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VVT Oil Filter? Poor MPG'S?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by edthefox5, Jun 4, 2010.

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  1. TampaPrius.com

    TampaPrius.com Active Member

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    Thanks for your help Ed and Patrick.

    Here are some pictures that may help any one else who wishes to change this filter. I also changed the valve. This filter is much smaller than I was picturing in my mind so I can see why a thicker oil or sludge would cause a problem.
     

    Attached Files:

    #41 TampaPrius.com, Oct 7, 2014
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  2. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    That filter looks like pretty coarse screen, like screen door screen. I don't think I would worry too much about dirty oil causing restrictions. Unless, there are chunks ...
     
    #42 AzWxGuy, Oct 7, 2014
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Very good pic #2019 of the area in question. Finally a pic of the exact area. Thanks. That solenoid looks very dirty or burnt oilish. Car must have lived on dyno. I would take the v cover off and look at the cams too.

    I would have flushed that area off first with carb cleaner before taking the filter & sol out. Clean that whole area up first. So dirt doesn't get in the holes. That and I like the smell of it.:confused:

    The used car dealer down the street from me Gary is a good guy I have bought a car from him before has turned his lot into all Prius's.
    He's got like 10 now. Seems to be moving pretty good. Garys been in business around here for 40 years. I constantly see mint condition G1's on his lot too. Yyes G1's. I don't know where he's getting them. Never ever see a G1 on the road around here but now Prius's are everywhere.
     
    #43 edthefox5, Oct 7, 2014
  4. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Sorry to bring back an old thread, but it may relate to my son's 2006 Prius valve clatter noise problem. The issue is this; when the car starts up cold the valves make a loud clatter noise. Then after a minute or so, the loud clatter noise goes away and the engine sounds normal. I was told by a non Toyota mechanic that it could be the check valve is stuck open. Through a former Toyota mechanic via text (has not physically heard the noise) thinks its the VVT. To the best of my knowledge, the problem started to occur when my son let the car's oil level go extremely low (by 2 quarts) for a period of time.

    I don't think the previous owner changed his oil regularly since there was oil film on the dipstick when my son bought the car. I had to clean the dipstick to read the oil level correctly. So I am guessing that there is sludge in his engine and globs may have kicked around when the oil level was allowed to go low. My son bought the car with 88K miles and now has 103K miles.

    Does anyone think a clogged VVT oil filter may be causing the valve clatter noise during a cold start? Or something else? Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.:(
     
    #44 Bay Stater, May 3, 2016
  5. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Well I finally had a chance to pull out the VVT oil filter in my son's 2006 Prius. I was hoping that it would be sludgy and would explain the loud engine valve chatter when started up. The filter looked pretty clean, went ahead replacing it with a new one. While I was at it, cleaned the throttle body and the air filter housing. Of course I dropped the O ring on the floor pan (wasted 10 minutes retrieving it, ended up knocking it thru the floor pan hole with a long screwdriver) when trying to reinstall the VVT oil filter. After assembly, started the car. Dang, the loud valve chatter remains. :mad: Time to figure out plan B...:(
     

    Attached Files:

    #45 Bay Stater, May 15, 2016
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  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Two possible alternatives for Plan B:

    1) Live with the noise since it goes away after one minute.
    2) Remove the valve cover to see what the valve train looks like. Measure the valve clearances and adjust the valves if necessary (this is not easy since the two camshafts have to be removed and new bucket "spacers" inserted to correct any instances of excessive clearance.)
     
    #46 Patrick Wong, May 15, 2016
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  7. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Thanks Patrick,
    I was also told by a mechanic that it is possible the check valve is stuck open due to sludge pickup. My son had let his oil level go extremely low.
     
    #47 Bay Stater, May 15, 2016
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    That's not good. Be aware many a poster reports the same issue you have that turned out to be a blown motor. When you run the oil real low there's not enough oil to lubricate the cylinder walls and the piston wrist pins and the piston rod main bearing and they fail causing a knock. Early stages starts knocking on start up then seems to go away. Its knocking all the time just not real bad yet. It gets bad pretty quick. Lots of posters report this as valve noise.

    If the oil ran low enough to turn on the yellow check engine light just once on a high mileage motor my bet is the motor lower end is damaged.
    Thats because if oil low enough to turn on the No OIL Pressure alarm it is really low.

    Seen this hundreds of times here. People just don't check the oil like they used too. That and if the car is strictly dealer serviced they never check the oil and don't find out the car has been using oil for years until the check engine light comes on one day as they never knew.

    Very few posters report valve noise issues relating just to the valve section. That area is well lubricated via pump & sump where the bottom end is splash lubricated and relies strictly on oil level. This car has a vary loud valve section to start with as it uses solid lifters like a high performance motor.
    In 9 years I can't remember one person who went in and replaced the shims. Its a very big job with small return.

    Go on youtube and search PRIUS INSPECTION mode. This easy set up forces the engine to run continuously for inspection.
    Get the engine running and stick your head under the engine and listen for knocking in the oil pan.It will sound like loud bassy thumping at idle.
    Sometimes a long stick pressed to the pan and then your ear will help.

    Just drive it till it explodes.
     
    #48 edthefox5, May 16, 2016
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  9. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    From what I have read, possible PVC valve clog. Please check prior posts in here regarding this.
     
    #49 Montgomery, May 16, 2016
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  10. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Thanks for your insight edthefox5! I will try that...:( It's a shame that my son just doesn't see the importance of general maintenance.:eek:
     
    #50 Bay Stater, May 17, 2016
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  11. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Thanks Montgomery, I will check it out.:cool:
     
    #51 Bay Stater, May 17, 2016
  12. mswtoyota

    mswtoyota Member

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    I just pulled mine and checked it in 5 minutes using a 6 inch extension without removing anything. Looked good, so I put it back (and re-used the o-ring: gasp!)
     
    #52 mswtoyota, Oct 12, 2017
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  13. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    It looks easy enough so I may as well take a look next oil change.

    Just to confirm, is it the one that I've marked with the green arrow here?

    vvt_oil_filter.jpg
     
    #53 uart, Oct 13, 2017
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  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Yes that looks right it's a female hex head bolt. Intake #1. The big round thing next to it is the VVT valve.

    Make sure you use a quality hex socket not a harbor freight pos as that hex bolt was really really socked down. Standard lefty loosely. There's a filter screen in there and a little rubber gasket if I recall.
     
    #54 edthefox5, Oct 13, 2017
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  15. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Thanks ed. Mine will probably be clear, but I'll take a quick look at it next time I'm in there. :)
     
    #55 uart, Oct 13, 2017
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  16. prius2serve

    prius2serve New Member

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    Great post! I think your on to something. I experienced a drop in milage by -10 to -12 mpg a few months before the catastrophic failure related to the timing retard that i'm working on resolving now. your post reminded me of the milage drop in the previous months.

    s-l1600.png
     
    #56 prius2serve, Dec 6, 2017
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  17. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

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    Did this improve anyone's MPG?
     
    #57 Sezy, Jun 13, 2018
  18. Sezy

    Sezy Active Member

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    Tried this and no change in MPG. Filter looked fine but replaced anyway.
     
    #58 Sezy, Jul 17, 2018
  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Replace the inverter coolant.
     
    #59 edthefox5, Jul 17, 2018
  20. CSuirp

    CSuirp Active Member

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    Hey guys. I'll be changing out my VVTI filter soon. I was just curious as to how much torque to tighten this bolt once the new filter is in. Do I need a torque hex wrench or can I just tighten it but a 1,2,or 3 grunt? lol
    thanks!
     
    #60 CSuirp, May 29, 2019
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