Oil Burning :(

many 2010 prius burn oil. check out the threads with many recommendations.

and don't wait for the dealer to check your oil level, or your engine may blow up.

 

congrats on your new to you car btw, all the best!

 

Congrats on your new car. I don't know how the dealer would know that it's using too much oil, unless it was really low. Just keep a real close eye on it. The dealer probably put in 0w-20. Another person here puts in 5w-30 synthetic when he has to add oil and I'm going to start doing the same thing. You might want to do that also if you determine yours is starting to use oil.

 

If it were my car, the first thing I would try is a 0w20 high mileage formula oil. The high mileage formulas contain additional additives that may be beneficial and reduce you oil consumption. It cost no more than regular 0w20 and can’t hurt to try.

 

the real depressing part is the gas motor doesn't have 130,000 miles yet because it isn't running all the time.. it might have 80,000 actual miles... it will only get worse, I have seen some here say they burn a qt every 600 miles.. consider selling it now or start saving for a rebuilt motor .. a used motor is a waste of money as the all burn oil

 

If it were my car, that'd be the last thing I try, after:

1. Verifying oil consumption rate, over a decent period of time/miles.
2. Going to a heavier oil if needed, say 15W30.

If you're for example consuming say around a quart between oil changes, I'd maybe try a heavier oil, or even just monitor and top up a little more often.

High mileage oils work by swelling rubber gaskets, and are really a last resort. Once you start with them you stick with them. If you were to return to regular oil, the rubber gaskets would shrink back, likely more than at the outset.

 

kinda like muscles.

 

Oh!? Mine must need the high-mileage stuff.

 

As Mendel L wrote, first figure out how much oil the engine is consuming. Check it at every fill up and update this thread. Then we'll see the most relevant feedback posted here.

 

I use 5w-30 all the time.

Have been since 120 k miles (just clicked 170 k miles).

Have done many things but going to 5w-30 has helped.

To the OP, keep a very frequent eye on the dip stick (I check our 2 vehicles every Saturday) and add as needed.

Keep us posted .

 

Used motor? Yeah, you're right. Chances of using a used motor would be 50/50.
If it were mine, would overhaul it, if I've got the time.

 

Do a search for the Consumer Report study on oil consumption in cars. They found no correlation between oil consumption and engine failure/ serious problems. Their bottom line is that if you don't mind the expense of adding oil when needed, there is really nothing to worry about.

 

Still, I'd think there is a correlation, for cars with heavy oil consumption and neglectful owners, the ones that don't even realize you need to check oil level periodically.

 

Wasn't that CR study about cars which burn some oil when new, not ones which suddenly switch to heavy guzzling in middle age? Different causes, different significance ...

 

Our Honda's always fell into the former category, almost prefer that state, compared with our Prius with its miraculous abstinence: keep waiting for the other shoe to drop lol.

 

Yep! Conventional wisdom used to be that engines that were especially abstemious when new would soon wear themselves out and become heavy drinkers. I've never known anything to consume as little as this Prius, so far.

 

Time for an egr cleaning and oil catch can.

 

I would recommend you switch to Mobil 1 0W-40 weight oil and see if this reduces the burn of oil. This weight of oil is used in other parts of the world for the Prius and you will not notice any difference in MPG's. And 2nd would be buy a scan gauge II and set it to see your RPM's and stay below 3,000 RPM. Too many owners drive this motor too hard.

 

In case that is true, I'm easy on it, but I have not seen solid evidence that that's the cause of so many becoming oil guzzlers.