Prius Burns this much oil?

I guess I better check my oil too because I have put 1500 miles on it since I bought my car and never checked the oil.

Hopefully some of the senior Prius Chat members can add further insight to the OP.

Cheers Mike

 

no way! your car would burn up in flames after 2200 miles

 

I change the oil every 6000 miles. I check the level occasionally and it always reads full; thus, in 64,000 miles I have never added oil between changes.

 

I have 6,700, I have checked the oil (and changed it also) and haven't burnt a drop. Generally speaking, all cars will have a similar statement that about 1 quart per oil change is acceptable. I personally don't find it acceptable, but it gives the manufacturer some leeway for engines that are not made to spec. It is always a good idea to check the oil from time to time so that you can monitor if the car is using more oil than usual and if you have a leak to fix.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nginoza @ Jul 20 2007, 07:38 AM) [snapback]482198[/snapback]</div>

Nathan,
The Prius is made in Japan. I have over 60,000 on mine and have never had to add oil between changes. I read the info in the manual and it is kind of misleading.

 

Is this yet another Prius myth?

Tenor1

 

I think someone was reading the wrong manual... Mazda RX-8, perhaps? 2-stroke dirtbike? The Prius doesn't burn oil, i'm sure.

 

"I have a friend whose buddy's brother-in-law read somewhere that....." There is no reference in the Owner's Manual stating that the Prius consumes oil at a rate per thousand miles....

Sounds very much like more "Anti-Prius" propaganda.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jul 20 2007, 08:42 AM) [snapback]482228[/snapback]</div>

Page 207 in the 2004 Prius Owners manual states,

"The amount of engine oil consumed depends
on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions the
vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed by high–speed driving
and frequent acceleration and deceleration.
A new engine consumes more oil, since
its pistons, piston rings and cylinder walls
have not become conditioned.
Oil consumption: Max. 1.0 L per 1000
km (1.1 qt./600 miles, 0.9 Imp.qt./600
miles)"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Jul 20 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]482347[/snapback]</div>

There is no need to worry about this. The statement in the manual is normal and in most car manuals. It doesn't mean that most Prii will use 1.1 quarts per 600 miles. As it states this in the maximum that the engine can consume and be considered "normal" However, it is not "normal" for an engine to do this.

That statement is there to establish a the point at which oil consumption goes from OK to not OK. So if you take you Prius to the dealer and complain about it consuming oil, if it is not consuming more than 1.1 quarts per 600 miles they are not going to fix it under warranty.

My VW has 140K miles and consumes 0 oil between oil changes. My BMW motorcycle has 24K miles and consumes 1 quart every 1800 miles on average. Part of this is because the motorcycle is air-cooled and has larger production tolerances and operates at a wider range of temperatures.

 

I have never read of a Prius 'burning' oil, and I have read a lot. If one did, I would be concerned for the long-term health of the catalytic converters. Any oil leak through gaskets or seals would leave drippy evidence under the car.

Nginoza, it would be prudent to check your oil level occassionally. Fully expect that you will not lose any. Ever. If you do, take it to the shop.

Please do not neglect the first (5k mile) oil and filter change. It is arguably the most important one ever, and I would not even mind if you did it a bit early.

 

I change every 10,000 miles (Amsoil 0W30) and the consumption is barely detectable.

PA P

 

Don't worry about it, the Prius doesn't burn oil. This is Toyota, from Japan, no less.
Most car manufacturers have a similar statement somewhere in the manual. It sets a baseline for what the manufacturer is willing to take take responsibility for, or considers 'abnormal'.
My sister had a POS Ford Mustand LX that burned oil like crazy from day one. The POS dealer would always point to that statement and tell her the car was normal. And they wouldn't do crap about it. She's driven a Honda ever since. :lol:

 

Someone is attempting to mislead, using a misunderstood industry disclaimer as their basis of reason.

In reality, even less oil is consumed in Prius than in most traditional vehicles.

For me, after 141,000 miles of Prius driving, I have yet to detect any reduction in oil level at all. The engine is remarkably easily on oil, even at 7,500 mile change intervals.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bc104 @ Jul 20 2007, 08:12 AM) [snapback]482209[/snapback]</div>

Not a drop that you can detect... but there is some being burned. Oil IS burned in ICE engines. It has to be. Just not very much when they are working properly.

The manual for my Rav4EV doesn't say a THING about oil capacity, oil changing, or oil consumption. Something must be wrong!

 

I have the same problem with my 2010 Prius.... My dealer told me he is seeing a lot of Prius 's with this problem he thinks Toyota is going to recall this engine soon. The Camry and Rav4 has already been recalled for this problem defective rings and pistons. So I'm waiting............

 

Prius ICE burning oil is nothing new. There are lots of discussion regarding this particular issue on Prius Chat. Oil burning rate can accelerate dramatically and permanently if you do not check and top off oil level on the regular basis.

 

Ok, got it, lol.

View attachment 115479

 

Post once or twice, see what happens. Carpet posting doesn't help.

View attachment 115479