Guzzling Engine Oil

[Jo123]

Have just picked up my Prius (Spirit 06 reg) from its 100,000 service to be told that it needs an engine rebuild due to the excessive "oil consumption". I asked the garage to email me the finer details (i was expecting them to explain why) - only to find that they have sent me a breakdown of the £3k costs. They told me verbally that I would have to keep topping up with oil but that at some point it would need a rebuild due to wear on the pistons etc (if i top up with oil will this happen??) We have noticed since the 80k service that the engine has been guzzling oil - I am the exception to the rule or is this a common phenomeon??

[Mistermena]

Have just picked up my Prius (Spirit 06 reg) from its 100,000 service to be told that it needs an engine rebuild due to the excessive "oil consumption". I asked the garage to email me the finer details (i was expecting them to explain why) - only to find that they have sent me a breakdown of the £3k costs. They told me verbally that I would have to keep topping up with oil but that at some point it would need a rebuild due to wear on the pistons etc (if i top up with oil will this happen??) We have noticed since the 80k service that the engine has been guzzling oil - I am the exception to the rule or is this a common phenomeon??

You know I'm getting more and more :censor: off with the amount of Toyota re-builds! You'd think that Mr T could at least build a proper engine! Mine (Avensis T25 T-180 Estate) has been done twice now. I'm even thinking of even selling my car because I'm so worried about it!

[acetip]

dont have a prius myself, but like the technology of them and often read the postings on the forum.they are fitted with a Atkins engine,and i cant recall seeing postings of complaints about oil consumption.in Canada they are very populer as taxis and many have done over 250000 miles.dont think they have had any problems using oil.though the article was concentrating on how well the Battery packs ere doing.Jo123 problem may be just a odd roque engine.also there is no mention how much oil is being over what miliage.

as this engine calls for 5w 30.maybe a 5w 40 or a 10w 40 in the summer months may help.

[Ancient Nerd]

Have just picked up my Prius (Spirit 06 reg) from its 100,000 service to be told that it needs an engine rebuild due to the excessive "oil consumption". I asked the garage to email me the finer details (i was expecting them to explain why) - only to find that they have sent me a breakdown of the £3k costs. They told me verbally that I would have to keep topping up with oil but that at some point it would need a rebuild due to wear on the pistons etc (if i top up with oil will this happen??) We have noticed since the 80k service that the engine has been guzzling oil - I am the exception to the rule or is this a common phenomeon??

I think you are very much the exception. I took the family Gen II (T-Spirit, 08 reg) in for it's 100,000 service last Saturday. No problems. It uses some oil, but typically doesn't get topped up between services. There are prius taxis that have apparently done silly miles without problems.

I do worry about the long term reliability of the current Prius, in view of Toyota's reluctance to provide a proper warranty if they can possibly avoid it.

[sjrainsford]

Yep I think yours is an exception to the rule. This is not one of the engines that commonly suffers oil issues.

Out of interest, what sort of use has it had and what sort of servicing? What oil are you using?

[Jo123]

Have just picked up my Prius (Spirit 06 reg) from its 100,000 service to be told that it needs an engine rebuild due to the excessive "oil consumption". I asked the garage to email me the finer details (i was expecting them to explain why) - only to find that they have sent me a breakdown of the £3k costs. They told me verbally that I would have to keep topping up with oil but that at some point it would need a rebuild due to wear on the pistons etc (if i top up with oil will this happen??) We have noticed since the 80k service that the engine has been guzzling oil - I am the exception to the rule or is this a common phenomeon??

I think you are very much the exception. I took the family Gen II (T-Spirit, 08 reg) in for it's 100,000 service last Saturday. No problems. It uses some oil, but typically doesn't get topped up between services. There are prius taxis that have apparently done silly miles without problems.

I do worry about the long term reliability of the current Prius, in view of Toyota's reluctance to provide a proper warranty if they can possibly avoid it.

[Jo123]

Hi

Thanks for the interest. It has been serviced by a Toyota dealer on schedule (before the 10k)(apart from one a number of services ago) - so the engine oil is actually what they put in (I'm afraid its a bit beyond me....). It has needed between 2 and 2.5 litres between the last couple of services. One thing that does alarm me is that the warning light has not come on and I am still not convinced that the dealer has actually looked at this (another phone call)....

[kithmo]

Hi

Thanks for the interest. It has been serviced by a Toyota dealer on schedule (before the 10k)(apart from one a number of services ago) - so the engine oil is actually what they put in (I'm afraid its a bit beyond me....). It has needed between 2 and 2.5 litres between the last couple of services. One thing that does alarm me is that the warning light has not come on and I am still not convinced that the dealer has actually looked at this (another phone call)....

Before rebuilding the engine, I'd give it a good dose of redex and an italian tune up to see if it's just gummed up piston rings.

[britprius]

Hi

Thanks for the interest. It has been serviced by a Toyota dealer on schedule (before the 10k)(apart from one a number of services ago) - so the engine oil is actually what they put in (I'm afraid its a bit beyond me....). It has needed between 2 and 2.5 litres between the last couple of services. One thing that does alarm me is that the warning light has not come on and I am still not convinced that the dealer has actually looked at this (another phone call)....

Before rebuilding the engine, I'd give it a good dose of redex and an italian tune up to see if it's just gummed up piston rings.

The difficulty is how do you do an Italian tune up to a Prius, and what will a large dose of Redex do to the cat converter. I would also suggest fitting an engine from a low milage breaker should work out £800/1000 fitted. Check eBay. The oil warning light is not a low oil warning and will not come on till the oil is so low the pump cannot pick oil up and gives warning of low or no oil pressure it is unlikely 1ltr down on oil would trigger this. If the oil level gets low enough to put the light on, major bearing damage is done very quickly.