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filthy cooling fan

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by nancytheprius, Aug 6, 2021.

  1. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    Hi Everyone i decided to clean my cooling fan for the hv battery as preventative maintenance and I was shocked as to how filthy it is. My 2006 prius only has 77k miles, but i’ll attach a picture. it is covered in filth. Any ideas on how to get it all off? I’ve used a new toothbrush and a plastic fork to gently scrape a lot off. I am also vacuuming periodically, but there is still so much stuck on. Thanks!
    IMG_1805.jpg
    The next picture is the “clean” version, but is still really dirty.
    IMG_1806.jpg
     
    #1 nancytheprius, Aug 6, 2021
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Try some window cleaner and q tips
     
    #2 rjparker, Aug 6, 2021
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  3. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    thanks, i’ve been using q tips and have had a ton of luck! i’ll send an after pic update. i’m really glad i decided to check out my fan


    iPhone ?
     
    #3 nancytheprius, Aug 6, 2021
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  4. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    Here’s a before and after picture from q tips and a vacuum.
    before
    IMG_1803.jpg
    after
    IMG_1809.jpg


    iPhone ?
     
    #4 nancytheprius, Aug 6, 2021
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Run a duster boa through all the ductwork too. If you’ve got a vacuum that can be set to blow, that’s good too, for chasing dust outa the corners.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Aug 6, 2021
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Nice
     
    #6 rjparker, Aug 6, 2021
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  7. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    #7 Another, Aug 7, 2021
  8. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    It was my first time working near the hv battery. Total like an hour and a half, but now that you know the q tip trick it should be less than an hour. I’ve also watched videos and read articles and never saw one as dirty as mine was
     
    #8 nancytheprius, Aug 7, 2021
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    What’s the cabin filter look like?

    What’s the engine air filter look like?

    How low is the oil on the engine dipstick?
     
    #9 edthefox5, Aug 12, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 15, 2021
  10. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    A99CC4F5-0C91-4AD2-8F13-D6A4160C56AE.jpg
    Here was my engine air filter a couple weeks ago! I changed my oil myself last month and filled it to abt 3 quarters up the dipstick and 2500 miles later it’s still at that spot
     
    #10 nancytheprius, Aug 12, 2021
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  11. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    I replaced the cabin air filter too and it was not pretty


    iPhone ?
     
    #11 nancytheprius, Aug 12, 2021
  12. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Why is your car so filthy?
    Why 3/4 on the dipstick there’s a full line that’s where it needs to be.
    How many miles on the car.
     
    #11 edthefox5, Aug 13, 2021
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I don’t know Ed: if it’s 3/4 of the way and stable, I wouldn’t stress about it.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Aug 13, 2021
  14. nancytheprius

    nancytheprius Active Member

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    it has 78k miles. I bought it from an elderly man and it used to be his wife’s car. It sat for awhile while she was sick before she passed so my guess is dust? no pets tho so it still seems weird. I filled it 3/4 between low and full because it was overfilled twice before i just started doing my own oil changes.
     
    #11 nancytheprius, Aug 13, 2021
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    #12 Mendel Leisk, Aug 13, 2021
  16. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Ignore the static...
     
    #13 rjparker, Aug 13, 2021
  17. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    the problem with that is if you don’t keep the oil at some certain demark
    You will never know if it’s eating oil or starts eating oil and how many engines have we seen on this site fail from lack of oil. Oil light comes on too late.
    And it’s always the just bought it. But whatever don’t stress about it.
     
    #14 edthefox5, Aug 13, 2021
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  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    You'll be fine at that level and it is better than being overfilled. There are bigger things in life to worry about.
     
    #15 dolj, Aug 14, 2021
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Too: when doing oil changes, I put in the spec’d amount, no more, and AVOID looking at the dipstick. Drive a week, then check (first thing in the morning), and it’s invariably just a tad below top mark.

    If I check right after filling (with a minute or two run time to fill the filter), it tends to read somewhat low. If I yield to the temptation to “top up”, I end up overfilled.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Aug 14, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2021
  20. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Agreed. I have observed the same.
     
    #17 dolj, Aug 14, 2021
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