HELP IDENTIFY! Engine covered in oil.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Skimonster, Mar 14, 2022.

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  1. Skimonster

    Skimonster New Member

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    Can you please help me identify what is leaking? Oil covers front of engine up to valve cover and all of passenger side of compartment and under engine covering oil pan.

    I bought car salvaged at 80k. It's at 140k now. It had minor body damage. I do all maintenance, oil change at 5k but i dont change the plug seal. I add Lucas oil additive every time which I'm thinking is the cause of my issue by increasing the crank case pressure. I have my suspicion the timing cover is leaking. I am in process of changing PCV valve and installing oil catch, clean egr cooler, oil pressure switch, plugs, clean header and throttle body, replace water pump and thermostat while im at it.

    My question is what is leaking? If its the timing cover should I just do an entire timing job and any links to write ups known of?

    Any advice or experience would be great!
    20220314_181913.jpg 20220314_181935 (1).jpg 20220314_181923 (1).jpg 20220314_181913.jpg 20220314_181935 (1).jpg 20220314_181923 (1).jpg
     
    #1 Skimonster, Mar 14, 2022
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Looks to me like you have an awful lot of oil stains coming from the filler cap area and running down the front of the engine. Either someone has poor aim while filling or you're venting a lot of oil/vapor from the cap.
     
    #2 TMR-JWAP, Mar 15, 2022
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  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The last half of the pcv hose that goes to the intake manifold is covered in oil.

    Maybe that pcv to intake manifold connection is not sealed well by that spring clip, allowing oil to be blown back onto the engine block by the radiator fans and air flowing through the radiator?

    There's a lot of fresh, dark oil right under that area as well. Possibly from dripping oil from that connection.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #3 xliderider, Mar 15, 2022
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2022
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  4. Skimonster

    Skimonster New Member

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    Good eye. You sir are correct, I in fact have terrible aim. One of my theories is I'm not tightening the oil cap enough but I have a hard time believing some oil Spillage every 5k change can cause that much build up. Basically everything that should be silver color is black.
     
    #4 Skimonster, Mar 15, 2022
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    With any salvaged vehicle, this engine may not even be the original engine to this car. Have you run a carfax to see if there are mileage discrepancies to your car?

    It may have been damaged in the front of the car where the engine was exposed for a period of time. Fluids/oils get on the engine and dirt would collect on there. Also the workmanship of the person that put the salvage car back together can also be questionable. These cars are usually put back together for quick/maximum profit when sold.
     
    #5 JC91006, Mar 15, 2022
  6. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    this^

    good thinking!
     
    #6 StarCaller, Mar 15, 2022
  7. Skimonster

    Skimonster New Member

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    I would agree buying salvage cars is questionable but I did all repairs my self so I know what the actual damage was.
     
    #7 Skimonster, Mar 15, 2022
  8. Skimonster

    Skimonster New Member

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    I hope you could be correct. I'll look at the can to see if vapor residue is in it. However the oil pan has a lot of oil on it underneath as well. Would a pcv leak cause residue below and on passenger side? It's also mm thick
     
    #8 Skimonster, Mar 15, 2022
  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Valve cover gasket looks ok... Pretty low mileage for it to have had headgasket work, but it sure is a mess from that gasket downword...
     
    #9 PriusCamper, Mar 15, 2022
  10. Skimonster

    Skimonster New Member

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    I should also mention oil puddling in throttle body and my mug is at
    My first thought was val e cover initially but that seems secure. I thought timing cover due to it being a know issue. I'm leaning towards pcv issue. Best I'm going to do is probably Clean engine up and monitor for location of oil seepage.
     
    #10 Skimonster, Mar 15, 2022
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Oil pooling in intake manifold below the throttle body is normal without an oil catch can. In your case, you might have excessive blow by with more than normal oil going through the PCV valve and hose.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 xliderider, Mar 16, 2022
  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I have a half-joking theory that, given enough time, one drop of oil will eventually spread to cover the entire planet. Except that it doesn't go up hill. The highest place I see with more than a tiny amount of oil on it is in the vicinity of the oil cap.
     
    #12 jerrymildred, Mar 16, 2022
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Oil will normally not flow "uphill", but air normally flows through the radiator and there are radiator fans blowing hot air, which will also help spread the oil out over a larger area. Maybe even push the oil "uphill", in this case.



    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #13 xliderider, Mar 16, 2022
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  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yep, you can't diagnose & repair with certainty until you get it all cleaned up and see if it starts to come back or if it's just previous owner's mess not related to an actual engine problem. When you first got it at 80K miles do you think it looked like this?
     
    #14 PriusCamper, Mar 16, 2022
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