How much Oil does your Prius use?

Why have you posted this two times?

 

Quiet clearly I would think it's your fault if you didn't check your oil level.

It's the mechanics fault if they changed your oil and didn't put any in, and/or left something untightened and it leaked out.

If you drove 7000 miles since your last Oil change I would think there was some oil in your vehicle at some point.

I don't check my oil dipstick every time I fill up (maybe I should) but I do check it after every Oil Change, and then about once a month. I also take cursory glances underneath places I've parked to look for signs of a leak.

If the dealership is not going to admit to any wrong doing...and after 7000 miles? That's going to be hard to prove. Then you don't have too much recourse.

Also it's not so much about Oil Useage...if you are at totally devoid of Oil after 7000 miles, then it's not a matter of it falling under "normal" parameters of oil useage.

If you were burning oil at that rate, you would of noticed (I'd hope) lots of smoke.

 

The lack of sufficient oil after 7000 miles is not evidence that they didn't put any oil in you car?

Yep they're correct. You need to check your oil level on the dipstick from time to time. Once it gets more than about a quart low (depending on exactly where it started from) the oil might start degrading more quickly and the rate of loss can increase. Once it's down by about 2 quarts then both engine wear and oil loss will almost certainly accelerate.

 

You can have a car that burns over 1 qt/1000 miles and not have any noticeable smoke.

 

The oil change interval on your Prius is 5000 miles - you apparently ignored checking your oil level for well past one oil change interval. Your mechanic's right. You aren't taking proper care of your car.

 

wouldn't a warning light have come on if there was insufficient oil in the sump?

 

No, very few cars have oil level lights, it's difficult to do because the oil level changes depending on engine speed and other things.

Cars typically has oil pressure lights and if the oil pressure light (idiot light) comes on while you are driving down the highway, you have probably already damaged your engine.

 

Didn't we have a similar thread to this a couple weeks ago where someone didn't check the oil for about 11,000 miles and tried to blame everyone but themselves.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...g/105526-11-000-miles-overdue-oil-change.html

You should check the oil every week or at the very very least before a long journey, but just not checking it is an expensive and sharp learning curve.

You might be lucky and your engine could be ok and run for a long life. If you're a little lucky it might run for a while but burn a little more oil now. If you're unlucky it'll burn massive amounts of oil and kick out lots of smoke and attract the attention of the Police quicker than you'd like.

Good luck.

 

Yeah but the OP is saying his vehicle is or was operating with NO Oil....

You can't run your vehicle down to operating with no oil without noticeable symptoms.

 

You'd be surprised!

I am aware of some taxis that had been run with no oil because nobody wanted to take the time to take it to the garage and have it topped up -for free!

I noticed one car when I went to move it to another parking bay that it clattered a little on start up. Decided to check the oil and there was none on the dip stick! This car had done about 2,000 miles in the previous week. When it was topped up it took 4 litres, whereas the engine was designed to take 4.5. It had been running around for who knows how long with 0.5 litres of oil in it.

It didn't cause any long term damage and is still running on the original engine.

I will add that I also know of cars that have had permanent engine damage caused when the oil level just went below the low mark. So always ensure you check your oil and keep it topped up correctly.

 

I just got back from the dealer for my 2005 Prius (90,000 miles on the car, taken for oil change every 3,500 miles). My Prius is two quarts low and has only been driven 500 miles since my last oil change (at the dealer who also replaced the 12v battery at that time). They told me the car is showing signs of "blow by" Code P0505 Idle Control System. They advised they need to take apart my engine ($1200) to see if it's a valve and may need to replace the engine. Last time I brought it they advised I was losing oil but there was no leak. This is the result. The reason I brought it to the dealer in the first place was I suddenly was getting a 'transmission lock' error upon starting the car - which wouldn't let me shut the car off.

I told the dealer I can't afford $1200 for them to see if it's the valve. He advised I may need to buy a new car (hello I don't have $$$ for a new car!)

 

I currently have 250k on my car. I believe I have had the red triangle from low oil on 4 occasions. She goes through 1qt every 1000 miles. Still getting great mileage 50-52 right now.

 

My Prius is two quarts low and has only been driven 500 miles since my last oil change

Aside from your engine problem, have you considered just renting a car when you do need to drive one? That is a really low mileage per oil change. What are your trips like when you do drive, many short trips may be part of the problem.

 

now ya make me want to go out and check my oil. over 3 Priuses, i have never burned a drop. sooner or later, my luck is gonna run out

 

A "one post" OP, and he's nowhere to be seen. I'm starting to wonder if this is another one of those posts, and perhaps there's a bunch of guys on a VW or a BMW site somewhere having a laugh?

 

I'll concede to your superior experience...as a Grumpy Cabby. I however have no desire to test this theory on my own vehicle.

 

Personally I think it would be wrong to assume that the OP even has clue what (s)he is talking about.

 

I have never burned a drop. 160k. I have never heard of a car without oil in it not making a horrible racket. However, I am not willing to test that theory on my car either. I manage a fleet of over 2000 cars and just the other day someone drove up while I was in the parking lot in a 2010 Impala that sounded like someone had wedged a hammer in the engine. I ran over and had her shut it down, and of course she said " i was wondering what that noise was". NO oil was even showing on the dipstick. She failed to heed the last 3 maintenance notifications. The engine was saved though!