Quote:
Originally Posted by Drifter
How often are you changing oil? How much are you burning between changes?
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I use synthetic and change oil every 10k miles. When I first got the vehicle it burned 1 qt every 6-7k miles. That steadily increased until it was around 1 qt every 2-3k miles, then the cat blew. I check my oil every gas fillup now, and top off as needed.
I did a bunch of things to try to combat the oil burning. I did an engine flush and holey hell did it pour out black. The car stunk for weeks after that. Then I did a full cleaning of the air intake, MAF, throttle body, and tops of the cylinders. As mentioned I also installed an oil catch can, and by taking the difference of what I put in vs what I pour out I can get an estimate of how much its burning. It's still losing 1 qt every 2-3k miles, but I think it's only burning at a rate of 1 per 5k miles.
This last oil change I used Lucas Stop Leak and it worked for the first 7k miles (i.e. it halved the rate of oil loss) but then went back losing 1qt per 2-3k miles. So I could theoretically slow my oil loss / burn by using Stop Leak and changing oil every 7k miles.
I only use Top Tier gas and have considered using some kind of detergent like Sea Foam. Anyone have experience with that?
By the way, I have yet to dismantle the engine, and want to avoid doing so if at all possible. I've read nightmares in Prius Chat about the FIPG (Formed In Place Gasket) and how it takes a lot of practice to get it right. I'd have no worries about disassembly if it just used normal gaskets.
If I did take it apart, I could make some major preventative repairs. I'm certain the timing chain tensioner is getting loose, which means the timing chain is going. So I could replace all that. I could do a thorough cleaning of any oil deposits lurking about, and possibly replace some gaskets depending. I've put replacing the water pump and timing chain tensioner on the list of things to do, assuming Champrius survives her latest repair.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drifter
I think there is some hope if you act before the oil burning gets too bad.
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Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
