Another oil burning Prius :(

Hey everyone, my lovely over maintained Prius has started to slowly use oil.

I purchased my Prius with 82,000 miles, now over 111,000 miles. Oil changed every 5k miles with high quality synthetic oil. Changed by my own two hands, oil checked at minimum twice a week.

At around 100k it started. It's still slow, at about half a qt at 2.5k miles. So not bad.. but that's one car problem I really don't like. If something broke I can fix it my self... but oil burning?? No. when they consume oil that means more problems down the line, and it makes me nervous. Adding oil is no big deal, but I've always been so cautious of this, so I alway treated it so well hoping this wouldn't happen.

My sisters 2010 with 170 miles (before engine replacement) used at minimum 1 qt every 1.5k miles. Then the head gasket blew!

I always let the engine fire up in the morning and run for 10 seconds before I even pull away. I wanted to keep this engine perfect! Unfortunately all that was for nothing. I am disappointed in my Prius. I LOVE this car but I'm kinda sad about this Prius issue :-(

I am going to try replacing the PCV valve at the next oil change, hope that is the problem. Fingers crossed!!

 

I will. I think it might be gummed up. Although not really related, I cleaned the EGR pipe and it was nasty at 100k

 

It's a 2012 v wagon. Love the room, fuel economy (45 mpg) and the reliable hybrid components. The engine worries me a bit. It has a exhaust manifold rattle on slow acceleration as well.

 

Possibly! I checked all the heat shields underneath the card and didn't find anything. It's about 8k miles away from needed spark plugs, so when I take the wiper cowl off I will have access to the rear of the engine. Who knows, maybe even new spark plugs them self would solve the rattle by making the engine run smoother?

Mainly sad that it's started consuming oil under my very watchful eye. It wouldn't be as of a big deal to me if it already used some oil. It's just that since I've had the car, and I've done everything I could to keep it like new.

 

Damn.. what generation Prius? I know that the 2nd generation PCV valve replacement didn't help

 

I've noticed that the Honda Insight 2010-2011,(2012 insight had a piston ring problem) and the Ford Escape hybrids don't use any oil even with high miles. They are both have one thing in common.. they aren't Atkinson cycle engines. My engine shouldn't have wear at 110,000 miles. Something isn't right in the engines. I think it might be something to do with the Atkinson cycle, or the Energy saving piston rings.

If you think about it, us old Prius drivers are putting OIL into the air? How is this green? That's just dirty! Even if it is a small amount of oil. I think it should bother Toyota that their hybrids burn oil!

 

Hey! Last oil change I actually used BG EPR. No such luck, it's only gotten worse since than.

Maybe tomorrow I can tinker with the old engine. We might actually rebuild that engine eventually. Maybe put it in my Prius v when the engine blows... I will for sure change engine oil weight next oil change.

 

Glad to hear! I'm tempted to use the EPR on my others sisters 2005 with 310,000 miles. That car uses lots of oil but it's never had anything but the water pump and spark plugs mechanical wise. Runs great and still has great acceleration at its old age.