Black soot inside exhaust tip. Should I worry?

1. Engine burning oil
2. Air/fuel mixture is too rich

What is the odometer reading on your car? Any warning lights on? What is your car's average mpg?

 

I don’t think you should be worried about. As long as you don’t have any warning lights on. Or if they have been on.

Does your Prius use oil? How much? Do you drive a lot of short trips or longer ones? How long have you had it (what short of driving did previous owner do)? Does it have any problems. Or did it have? All of those thing will effect dirt accumulation on the inside of exhaust.

 

The question about the Prius using oil refers to how much engine oil is consumed, between oil changes.

Driving mostly short trips is not helpful as the engine doesn't have a chance to warm up, hence it is less efficient.

I suggest that you keep an eye on the engine oil level per the dipstick, check the oil level at least every other time you refuel. Make sure you don't allow the engine oil level to drop below the lower dimple.

If you do then you'll be starting a new post about how to replace your car's engine.

 

IF the only unusual thing you notice is the soot on the tailpipe, then the answer is a resounding NO, don't worry about that.

Next time you are in a big parking lot, notice that most all the cars there have the same thing........if they look like they have a few miles on them.

 

I have two prius cars a 2001 with 145000 miles and 2015 with 4000 miles. The exhaust pipe on my 2001 Prius has had absolutely no soot the entire time I've owned it, but the 2015 model already as some soot in the pipe. I know the 2001, a prototype, had a design goal of minimal pollution and has an exhaust system that captures VOCs particularly during warm-up. I haven't checked other Gen 1 Prius exhaust pipes, but perhaps I will. My car has had regular oil changes and other maintenance to the drivetrain.

 

Hi Guys,

I have an '06 Prius with 154k miles on it. Until recently I have been impressed by how clean the exhaust tail pipe has been on a car with this mileage. Three weeks ago I moved from Texas to northern San Francisco and have been driving a lot less now. My commute to work is about 4 miles one way. I drive about 60-100 miles on the weekends though. Yesterday I noticed a lot of black deposits at the last couple of inches inside the tailpipe and a little bit on the outside as well.

Any suggestions to reduce the carbon buildup on such short commutes and what I could do to keep it clean and prevent permanent damage to the catalytic converter?