1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Oil Discoloration

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by briansgreencar, Dec 8, 2014.

  1. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I recently took my car in to the dealership for a 50,000 mile oil change. 2 days later I checked my dipstick and the end showed a very discolored oil (rust colored) which had a lot of sediment in it.

    I have since taken it back to the dealership and they don't seem to know what the problem is. They have since changed the oil again and it still has a rust color to it.

    Has anyone experienced this before?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,482
    8,397
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That could be the color of the oil they use
     
  3. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Oil color and rust like substance were different. Dealership is saying they have never heard of this issue.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,482
    8,397
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    How long did you go before your last oil change?
     
  5. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Oil changes have been regularly done(according to the owners manual at 5k, 10k, 20k, 30k, 40k & 50k
     
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,602
    3,778
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Orange color coolant mixing with it?
     
  7. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    rust colored orange. No foam.
     
  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    HD pictures please.
     
  9. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Not the best quality-but it shows the rust color Mixing with fresh oil
     

    Attached Files:

  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,482
    8,397
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    when the dealer saw it, what did they tell you?
     
  11. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Using only the info you have provided...this needs to be addresses asap to make sure.
     
  12. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    To make sure of what? The dealership has no idea what it is. They have started a technical assistance case.

    I believe there resolve is that they changed the oil enough times that the rusty color is gone.

    I'm not sure what else I can do. Other than a corporate complaint.
     
  13. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Drain and retain your current oil and try using an oil analysis if your case is going nowhere. Blackstone Labs
     
  14. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2010
    1,157
    289
    66
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Try to notice if your engine is "making oil" too. My guess is you have a coolant leak into the oil system. The pink coolant might just turn orange once combined with hot engine oil. As frodoz737 says, get a free kit from Blackstone labs. Then get it analyzed ($25 according to the website). If it is coolant, you have a bad problem.
     
    #14 phoenixgreg, Dec 8, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2014
  15. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Know it's not my place to tell you what to do, but do it now. Anything "not oil" here is very bad.
     
  16. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks. So far the local dealership is saying they have never seen anything like this. I will keep you posted
     
  17. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Horrible quality. Perhaps you know someone who has semi-decent cell phone or camera?
     
  18. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2014
    1,584
    257
    0
    Location:
    Ocala, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    There are several things that the "mechanics" can do.....like pressure test the cooling system and look for oil floating on the top of the coolant.
    That sure looks like water is getting into the crankcase.

    This time of year, that can also be caused by a fault in the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PVC) system, allowing water to condense out of the air when the engine is first started cold.

    Do you use your car for a lot of short trips when the engine cools down between them ?
    In rare cases, that can be "normal" and indicates a need for a longer engine run once a week or so.
     
  19. briansgreencar

    briansgreencar Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    8
    0
    4
    Location:
    Delmar, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The majority of trips are short (under 20 minutes), but it is used for longer trips every 2 or 3 days.

     
  20. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    While the photos and description do "appear" to be a water based substance, take it back and let the "mechanics" do their job to find out what it is for sure. Having the same results after another "oil-flush" would indicate the problem is real. When a Service Adviser or the runner up for Service Manager says I don't know...that usually means nothing except they want you to pay for their time. Escalate the process before more "possible harm" might be done to your engine.