High oil consumption. But WHERE is it going?

Search by your VIN number on Toyota's parts website..

 

It's a V6 engine that doesn't have anything to do with a hybrid car engine... As the caption says: "Stock photo - for reference only."

 

Why do you think you need a new engine? Oil burning at 1qt for 1000 miles isn't mean it's dead yet. Honestly you can still save the engine if it has never run dry.

SM-A536U ?

 

My 2009 Prius ran up until 150k with little to no oil burning. Around 170k it started to burn oil at 1/2 quart to 1 quart if I did mostly highway driving oil burning hit the higher mark. Now I knew other 2nd Gen Prius owners were burning around the same mileage and even got more oil burning if they used poorer non synthetic oil and less oil change intervals. My Prius had oil changes all it life at 5-7k and synthetic all the time. Never ran dry but maybe down to two quarts.
So I decided to do a Piston soak on my Prius at the end of oil change life. I used everything from seafoam, Marvel mystery oil and Berryman's B-12.
The one with best results is Berryman's B12. I got the oil burning down to 1/4 qt burning for next oil change 7k oil interval. The last 1k from 7k miles went to 1/2 qt.
My thoughts we're the Pistons started to gum again. The next oil change I did another Piston Soak. This time I used more Berryman's b12 6oz in each Piston and rotated the engine Pistons with the cleaning fluid in each Piston for 20 plus rotation each time. 3x in 24 hour soak. This second rounds I haven noticed any oil burning and the Prius is running fine now with 205k. I've decided I will do another Piston soak for my next oil change as well.
I think you'll see good results if you try a Piston soak. I have write up and how too..
Try it and report back.

SM-A536U ?

 

Newbie oil check question: Is it true that when checking the oil level with the dipstick, that when the level goes down to the lower dimple, you need to add 1 quart? I have started tracking oil consumption after getting the Red Triangle when stopping on downslopes and discovering I had almost no oil (added 4 qts to get between the dimples). Since my last oil change, I was 1 mm below the top dimple after 700 miles, then 12 mm after another 800 miles.

Previously, when I check the oil between changes, it was always still at the top dimple. This recent issue started around 180,000 miles. I am at 209k now.

 

It's 1.5 quarts between the dimples. It's also about 1.5 inches, which is handy. 2nd Gen Owner's Manual excerpt:

A piston soak may help. Never done it myself, but someone may have more info. Rolls Royce would be a new short block, get the head cleaned up and checked by a machine shop, and reassemble everything with new gasket kit and head bolts.

 

It is actually 1.5 L between the dimples, which is 1.6 qts. It's right there in the excerpt you posted.

 

Yeah you’re right. I recalled thus, but then read the (stilted) Toyota text again, got misled lol.

 

If you get a sudden change in oil consumption; check the weight of oil the shop is putting into your car. I'm not sure, but doesn't the 2006 call for 5w30 oil? The shop may have dumped in 0w20.
When my 2012 started burning a quart every 10K; I simply moved over to 5w20. Oil burn was cut in half between oil changes. Also move to the high mileage oil, they're slightly thicker with more additives..

Hope this helps..