help with maintenance

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by misterdean, Aug 19, 2018.

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  1. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    2006 with 117K. bought it last year. average MPG has been around 52-53. this last tank of gas it has been slowly dropping and just hit 49.9. could use a little advice regarding maintenance. tires are pretty worn so considering goodyear assurance fuel max. air filter is a little dirty but not filthy. it was replaced in 2014 at 98K. i hear these can be cleaned but the only method i've heard so far is knock out the junk by tapping the filter against your foot. can i run it under water like i do my vacuum filter? oil looks kinda brown so gonna change it. is full synthetic worth it? what about spark plugs? i hear air filter doesn't effect MPG so wondering if spark plugs are also fake news when it comes to MPG. i tested the 12v, 11.9 in accessory mode, 11.7 under load, 14.2 when running. from what i've been reading, accessory and load is a little low but when running it's right on point. it was replaced in 2014 at 93K. yay or nay on the plugs and battery? if so, what brand/model do you guys recommend? anything else i should look in to?

    appreciate the tips.
     
    #1 misterdean, Aug 19, 2018
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah what about them, lol. Seriously: They're due for replacement at 120K miles, according to the schedule, so maybe jump the gun.


    Could be Oxygen sensors going off?

    Try cleaning the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor. There are specific cleaners for MAP sensors (CRC for one): just use the specified cleaner, nothing else. Look up YouTube videos, how to clean it, I think CRC has one.

    Also, just for giggles: try a fuel injector cleaner, the kind you add to the gas tank when filling up. Look for one with PEA (PolyEtherAmine), follow the directions.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Aug 19, 2018
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tires pressure, oil level, cabin filter, just tap out the air filter. if you can't see light through it, replace it. 12v may be low and drawing excess energy from the hybrid battery causing the engine to run more.
    put a volt meter on the jump point under the hood in the morning before opening the drivers door and see if t is 12.5 or better.
    are you calculating mpg at the pump after refilling?

    another possibility: your hybrid battery maybe be weakening due to age and low miles. a prolong charger might help reinvigorate it and extend the life.
     
    #3 bisco, Aug 19, 2018
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  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    There are so many things in this post that are FUBAR that I'm wondering if I'm reading this different than everyone else? Is this a real post?
     
    #4 TMR-JWAP, Aug 19, 2018
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    All of that is pretty much meaningless. Follow this:

    You can pop the hood by going in through the front passenger door, reaching across to the release latch. This avoids activating the brake pressurizing, which might drop voltage, which I think is what @bisco's driving at. Maybe overkill, who knows. Anyway, avoiding waking up that pressurizing thing is never a bad thing.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Aug 19, 2018
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  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Nay and nay on both plugs and battery. Just charge battery
     
    #6 JC91006, Aug 19, 2018
  7. Kevin_Denver

    Kevin_Denver Active Member

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    See the Prius maintenance schedule included with the car (or can be found online by googling). To add to what others have said, normal schedule is spark plug replacement at 120k, which means yours are due very soon.

    To me it sounds like your battery may be on its way out as well. You should be seeing above 12V in accessory mode on a charged battery. This might be the cause of your low mileage. Most people see a drop in MPGs when the battery needs replacement.
     
    #7 Kevin_Denver, Aug 21, 2018
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    And the drop that @misterdean has experienced is probably about right for a failing 12V. A proper test would verify that or send you to the next suspect.
     
    #8 jerrymildred, Aug 21, 2018
  9. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    did new LRR tires, oil, spark plugs, air filter. getting 43mpg. worried this will be my new average. goodyear did a 33 point inspection. everything checks out including the 12v battery. they tested the volts and cranking amps.

    i know these hybrid batteries deteriorate but this hasn't been a steady reduction. i went from 53 to 43 within a single tank of gas. there was no mpg loss in the previous tank. my hybrid battery shows 3 bars from full. i've never seen it at half. no maintenance lights.
     
    #9 misterdean, Sep 5, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  10. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/06ToyALLMS_MS0012/pdf/61w1smt.pdf
    120k on page 23 mandates new plugs. 11 volts is low, time for a new battery, Nothing wrong with a Toyota Truestart (84 month, $210)

    You can order a battery off amazon for $55 less www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ACDB24R-Advantage-Automotive-Battery/dp/B010GKJ8F6

    Spark plug type:
    DENSO SK16R11
    NGK IFR5A11
     
    #10 JimboPalmer, Sep 5, 2018
  11. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    i already did the spark plugs and my battery tested good. what i'm really wondering right now is if it's worth replacing it or if i'm just throwing money at the car and hoping for the best.
     
    #11 misterdean, Sep 6, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Do you replace your refrigerator before it breaks? If you do, then you can proceed to replace the perfectly good battery
     
    #12 JC91006, Sep 6, 2018
  13. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    i would not replace my fridge if a professional inspected it and told me there is nothing wrong with it.

    also not sure which decision you are suggesting. replace it before it breaks, or it's not broke so don't replace a good battery.
     
    #13 misterdean, Sep 6, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk, your third and fourth sentence of your o/p seem to be at odds with what you are saying now.
     
    #14 bisco, Sep 6, 2018
  15. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    my average since i bought the car has been around 53 every tank. my last tank was the very first tank with decline. i just finished maintenance and filled the tank. i'm now averaging 43. i went from 53 to 43 within one refill.
     
    #15 misterdean, Sep 6, 2018
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so the 49.9 is no longer valid?
     
    #16 bisco, Sep 6, 2018
  17. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    no, that was last tank, before maintenance and refill. that drop is what had me spooked and prompted maintenance. now that maintenance has been done and the tank filled my new average is 43.
     
    #17 misterdean, Sep 6, 2018
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    okay, that makes a difference in the advice you get. go back to mendels post #2
     
    #18 bisco, Sep 6, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  19. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    alright, i'll buy a volt meter. i thought about this as well as JC suggestion to charge the battery. but wasn't sure if this was redundant since the battery was tested good by a professional. i'm not 100% sure what the exact number was, but i believe they said it tested at 12.4v. they also said if it tested less than 12.2v it would fail and they would not proceed to the cold cranking amp test.
     
    #19 misterdean, Sep 6, 2018
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you're driving a 12year old car, you're attempting to diy, tools are expensive.
     
    #20 bisco, Sep 6, 2018
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