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How bad is the oil burning issue 2010 to 2015?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by jessiejosco, Jul 22, 2020.

  1. jessiejosco

    jessiejosco Member

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    I have a 2006 and a 2008 Prius currently. The 2006 is getting to the point that we need to replace it. It actually has no major problems, but a growing list of minor problems and the front fenders and rockers are rusted out. The final straw is that the air conditioning has a leak and will not keep a charge.

    So we are looking at a new Gen 4 or a used V or Gen 3 if we can find a good used one. Should we stay away from any before 2016? Is it true that oil control problem was fixed in the 2016 model year?

    The reason I am asking is that we are looking at a 2015 Gen 3 that has about 30000 miles on it. I don't really want to have to deal with an oil burner for the next 10 years. My 2008 just started burning a bit in the past year at 175000 miles (about a quart every 6000 miles). How soon would you expect a gen 3 to start burning oil?
    This has probably been asked before but I could not find a direct answer to this
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    2016 is gen4, a whole different engine setup. 2015 gets new rings and pistons. your biggest concern is the egr circuit.
    if you don't diy, it's around a grand to get it cleaned, all labor. and an oil catch can should also be installed.
    there are lots of gen3 that don't burn oil. it might be how well they are taken care of, or just the luck of the draw. hard to say.

    gen 3 is a great car, but if i could swing gen 4, i'd go for it.
     
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  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    So my 2012 was sold with used rings out the gate?!
     
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  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Oil burn varies, just because you have the 2015, it doesn’t mean oil burning will never happen. If you drive abusively and change oil way late after change interval, it will begin burning. Obviously that applies for all ICE vehicles.
     
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  5. Krall

    Krall Member

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    To replace my EGR ‘valve’ I was just quoted $1k, so that’s normal? I wonder if it includes cleaning or just replacement...

    My 2010 has 260k on it, oil consumption is about a quart a week but it also does about 80 miles a day. I don’t mind adding the oil, but the burning smell is starting to come into the cabin.
     
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  6. ETC(SS)

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

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    If you're not able to do something with the EGR circuit soon then you won't have to worry about the oil for much longer.
    The head gasket will let go, and then you're going to be in the market for a new motor or a new car.

    @jessiejosco (OP)
    All models have their engineering quirks, and G3's (2010-2015) have theirs as well.
    Since you do not sound much like a DIY person then I would probably look for a G4 or a non-hybrid FWD sedan to replace your G2 with.
    Don't forget to leave some room in the budget to pay somebody else for the maintenance and repairs that you're not going to DIY.

    You're probably getting 40MPG more or less (real world) in your G2.
    You can almost get that in a non-hybrid these days.

    YMMV....

    Good Luck!
     
    #6 ETC(SS), Jul 23, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think the valve is expensive, but not sure of the part price. cleaning the entire circuit is labor intensive, but no parts involved.
     
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  8. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    I don't think cleaning the EGR circuit is going to stop any oil burning now that it has already begun.
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Oil burning is mainly down to the pistons and rings, 2010 through 2014. At some point in 2014 a switch was made to both pistons and rings. The attached excessive oil consumption TSB's indicate the new part numbers (168 is the test, and 169 the fix). Some 2014's have the revised parts, and for sure all 2015's.
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Krall

    Krall Member

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    That quote was from a garage. I took it to the dealer today and it was $650 so I'm shocked at the price difference. The garage said it had to be reprogrammed! The dealer didn't have the EGR 'kit", but they ordered it. I tried to ask them if they did/would clean the EGR circuit and he wasn't really sure what I meant so I asked if they would clean all the pipes attached to the EGR valve and he said yes and they did most of that already and there was a 'lot' of crud in the pipes. In addition the valve was stuck in the open position.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    It would be interesting if dealership is doing a complete, end-to-end EGR cleaning, for $650. That's not too out of line. I'm a little sceptical but yeah.
     
  12. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    140k on my 2010, and down 1/2 gt at 9k miles. I haven't added any since new, and change yearly, or at 10k intervals.
     
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  13. jessiejosco

    jessiejosco Member

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    I'm not sure why you would assume I don't DIY, because thats pretty condescending and you are actually wrong. Just because I don't want to start out with a lemon does not mean I don't know much about or work on my own cars. Funny thing is many people selling used cars don't want to tell you they are selling an oil burner.

    I would not call changing pistons and rings a "quirk". Thats a pretty major engine failure, so I was trying to get an idea how many gen 3s have this problem. If the problem really is just the PCV valve I would be quite comfortable doing that myself.

    Also I am not sure if you have ever driven a gen 2 but both of ours average about 47 "more or less" and that is just driving pretty normally. Probably depends on the type of driving you do.

    Thank you everyone for the information. So it sounds like gen 3s are bit higher risk to buy used, but a well cared for low mileage one should be ok. I am trying to convince my wife to get a gen 4 but she can't stand the batman tail lights. We also test drove a new Prime and Corolla hybrid this weekend. We were disappointed with the cargo space in the prime and the dashboard is tacky. Not even sure you could get 2 suitcases in it. The Corolla hybrid was really nice. Much better looking inside and out than the Prius and cheaper. But no plug in. We also took an Iconic out for a test drive and it was really nice too. It's like Hyundai read all the complaints about the Pruis, fixed them, and created the Iconiq. Also the iconic plug in still has a trunk. Not sure how Hyundai managed to package the battery better than Toyota. I wish Hyundai reliability was up there with Toyota.
     
  14. ETC(SS)

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

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    I made the assumptions based on your posts.
    If my assumptions are wrong, then I'll offer an apology that is more or less as sincere as your injury.

    As for my estimation of a G2's real-world efficiency in Canada?
    2007 Toyota Prius MPG - Actual MPG from 548 2007 Toyota Prius owners
    I played the averages and deducted 2 points for your location (terrain/temps.)
    I did not mean to cast doubts on your driving techniques or suggest in any way that your efficiency is sub-par.
    You may very well be significantly above average both in mechanical ability AND in your fuel efficiency.

    You asked a question and I gave my honest answer to it, and I stand by it.

    If you're willing to spend a little more for a G4, and if you really are getting 47 MPG with a G2 - then you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more efficient the newer car will be over your old one.
    Toyota Prius MPG - Actual MPG from 8,188 Toyota Prius owners


    Good Luck!
     
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  15. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

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    My 2015 burns absolutely zero oil between 10,000 mile oil change intervals.
     
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  16. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    No oil loss in my 2010, at 180,000 miles...

    About the tail lights in the Gen-4 Prius, note that these were redesigned in 2019.
     
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  17. 2012 Prius v wagon 3

    2012 Prius v wagon 3 Active Member

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    That's physically impossible unless it never starts the ICE, right? Good to hear that it's really really low though.

    And an earlier post here called one quart in 6k miles oil burning. That does not seem excessive to me, for cars in general.

    Does Toyota give a spec on how much oil burning is acceptable? Most manufacturers do, and it is often in the range of 1 qt per 1k miles. My old Porsche specs 1 liter per 1000 km as the specified max. Of course these "acceptable" specs are not desirable or even common, just what they say before you should declare a problem and fix something.

    Also, when measuring oil burning, if any oil leaks as well as burns, it can be tough to figure out how much is burned vs. leaked. The oil consumption is obviously the sum of those two factors.

    Very little oil loss in my 2012 with 65k miles, between ~5k mile oil changes. And I recently did the EGR cleaning, intake manifold cleaning, and OCC install. The EGR was not as plugged as many report here with higher miles, but it was clogged enough that I'll probably get back in there in another 60k miles.
     
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    We're supposed to say "Yes, mine burns a lot of oil." There's people here that wants a recall on rings, how is that answer supposed to help them? One feller even lawyered up, that's not how we play ball here!
     
  19. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I would take the Corolla over the Prius doesn't matter if it's a plug in it's a hybrid and soon as they can get a 2 l in it that'll be the one to have electric is well electric gas is going to be around a good long minute no matter how we like that or not so going to be still happening for a few electric cars have their problems tesla front ends fall out from under them. Etc

    SM-A715F ?
     
  20. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    I have 2 gen 3 cars ....a 2010 and 2012....2010 was an oil burner when I got it and 2012 wasn't.
    Oil burning is down to sticky piston rings.
    I personally though limited experience 2 cars have managed to keep oil burning to about half a litre every 10,000 miles.
    The thing I do that everyone tells me I shouldn't need to do is do and engine oil flush every second oil change, I use liquid Molly professional engine oil flush , originally I did a piston soak with both cars . Mileage is 238,000 on the 2010 and 276,000 on the 2012, I've got to say I was sceptical at first but it seams to be working.
    As for the egr, to clean them out is a dig job... hardest part is removing the erg cooler .... but there is plenty of good YouTube vids on how to do this... incedently I've found oven cleaner is the best solution on cleaning her cooler...just leave it on to soak then jet Wash off.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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