Oil Consumption Problem -- Dealer thinks piston issue -- anyone else experience this?

There are many things that cause engine wear (which is normal by the way), but the number one way to reduce the rate of wear is to maintain level with quality product and change the oil/filter regularly...perhaps more regularly that the manufacture that wants to sell you the "next" car (or charge you to repairs) wants. End of line.

 

who revs their prius engine?

 

Some may have had their transmission in "B" position when going down long descents...I know someone who did this, and the prius screamed till I reached over and shifted it into D, then told him about the harm in overreving an ICE.

 

But you simply can't overrev the engine in a Prius, the computer won't let you. The only way you can overrev an engine these days is to do the following:
1) Buy a car with a manual transmission
2) Rev the engine to redline in third gear
3) Shift to fourth, but accidentally get second instead

 

not sure about gen III, but i think in gen II if you put it in neutral and back into drive at high speed, there is a possibility.