MASSIVE Oil Disaster

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by xmundt, Sep 10, 2019.

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  1. xmundt

    xmundt New Member

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    hello all!
    We have driven Priuses for many years now, and have had few issues. However, my 2005 ride has, I fear, given up the ghost.

    I was driving down the Interstate the other day, when the car jerked a bit, and a strong smell of oil came into to cab. When I looked at the mirror, I saw a big cloud of bluish-white smoke behind. I pulled off to the side quickly, and shut the vehicle down. When I checked the oil, the dipstick was dry. I had just topped it off a day or so before, so I lost everything in one burst.

    I have not dug into it very far, but the oil filter is intact and in fine shape. The oil pan is undamaged, and the drain bolt is still in place.

    So..my questions are these:
    1) has this happened to anyone else, or am I the Lucky One?
    2) The friend with me reported she saw a small, black object bouncing off the Interstate behind us. Any Ideas what that could have been? Say, the oil pump, or part of it?
    3) I fear that the engine is toast, does anyone want to suggest anything else?
     
    #1 xmundt, Sep 10, 2019
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Could you possibly have run over something and holed the transaxle? It should not be too hard to find a leak that big.
     
    #2 jerrymildred, Sep 10, 2019
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  3. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    There's only one way to lose that much oil in that short of a period....the engine has been ventilated somewhere, typically the oil pan for a loss this quick, and usually as a result of a connecting rod failing.... If the oil pan is intact, I would start looking at the front or rear of the engine block. There should be some oil dripping from somewhere..
     
    #3 TMR-JWAP, Sep 10, 2019
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  4. xmundt

    xmundt New Member

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    Sadly enough, that thought has crossed my mind. The car has 270,000 miles on it or so, and disaster can happen. I have simply not had the time to jack it up and crawl under it to see where the disaster came from. I will say, it was some impressive moment! Thank you for your suggestions they do help focus me in the right direction though
     
    #4 xmundt, Sep 10, 2019
  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Yup. There's almost for sure a big hole somewhere.
     
    #5 jerrymildred, Sep 10, 2019
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    The object was probably piston #3. It makes a grand exit out the side of the back side of the block when a blown bottom end prius is continued to drive.
     
    #6 edthefox5, Sep 10, 2019
  7. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    That bluish White cloud was most likely oil burning off your exhaust system somewhere.
     
    #7 Skibob, Sep 10, 2019
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