Is my Prius supposed to make this noise at Idle?

I agree 100% that dealership ruined your engine.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

It would be helpful to know what the oil level on the dipstick was at the point you discovered the oil cap was off.

 

1.) “Use your dipstick man!” First thing after getting your car back from “service”!
2.) Know your fluid levels, confirm them at each fueling.
3.) Read your owners manual, again!

On the bright side, there are lots of used engines out there for under $800. And the dealer could put one in for free if you continue your service there???


iPhone ?

 

This triggered the low oil light and/or the check engine light?

I might of led with this information.

Before reaching this post, I was apt to say you had the definition in your query.

But now with the added information that you evidently had a bad Oil Change that may of left your vehicle so oil starved as to trigger the low oil light and/or the check engine light?

You're engine didn't jump...it was pushed.

I'd be concerned.
But at it's age, and with the passage of time, getting admission of damage, or defining damage, would be difficult. But my guess is your engine lost a percentage of it's functional operating life when it was being run low on oil.
You could try to get the dealership to take some responsibility, I doubt it's going to happen.

 

With 40% (0.64 qt or 0.60 L) above the low oil mark, there is no damage to the engine. As long as the oil is between the mark there will be no damage and will not support any warranty/damage claim.

I don't see where the OP said he had the low (no) oil icon on, and as he has reported that the oil level was above the low mark (by 40%), I think that the Chicken Little, "Sky is falling!" hysteria can be dispensed with. As for the MCW light, you are just assuming it meant no oil. It could mean many other things.

 

Go back and look at post 16 an 17 where it was asked and answered thus...

But even then I do question it which is why I say...

In the form of a question.

If the low oil light was triggered...and/or the check engine light I would be highly suspicious that the now increased knocking is in connection with event.

Even if NOT?
I'm still suspicious, as leaving the oil cap off, and driving until you smell oil...isn't good.

In any case, I don't think there is much the OP can do. On a car of that age, ascertaining any level of damage would be impossible. And they the dealership certainly isn't going to admit to it. Them doing a "courtesy" Oil Change...after the fact, could be construed as an attempt to hide the evidence if one has a cynical mind.

I don't think it's being hysterical of "chicken little" to speculate as to a connection.
And the bottom line is...whatever happened or didn't happen when the car was driven for 2 weeks with the oil cap off...is now passed. The damage done.

Basically the moral of the story is check you engine and oil level/cap after an oil change.
The damage may of been minimal to non-existent, but I don't think there is any way to really determine that at this point.

 

Focusing on minutiae and looking for nuance in language, relying on assumption, all the while ignoring the big flashing sign – the oil was above the low level mark – is why so many people cannot make a basic diagnosis.

The oil was not low (enough to cause damage), ergo the engine was not damaged (by this incident). End of story.

 

Not focusing on minutiae...or looking for nuance...
Actually quoting question and reply.....sorry but you asked...

I pointed out the exact exchange that alludes to that situation. That's not minutiae or nuance, it was what was said.
And I did frame my reply as a question..again fact-not nuance.

Personally, I don't think you or I, can really prove or determine whether the oil was not low enough to cause damage, and/or whether the engine was damaged or not.

The OP did say that at point of discovery the oil level was about 40% from the lowest mark, which would tell me the engine did have sufficient oil.

But since the OP had an oil change and evidently did not check it, until 2 weeks later, once oil was smelled, I have to ask, did the OP check the dipstick himself? Or is the 40% from the bottom reading what the dealership told him upon return?

If the oil never reached below the lowest mark, then I would tend to agree that we aren't probably talking about damage to the engine due to lack of oil. But over the internet, I'm not presenting that as unquestionable fact.

My curiosity would lead me to this next:

What exactly were those "other things" they said needed to be done?

 

Not to stir the pot, but I read that as 40% from bottom of dipstick to the lowest dot. If that is the case, it would definitely activate the check engine light and cause irreversible damage to the engine. I hope I am reading it wrong, but this is another example of the inability to accurately diagnose without clear understanding of what was observed.

 

No problem, stir away.

I thought of that possibility too, so that would mean the oil was 2.2.qts low, so 1,7 qts remaining. While that is not good at all, it is still 1.2 qts from setting the no oil light or flashing the MCW light.

As above, no it wouldn't. That is why it is so critical to monitor your engine oil level by using the dipstick regularly. There is no warning that you are low, and by the time the lights go off (that tells you you have NO oil), it is already too late.