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Did Lucas Oil Stabilizer RUIN my Prius engine?! (Engine shuttering + P0011 code)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by wbs887700, Jul 5, 2021.

  1. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    On my last oil change, I mixed Lucas oil stabilizer with the oil to try and combat the oil burning problem I have. Now, my engine jerks/shutters pretty roughly when the engine shuts off after idling while it is parked and in ready mode. Like, it appears to be running fine, but when the engine shuts off it jerks the car pretty roughly. Also, a few times the engine has pulsated pretty bad while idling and I would get the P0011 code which means:

    "Camshaft Position “A” - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)"

    I already did an oil change to get the Lucas out of the system, but it's been a few thousand miles and the engine is still jerking like that.

    I know I shouldn't have used the lucas, I won't ever use engine additives again, so please don't lecture me on not using it anymore.

    Does anyone know how I can fix this? Is it normal for the engine to jerk pretty hard when it is shutting off while parked in ready mode? What is causing the p0011 code? Has anyone used Lucas oil stabilizer in their prius?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    most brand engine products are pretty benign, maybe just a coincidence. try changing the oil
     
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  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Here is the workup for DTC P0011 (and P0010 P0012 P0016) : https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2018/04/144690_VVT.pdf

    Best to go step by step though the above workup, or skip to step 4 and see if the 'oil control valve filter" is clogged.

    How many miles on the vehicle?

    Which device are you currently using to retrieve the OBD2 codes with?

    What brand/weight of oil have you been using, and what is the change interval?
     
  4. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    I have a Carista Bluetooth OBD2 reader. I use 5w30, like the owner's manual says, and I change every 5,000 miles.

    151,000 miles on it, it's a 2006, and it has never had any problems, runs great otherwise.

    Thanks for the article, but I think that's a little out of my mechanical ability right now. That's extremely technical and I don't know how to do anything that it's saying to do in it
     
  5. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    Like I said, I already changed the oil and it's still doing it
     
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    About the only thing you can do short of getting a diagnostic done is to change the oil and filter again. One oil change does not flush everything. It is possible that the Lucas damaged the variable valve timing in a variety of ways. One way would be to loosen up sludge and move it enough to it clog a passage.

    Article about Variable valve timing concepts
    StackPath


    From above:
    "All of the variable cam timing and cylinder deactivation systems mentioned regardless of design variations seem to suffer from many of the same ailments. By far the most common problems revolve around lubrication issues."
     
  7. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    How MUCH of the additive did you use ?
    Your wording might tend to indicate that you ignored the instructions and used a LOT.
     
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    How bad is it eating oil?
    Has the oil ever got so low a check engine came on?
     
  9. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    I don't really trust that they would find what was wrong doing a diagnostic.

    Do you think if I put some seafoam in my crankcase, that could help it? Like that could loosen up the sludge?
     
  10. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    I followed the directions on the bottle, I believe it said fill your crank case with 20% Lucas.
     
  11. wbs887700

    wbs887700 Junior Member

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    I was burning about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. No, the oil never got that low, I always checked the oil and made sure it never got that low
     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    No. Do not put anything in other than the specified oil. The Lucas in quantities they recommend (20-100%) will absolutely change the engine oil viscosity which can impact timing.

    Burning a quart every thousand miles is excessive by any standard and really needs an overhaul or replacement engine. A good mechanic can diagnose the timing problem, which is the reason they charge an hour or more. Granted, most will also look at the big picture and suggest a replacement engine.

    Sludge clogging is just a possibility when timing errors suddenly appear with a dramatic lubrication change. However it could be a solenoid, wiring, mechanical failure, etc.

    I would change the oil again if experienced pros and their advanced tools are not in the car's future.

    F4E5C075-6D00-4431-B893-5D06F722747E.jpeg
     
    #12 rjparker, Jul 5, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2021
  13. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    NO. Put about 20% water in there. That should fix it right up. :eek:

    Think about this for a minute:
    You think that putting an additive in the oil might have CAUSED the problem........
    So now you are considering putting in a different additive in an attempt to FIX it...........
    Just stop, please.

    Despite what they try to tell you, you should NEVER put SeaFoam into your oil.
    It is a solvent and will thin out and break down the oil.
    Never a good thing.
     
  14. ETC(SS)

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

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    ^ That.

    Did Lucas Oil Stabilizer RUIN my Prius engine?!


    Nope.
    Your engine still runs.
    It's just middle-aged.

    You wanna know why they run all of those memory and other "enhancement" commercials?

    That's right.
    People are suckers.
    They think that after eating too many cheeseburgers and not excercising enough for four or five decades that, suddenly, they can take a pill or potion and turn pack the hands of time.
    It doesn't work that way in people OR cars....TRUST me.
    (self-loathing vegan, vitamin popper and quasi daily exerciser, speaking from experience..)
    The great philosopher Rocky Balboa once said that "time" takes everybody out.
    It's undefeated.

    So....
    STOP it with the "Enzite."
    The only thing that stuff "helps" is advertisers and people who manufacture extract of serpent.

    As far as the code is concerned, I'd start with the basics.
    Maybe check Plugs, intake, swap some coil packs, etc.....
    The basics.
    It's OK to club up a little bit with your oil viscosity, but don't fool yourself into thinking that it's going to remanufacture piston rings, valve seals or crank bearings.

    Those are WEAR items....sorta like brake pads, shocks, batteries, etc.

    BTW,
    Wanna know what "Toyota" calls "normal" oil use? ;)

    (Hint.....it's a lot more than you think it is!)

    Good Luck!
     
    #14 ETC(SS), Jul 6, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2021
  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    His car qualifies as "excessive" oil burning under Toyota standards. Enough to get him a free repair if the car was still under powertrain warranty. But it is a timing code that he is trying to fix.