2014 Prius burning oil. Advise

Here are my 3 ideas on what do to.

1. Don’t worry about it and just keep the oil topped off. Gives you a nice excuse to regularly check your fluids.

2. Berrymans B12 piston soak treatment. This seems to be the only magic bullet that actually works for people. It worked fantastic for me so far, (I went from burning 1 quart per 1k miles to 1 quart per 8k miles), but general consensus is that it only lasts so long. Personally, I’m happy to do it every 3 or 4 oil changes if necessary.

3. Rebuild the engine with updated piston rings. I find this to be doing too much as I’ve driven over 100k miles while burning oil. It's bad for your catalytic converter, but it can't be that bad. I would instead just ride it out until the head gasket goes then you can just get a new engine or have the pistons done along with the head gasket... depending on how much you drive that could be years from now. Just remember that you have to regularly check your oil now.

 

How much oil is she burning?

 

BG hybrid repair kit

 

None of that stuff actually works.
The ONLY way is to remove the pistons and rings and clean them.
But replacing them with the updated ones is the best thing to do.

Also, how do you drive? Like it's an F1 car? Or like it's a Prius?

 

The best advice is to ignore anyone who advices chemical cures. Low tension rings are so bad on gen3 Prius engines that Toyota replaced thousands free before the cars even had 60,000 miles.

Low tension rings were a car disease that infected many Toyota models including Camrys, Corollas and Rav4s generally from 2007-2014. The difference is Prius has a more severe failure mode with expensive catalytic converters and blown head gaskets.

Some end up with really excessive oil consumption the old fashion way - scored cylinder walls that can cause a quart every 600 miles.

For a 30 episode attempt to fix the problem with chemicals, including B12 and Valvoline Restore spend a few days with DIY Dave. Oil Consumption Experiments - YouTube

Spoiler Alert - nothing worked even though some seemed to have short term oil consumption reductions.

 

I'd take $10 short term fix (that's worked for me for 6 months and saved over 6 quarts of oil so far) and just do it over an over instead of an engine rebuild on an otherwise working engine any day. Go ahead and ask around how much a piston ring replacement might cost you.

 

PCV valve is made from metal parts. I've only had to soak/clean them with carb cleaner and they look like new. Should help with oil burning since a clogged valve will build up pressure in the crankcase causing more oil to slip past rings.

SM-A536V ?

 

The spring in the pcv valve weakens over time and heat.....
I'm glad it's a $10 part and easy to replace...

 

Possibly try Valvoline Restore & Protect, it's designed to slowly clean out buildup which has coated the piston rings over time.



It's not expensive, around $30/5 qts.

Valvoline Restore & Protect Full Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil 5 QT - Walmart.com

Use a Toyota/WixXP filter and go to town.

FYI I tried 5W-30 and it greatly reduced oil consumption, however that was before I knew about Restore & Protect. I just did my first oil change with it two days ago. We'll see how it goes.

 

It doesn't work.... I'm on my 5th change, no differenct.
I guess it didn't hurt, but it's $5 for than the other oil. This will be my last time
for this oil. As it's cost me just one oil change....
Perhaps if you use it early before it starts building up, it MIGHT keep it from gumming up.

My engine was using 1-2 quarts in 5000 miles, depending on how I was driving.
It's using about a quart more now, at 352,000 miles.

I already wrote to valavine, but of course they have not responded, and likely won't....

 

That’s not bad.

 

You should read into what type of engine was used for valvoline protest restore for the claim to up to 100% clean. I laughed out loud after knowing the truth

 

New pistons, rings and valve seals will do it assuming the cylinders are not scored or the block is not warped. It’s really the only answer other than a professionally rebuilt engine. Some have success with a used JDM engine which can be installed for less than a high end shop’s $3k head gasket replacement.

 

Likely an engine with just a little build up.
I wiped off the thin layer on the head when I did the head gasket replacement.
With synthetic oil you don't get the buning so much I believe.

I just figured it couldn't hurt and "might" clear up the oil rings and passages.
And hope it won't hurt! And with 352,+++ miles I'm not too worried about it.

When the oil burning gets bad enough, I get a hybrid pit motor.

 

Interesting thanks for the report.

Although at 350,000 miles your issue may be wear itself and not sticky rings. That engine is about done lol.

Out of curiosity what oil have you used over the 350,000 miles and what change interval?

 

The cylinder walls didn't look scored when I did the head gasket. But I'm figuring they
are worn after all those miles.
I use 0-20 and 0-30(when I can find it) and 5-30. I was doing 10,000 miles then switched to
7500 and now do 5000. Either Castrol, or mobil1, which ever cost less...

I figured since it's using more oil, shorter changes would be better than just adding oil all the time.

When I get a new engine, I will do 5000 miles.