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How much oil burning is acceptable?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Higgins909, Aug 11, 2018.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

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    I own a 2010 Prius III with 167k on it. I got it with about 163k. I noticed it was overfilled slightly. I've put about 4k miles and noticed I was under the minimum dot on the stick, but still on the stick and didn't have a light. I filled it back up to mid point. I'm guessing I burned about 2 quarts in 4k miles. Does this seem excessive? I put 1 quart in it. Was wanting to do my tints and change the oil this weekend, but now it's supposed to rain.

    I haven't noticed any leaking oil anywhere. I bought the car in either Jan or Feb 2018 and it's now Aug 2018. I was thinking it needed new dampers, but now I don't know if I should spend more money on this car if it's going to start having issues.

    What do you think?
    Higgins909
     
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    The manual does say it. Let me use the search feature on here to find it.
     
  3. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    From my ‘12 v manual it is an issue if greater than 1.1 qt in 600 miles.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes, but this has lawyer-written weasel-out written all over it. They should put that statement prominently in their sales brochures, followed by something like this:

    If this car develops a serious drinking problem we don't care, don't come crying to us; we told you all about it in the 800 page Owner's Manual.
     
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  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    When thinking about things, I like to put myself in the other person’s shoes. I would never put such a disclaimer in my sales brochure. Would you? (My son in the 6th grade read Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. Upon helping him analyze it I ended up reading it. A good read even for my age, 42).

    Now that I think about it, 1.1 qt out of less than 5 qt as it is is quite a “drinking problem”..... Those Toyota engineers and lawyers are very smart, too smart maybe.......
     
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  6. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Pineapples to oranges?
     
  7. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Is it a different engine? My apologies for my ignorance!
     
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    You now know that your Prius consumes oil:(.

    The next steps are to ensure it never gets low by checking the dipstick frequently and adding oil;).

    At the mileage you are at, in addition to checking the oil, I would suggest the complete egr circuit cleanse. There are videos in the Gen3 maintenance section pinned for these:).

    Keep the oil between the dots and you’ll avoid further issues(y).
     
    #8 Raytheeagle, Aug 12, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2018
  9. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    "Lawyer-written Weasel-out." LOL! :ROFLMAO:(y)

    My owner's manual also says a 1 qt loss is acceptable.... every 1,000 miles? Gotta go look again.
     
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    The Gen3 is a quart every 600 miles;).

    When you take your early morning Sunday drive, open that large owners manual up and see what she says:).

    Up awful early aren’t you:whistle:?
     
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  11. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    He has driven 4000 in 6 months. So he's using less than a quart a month. That doesn't seem alarming for an 8 year old car with over 160K on it. My opinion ... that's acceptable.
     
  12. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Thanks Ray. I just completed reading the entire online version of the owner's manial. I can't find it. But I believe you are correct. A loss of 1 Qt every 600 miles is considered acceptable. That sure seems like a lot of oil. Anyway, I check mine every week.

    And the manual says to fill up both coolant resevoirs to the full line. Mine have stayed at the minimum level since I bought the car. Gotta top them off.

    (And I thought yesterday was Sunday. :LOL: I got up early and did the long drive... and experienced all that darn tire noise again. Made a new thread.)

     
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Sounds like CRS (Can’t Remember Stuff):(.

    But nothing wrong with another Sunday drive;).

    Too early for churros, so an egg McMuffin will have to do(y).
     
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  14. snagger

    snagger Junior Member

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    I've got 250,000 miles on a 2010.Noticed a sooty exhaust and some oil use about 25,000 miles ago and decided to do something. I've read about oil ring problems so I figured engine cleaner wouldn't hurt my old car. Used cleaner 30 mins before the last two oil changes. Just checked the stick and I've added 1/2 qt; just a little soot. . I'll accept 10,000 miles and 1/2 qt. Using Mobil1 0-20 .
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What cleaner, how is it used?

    So basically 1/2 quart loss in 10,000 miles? That's negligible, very good for a car with that many miles.
     
  16. snagger

    snagger Junior Member

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    I choose Bg109 from EPR. I suspect other cleaners may work as well. The Bg109 wasn't easy to get-found it at a fair price on Amazon. You have to get your engine into diagnostic mode and run it at 1200 rpm. I sat for about 20 mins listening to cowboy music. I'm really surprised this car still runs like new! Yes, 1/2 qt in 10,000 miles; mostly highway driving at 65 to 70.
     
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I’ve used EPR (PN 109) for over 60 k miles on our 2010. I think it helps keep the oil consumption in check :).

    Our oil consumption rate is a quart every 5 k miles, which I think is good at 184 k miles;).

    You done your egr circuit cleanse yet:whistle:?

    Thanks for sharing(y).
     
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  18. snagger

    snagger Junior Member

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    I've changed the PCV valve (didn't need changing) but haven't dug into the EGR. Was sort of hoping something else would quit first and then I'd get a replacement. I understand Toyota may have changed the pistons in 2014 or 2015 to solve the oil ring issue. I'd appreciate any info as I'd like to get a nice used one. Mine won't go forever.
     
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  19. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    The old school limit was always 1qt per 1k miles ... seems whenever a car line starts to use oil the miles per qt drops in the literature.
     
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  20. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    One Prius owner left an Amazon review about Techron. Was burning a quart every 600-800 miles. Used Techron on 6 tanks and dropped that to a quart every 3000 miles. So I think worth a shot.
     
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