3rd gen model year and oil consumption

Another year since I checked in with my '14 info. Another 35,000 miles added to the odo bringing my total miles to 182,000. Still no problem with oil consumption. Seems like a lot more 2010's than than that of the later years of gen 3's. i know when i bought my '14 that some people were holding out for a 4th gen. Also, gas prices have not been as bad as 2013. When I bought my car, the gas prices were down but I was fully expecting 4.00 a gallon gas again. Been under 3.00 and currently barely over 2.00 a gallon where I live.

 

Merry Christmas! I voted. 2011 Prius purchased new March 2011. The vehicle operates in a desert climate (Southern California) with temp between 30 and 105 F. Mainly highway driving. No oil consumption at 226,750 miles. 5000 mile oil change intervals with Mobil 1, Synthetic, 0W-20 and Toyota brand oil filter. I input a small bottle of Techron fuel injector cleaner around 500 miles prior to each oil change.
At 170K miles, the EGR cooler and manifold were cleaned and an oil catch can installed. Water pump replaced for preventative maintenance.
I’ve only had one tank of fuel that provided less than 50 mpg and usually fill up every 550 miles.
By the way, I seldom exceed the speed limit.

 

What was the condition of your EGR cooler with 170K?

 

Have you cleaned your EGR System? Installed an OCC?

 

Just voted. Mine is 2010 at 165k miles (Mobil-1 0w 20) with OCC so far oil change got done at 5000mile interval with OEM filter replaced the same time..
I never realized any oil consumption but I am pretty sure it uses some. It must be very minimal though. Can't see anything on the dipstick.

Is there any more accurate way to check it other than the dipstick method?

 

I presume he means there's no perceivable change in oil level on the dipstick.

 

New oil is hard to see on the dipstick. You can pull it, wipe it off, put it back in and pull it again,
and then lay it on a clean paper towel. You'll see the towel absorb the oil, then you can tell how high
on the dip stick it is.
You can also shine a bright flashlight on it...

 

2014 Prius 3rd Gen 238k miles driving it like I have 5 more Priuses. Driven about 5000K in every 5 weeks. 1st suspension job done at 220k miles due to failing 1 strut on driver site. 1 set of strut suspension assembly for front and new struts on rear axels. Maintained meticulously. Scratches, Spotless. Serviced up to 200k 5K OCI. Since then 7.5k OCI only 0w-20 Super Tech full synthetic oil. (API SN, GS 5, Dexos 1 ) made in China unbranded cartridge oil filter. No oil consumption.

 

now it would be interesting to know starting from what vin on they changed what /

 

TSB with VINs:

TSB on Excessive Oil Consumption for 2ZR-FXE Engine | PriusChat


iPhone ?

 

Yes, that would make sense. Quick deciphering of the VIN there:

The # in digit 9 is a check digit - does not mean anything other than to confirm validity of the whole VIN
The E in digit 10 means model year 2014. So when they say "before" this means that all 2010-2013 count, and then some of the 2014.
Digit 12-17 are the serial number.
Digit 11 is the plant. So the two different plants were working with different serial number sequences.

 

1 quart per 1k miles in city or highway drive. Worn piston rings effects way more in high speed > 70mph. I used to drive Nissan Altima 2002, it burns oil 0.5 q per 1000 miles in average. But it burn 1 quart every 1000 miles in exclusive highway drive. Piston rings too slow to adapts at higher speed and will leak more oil. Now I drove Toyota Prius 2015 and it burns less than 100cc of oil in 10k miles at 70k miles odometer. 2015 piston+rings are really good even I often drove at 80mph for 4-5 hours.

 

My 2010 (Delivery 7/19/09) has a little over 91K on the clock and burns ZERO oil. I check the oil the morning that I'm taking it in for it's service at the dealer, and it's always right at the full mark on the stick. I have the oil changed twice a year roughly every six months around 4,000-4,300 miles. The car has only had Toyota 0W20 in it from day one. Mostly short trips with an occasional road trip of an hour or two.

The other issue that I feel contributes to the lack of oil usage is that the car never exceeds 65 mph except to pass a slower vehicle. I run it at or below the speed limit on the highway. That means if the speed limit is 70 mph you will find me in the right lane at 65 mph. The engine in this car is built for low speed economy, not screaming up the Interstate at 75 plus mph for hours on end.

 

You sound like me!
But I'm the 2nd owner, and that's how he drove.
Though mine uses about 1 qt in 10,000 miles...

 

2010 with 198k miles on it. I purchased it in 2016 with 104k. Did 10k oil change intervals with Mobil 1 0/20 and then Lucas 0/20 after I started working for a Lucas distributor last year. Not much oil consumption until April or May of this year. It used to burn maybe 1 quart every 5k and now it's 1 quart or more every 1k miles.

I cleaned out the EGR system, cleaned intake manifold, and replaced the PCV valve in May. I also had a check engine light that turned out to be a bad air/fuel ratio sensor. Dealer replaced that for over $600. I wasn't at 10k yet when I did my last oil change but I had topped off several quarts by then. I flushed the engine first with the BG EPR (Engine Performance Restoration) stuff, before changing the oil and filter like normal. The old oil came out jet black, definitely pretty nasty and a lot nastier than usual. So I thought my piston rings were just gunked up and not excessively worn.

The oil consumption seemed to decrease for maybe the first 2k miles after the EPR treatment and oil change. Then it seemed to go crazy again and I have already topped off one quart of oil. Then added a quart of Lucas Synthetic Stabilizer after it ate that quart.

Meanwhile, I also have a 2010 Tacoma with the 4.0 liter V6. I bought it used last year in August with 148,xxx. It now has about 153k miles on it, definitely my backup/fun vehicle. I changed the oil shortly after purchasing the truck and it has barely gone down on the dipstick since then. Only 18-20 mpg of course, loves that nectar, but hardly consumes a drop of oil. I've done several maintenance items on it and it should last me a few more Priuses LOL.

 

Sorry to have not replied until now. My EGR cooler was in bad shape/highly clogged at 170K. I did the work to remove and replace with a new cooler and it was not a easy/small task. The next time it will go much smoother. This effort will greatly improve the engine longevity.