuze.
     
    #20 ASRDogman, Jun 24, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2021