Any mechanics know why gen 4 Prius (and other models) have tons of blowby from oil cap?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by MilkyWay, Dec 6, 2024.

  1. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2013
    823
    359
    23
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I tested 3 gen 4 engines. When running and I unscrew oil cap it has insane pressure shooting out of oil cap. A constant jet stream of air. And a loud airplane sound. What is the mechanical explanation for what is going on?

    Tested a gen 3 and it was kinda similar. So my conclusion is that it is normal for them to have blowby. Is there a mechanical explanation of why this is the case or just the way it is?
     
  2. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

    Joined:
    May 22, 2011
    1,010
    501
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Hm, thoughts but no replies. I'm not a mechanic, and I don't play one on TV. I might be able to tell you what it isn't. The Prius engine is an Atkinson cycle which allows some of the compression stroke to vent back into the intake manifold. That would (should) not affect pressures inside the engine. The engine itself has a rather high compression ratio, like 13:1. My thinking is high compression and excessive blow-by are mutually exclusive. The cylinder timing 1-3-4-2 should even out any interior volume changes, something you would see in any engine with an even number of cylinders. I can't think of any other source, other than the proposed leakage past the piston rings. I guess the next logical step would be to analyze the gas escaping at the oil cap for exhaust components.
     
  3. mjoo

    mjoo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2016
    1,144
    1,326
    12
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The PCV is what draws vapors out of the engine and into the intake manifold. But the PCV only works when there is a pressure drop across it. Maybe this combined with the momentary loss of vacuum when regurgitating air is what causes the pulsing you are noticing.
     
  4. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,995
    1,369
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Please let me know when your find a car engine that doesn't spray an oil cloud out or an uncapped oil fill hole while running.
     
  5. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2013
    823
    359
    23
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Can you put it into layman terms? I checked wifes brand new accord hybrid and it also hums like crazy (just like the prius) and has enough "blowby" to lift a paper plate 4 feet in the air.
     
  6. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,283
    482
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Vvillovv has two typos in his post. I think it should be "Please let me know when you find a car engine that doesn't spray an oil cloud out of an uncapped oil fill hole while running."
     
  7. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2013
    823
    359
    23
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So the translation is nobody would ever check for "blowby" on a gas engine. Only on diesels?
     
  8. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,283
    482
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    No. He is saying that all cars are like that.
     
    #8 Brian1954, Dec 19, 2024 at 3:40 PM
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2024 at 5:00 PM
  9. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2013
    823
    359
    23
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So it would be uneard of for a mechanic to be checking blowby on a gasoline engine (twisting oil cap with car running)
     
  10. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,995
    1,369
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus