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Generation 3 oil consumption

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016.

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  1. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    Hi everyone I am new to the Forum. I was looking to buy a used Generation 3 Prius and I was dismayed to find out that in particular the 2010 model had an issue with oil consumption. Does a 2011 model year and Beyond also have the same issue or did Toyota do something to fix the problem?
     
    #1 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Not all 2010 models have a problem, just make sure you get good service records that show on time oil changes. It seems if the owners are doing oil changes on a more frequent schedule, there is not much evidence of oil burning

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #2 JC91006, Apr 2, 2016
  3. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    I also noticed that the oil burning ssues seem to be spotty but significant. The people who have a problem claim that they followed the oil change schedule religiously. I was just curious if there was more of an issue with the 2010 model compared to the later model Priuses
     
    #3 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
  4. Ozark Man

    Ozark Man Member

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    I have a 2010 with 85,000 miles and does not use any. Has been changed every 5,000.
     
    #4 Ozark Man, Apr 2, 2016
  5. jazzdup74

    jazzdup74 Junior Member

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    I have a 2013 at 100k and after the first 1k on the oil change, it burns about 1quart per 1500k to 2000k depending on how much highway driving at 70+mph I do. If the motor is having to work a bit harder, oil consumption is more.

    I have changed the oil with the dealership every 10k until 60k miles were on it. Then I went to 5k miles on oil changes
     
    #5 jazzdup74, Apr 2, 2016
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  6. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    That is good to hear Ozark man

    My 1991 toyota corolla wouldn't go through any oil between oil changes (5k) up until 175k but now I go through a quart because of leak/burning. Two quarts of oil between oil changes doesn't seem too excessive but if you were to go the full 10k between oil changes you would have to add 5 quarts of oil between oil changes or another way of looking at it a full oil change between oil changes
     
    #6 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2016
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  7. milkman44

    milkman44 Active Member

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    2010 Prius, 150,000 miles oil changed every 10,000 miles using Mobil 1 0W20 since 40,000 miles. No oil consumption in 10,000 miles.
     
    #7 milkman44, Apr 2, 2016
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Problem, what problem?

    Zero oil consumption between oil changes, did #11 yesterday. Maybe one batch? Our was August '09 build.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Apr 2, 2016
  9. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    that is good to hear milkman. I hear of some people having a problem and they would have to beg toyota to do an "oil consumption test" where they would seal up the drain plug, dipstick tube and oil filter to see how much oil is gone after like 1000 miles.I may be wrong on the exact specification but if it is down like a quart and a half toyota might remedy it if the drivetrain is still under warranty.
     
    #9 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
  10. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    that is great to hear Mendl
     
    #10 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    How does Toyota seal up everything on a consumption test?

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #11 JC91006, Apr 2, 2016
  12. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    from what I understand they make everything the car tamper evident such as tape and the technicians initials on the oil cap,dipstick tube and oil filter. They tell you not to check your oil because the tamper evident tape on the dip stick tube would be busted and make the test invalid
     
    #12 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    ok, that makes sense. I always wondered what's to keep someone from draining some oil out and get a new engine
     
    #13 JC91006, Apr 2, 2016
  14. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    freshfuel, if you can find out exactly why some allegedly well-maintained Prii have the oil-guzzling habit and others don't at similar mileage, a lot of owners would like to know why, and what we need to do to avoid it.

    Toyota's "consumption test" could potentially result in destoying a repairable engine if it drinks too much within the specified test distance (1000 miles?), and the owner is not allowed to check or add oil.
     
    #14 CR94, Apr 2, 2016
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  15. freshfuel

    freshfuel Junior Member

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    I first heard about the problem on the car site carcomplaints.com. that site shows a lot of problems for the 2010 model Prius for excessive oil consumption but in later years it doesn't show up as much. in the same web search I found information about Toyota excessive oil consumption for other models most notably the Camry Hybrid. apparently there is a class action lawsuit being filed against Toyota right now for some of these models
     
    #15 freshfuel, Apr 2, 2016
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  16. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    2013 Prius with 67K miles, no oil consumption. Car is driven mostly on highways at 70 MPH. Oil has been changed every 10K miles. Checked at 5K intervals and no signs of oil consumption.;)
     
    #16 Bay Stater, Apr 2, 2016
  17. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    As others have mentioned in other threads, the reasons 2010s predominate may be that they've been around longest, have the most miles on average, and are more numerous because it was an extra-long model year.

    The nearest relevant class action lawsuit I've read about was for oil-guzzling 2007-10 regular Camrys. That forced Toyota to offer repairs to affected Camry owners who jumped through all the required hoops (including failing the oil-consumption test at a specified level).
     
    #17 CR94, Apr 2, 2016
  18. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    I checked on that and there is a total of 6 complements for oil consumption in the worst year, 2007: 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid engine problems & complaints | CarComplaints.com

    there is no question there is a problem with some toyota engines, but 2.5L (in hybrid camry) isn't one of them.

    this makes one wonder what is OP's agenda.
     
    #18 Former Member 68813, Apr 2, 2016
  19. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Prior to getting the Prius, my ride was a 2009 Toyota Camry LE. I sold it with 144K miles and did not consume oil. Oil was changed every 5K miles. Just recently I got a notification from Toyota regarding the excessive oil consumption on the Camrys. Since this is N/A, in the trash can it went...:D
     
    #19 Bay Stater, Apr 2, 2016
  20. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Interesting data point. With both the Camry and now the Prius, you must be doing something right that many others aren't---whether that involves maintenance practices or the way you drive.
     
    #20 CR94, Apr 3, 2016
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