Seafoam, I'm a bozo, now Prius won't start

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by gsxranger, Feb 1, 2017.

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  1. gsxranger

    gsxranger Junior Member

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    I have a 2007 Prius that started using a lot of oil, 2 qts/ 5k. It snuck up on me and got really low a couple of times, so I decided to address it with the "seafoam soak" in the cylinders. I put 1.5 OZ in to each cylinder, figuring if it leaked down that was the recommended amount to add to the crankcase anyway. I soaked it for 4 days, and rotated the engine with a box wrench pushing toward the cabin from the top of the motor. I tried to suck the fluid back out of the cylinders but they seemed dry. Well I put everything back together and went to fire it up. Now it starts, shudders, runs sort of smoothly and then shuts itself down, and gives the !problem car error, and triangle error in the course of about 5 seconds. Power off, start it and it does it again. Any ideas?

    Thanks
    Jim
     
    #1 gsxranger, Feb 1, 2017
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Only takes one real low oil event to at least damage the oil scavenge ring on the bottom of the piston and then it really starts to eat oil and if really low damages the lower bearings. Usually from what we see if takes out the piston wrist bearing. It will start knocking soon.
    And then if kept driving usually blows the #3 piston out the side of the block.
    Seeing alot of these low oil deals. As your car gets older it needs more attention just like a human. Instead it gets less.

    Toughest little motor ever. Cannot tolerate no oil pressure.

    I don't care what car you own check the oil first thing every saturday morning before you start the car. Keep the oil at the full line always. Car engines use splash lubrication to oil the bottom of the motor. No splash no lubrication.
     
    #2 edthefox5, Feb 1, 2017
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  3. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Your gas engine never actually started. What you felt was the motor generator spinning the ICE at operating RPM speeds. Check all your connections to your coil packs. Maybe unplug them all and reconnect them.
     
    #3 Aaron Vitolins, Feb 1, 2017
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  4. gsxranger

    gsxranger Junior Member

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    Ok will do! It all went together smoothly, and all of them are "clicked" in and the spark plug covers are screwed down. Will it reset anything if I disconnect the positive battery terminal? Any concerns if I may have rotated the motor backwards?
     
    #4 gsxranger, Feb 1, 2017
  5. gsxranger

    gsxranger Junior Member

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    Hey thanks Aaron, that was it, #1 wasn't clicked all the way in. It starts and runs fine now. Now how do I get rid of those dash warning lights!~?
     
    #5 gsxranger, Feb 2, 2017
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  6. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Disconnect the battery for 1 minute and reconnect should clear. Or if you have a scanner that should be able to clear codes as well.
     
    #6 CooCooCaChoo, Feb 2, 2017
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  7. M in KC

    M in KC Active Member

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    ^ the negative terminal.
     
    #7 M in KC, Feb 2, 2017
  8. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    ^ It doesn't really matter which one. It just so happens that the Prius can be disconnected at the positive quite easily without tools.
     
    #8 dolj, Feb 2, 2017
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  9. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Like to know how the engine and milage have been after some miles. Get back to us.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #9 audiodave, Feb 3, 2017
  10. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    If the issue is resolved, the trouble light will cancel itself after a few (I think 5) trouble free on/off cycles.
     
    #10 fotomoto, Feb 3, 2017
  11. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    Never done it that way but have poured it down the throttle body which the car absolutely hates if you put it in diagnostic mode or the engine stays on it will stay on longer hopefully burning way all the cleaner I had to do it twice with squirting it in the throttle body with air codes but after it burns and you drive a little bit both error codes cleared by themselves after each stop at a reset

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 Jmack111, Feb 4, 2017
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  12. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    It you disconnect the negative for 10 minutes will clear the memory completely of the last 6 months put gas mileage sucks the first 50 miles then learn the way you drive also if you have the gas tank full it calibrates the fuel tank

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #12 Jmack111, Feb 4, 2017
  13. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    I use seafoam in the oil before oil changes a few days and seafoam in the gas mixed with Lucas or Marvel Mystery Oil combination seems to work much better than just one and you can use a lot less 2oz each 5mpg boost

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #13 Jmack111, Feb 4, 2017
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  14. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Marvel mystery oil in your gas? Lucas the injector cleaner?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #14 audiodave, Feb 24, 2017
  15. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    Both in gas Marvel Mystery Oil does both Lucas Fuel Injector Cleaner



    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #15 Jmack111, Feb 24, 2017
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Could be something to that. I disconnected the negative cable a day back, just for safety while I wired in a battery charger quick connect. The next day when I started the car it seemed a little "off". One thing, about one minute after start up, revs went way up, for about 10 seconds, then settled back down. Also, first start up, when (I thought) I'd shifted to reverse, it somehow ended up in Neutral, and warned about something, maybe shift to Park?? I shut down and restarted, all was fine the second time.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Feb 24, 2017
  17. drew935

    drew935 Member

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    I may try this next time for the oil change.
     
    #17 drew935, Feb 24, 2017
  18. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    So it working or not


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #18 Jmack111, Feb 24, 2017
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah it got back to normal, but I really got the sense it was reinitializing some stuff.
     
    #19 Mendel Leisk, Feb 24, 2017
  20. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    #20 Jmack111, Feb 24, 2017
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