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

Engine, fuel system cleaning?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by justslappy, Apr 18, 2011.

Page 1 of 2
  1. justslappy

    justslappy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    29
    0
    0
    Location:
    north carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Took car in for 30,000 mile inspection and was asked if I wanted top engine cleaning ($70) and fuel system cleaning ($70). Are these needed? Thanks!
     
    #1 justslappy, Apr 18, 2011
  2. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    192
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    NO Toyota has all recomended services in the manual. These are not in their they are money makers for the dealer.
     
    #2 adamace1, Apr 18, 2011
  3. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2007
    868
    123
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA --- Land of Fruits & Nuts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sounds like the Service Department is trying to clean out your wallet.

    Keith
     
    #3 Tech_Guy, Apr 18, 2011
    douglasjre likes this.
  4. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    1,080
    174
    0
    Location:
    So. Cal.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^^ A clean wallet is a lighter wallet, which should improve MPGs by weight reduction. Simple as that. See, the dealer really has your best interest in mind.
     
    #4 sipnfuel, Apr 18, 2011
  5. mickey513

    mickey513 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2010
    127
    6
    0
    Location:
    Cali
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    #5 mickey513, Apr 18, 2011
  6. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    #6 stream, Apr 18, 2011
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not needed. :)
     
    #7 F8L, Apr 18, 2011
  8. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    By as much as 3.14% I hear.
     
    #8 spiderman, Apr 18, 2011
  9. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    1,605
    148
    0
    Location:
    Mt. Pleasant, SC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I've never use fuel additatives, nor fuel cleaners and do not intend to; but I do use windshield washer cleaner. :)
     
    #9 twittel, Apr 18, 2011
  10. dinger_greg

    dinger_greg New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2010
    86
    8
    0
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Not needed. The dealer is trying to add on to their sale.
     
    #10 dinger_greg, Apr 18, 2011
  11. stereos

    stereos Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Idaho Falls
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    #11 stereos, Apr 18, 2011
  12. almypal26

    almypal26 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2010
    101
    1
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    :eek:My service advisor stated the "mechanic" suggested the throttle body needed cleaning. I said no thanks.
     
    #12 almypal26, Apr 18, 2011
  13. viclavigne

    viclavigne New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2010
    76
    21
    0
    Location:
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Actually, throttle body cleaning is likely to do some good, although maybe not measurably good. Lots of engine cleaning that can be done that improves things, although you may not see immediate improvement: MAF sensor cleaning, throttle body cleaning, and fuel injector cleaning. My usual plan for my cars has been to do MAF sensor cleaning about every 15k miles, and the throttle body cleaning about the same time (but only as DIY projects). I run a good quality PEA fuel system cleaner about every 5k miles.

    The fact that Toyota doesn't specify such things in its service guidelines doesn't mean that it can't help. DIY is much cheaper than the dealer would charge. Of course, I've also known some mechanics whose philsophy is to wait until it breaks, and then fix it. I just never liked that idea.

    Vic
     
    #13 viclavigne, Apr 18, 2011
  14. justslappy

    justslappy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    29
    0
    0
    Location:
    north carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks for the great feedback. No liquid cleaners for me, at least not on a one-year-old car. Was suspicious of the dealer offer. Didn't know the right answer but knew a place where I could find out -- PriusChat!
     
    #14 justslappy, Apr 19, 2011
  15. justslappy

    justslappy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    29
    0
    0
    Location:
    north carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    How do you (or I) clean the sensor? Is this a simple process or something I request of the mechanic? Also, what do you use to clean the throttle body and fuel injector? thanks
     
    #15 justslappy, Apr 19, 2011
  16. justslappy

    justslappy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    29
    0
    0
    Location:
    north carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    How do you (or I) clean the sensor? Is this a simple process or something I request of the mechanic? Also, what do you use to clean the throttle body and fuel injector? thanks
     
    #16 justslappy, Apr 20, 2011
  17. srivenkat

    srivenkat Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2011
    596
    93
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Hello, just curious. How much did the dealer charge for the 30K mile service? What did it include? Mine just crossed 30K. Thanks.
     
    #17 srivenkat, Apr 20, 2011
  18. frayz

    frayz Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2010
    33
    5
    0
    Location:
    Mobile, Al
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    anyone use that stabil ethanol treament? I started using it in my bike and see a boost in performance. I see some peopel claim a boost in MPG..
     
    #18 frayz, Apr 20, 2011
  19. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Track your gas mileage and pay attention to how you car runs. If there is no deterioration in either, fuel system cleanings are money flushed down the toilet.
     
    #19 xs650, Apr 20, 2011
  20. justslappy

    justslappy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    29
    0
    0
    Location:
    north carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Srivenkat, the 30k checkup was $99, but I didn't need an oil change with it. I was expecting a much higher bill. I think it was mostly "inspections," with just $25 for parts and the rest labor.
     
    #20 justslappy, Apr 21, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2