Oil leak 2006 prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cake3000, Sep 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM.

  1. cake3000

    cake3000 New Member

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    Hey everyone, I'm in a tough spot with my 2006 Prius and could use some advice. while I was driving, the car started stuttering and running rough, and then a ton of smoke started coming out the hood. I pulled over and checked the oil, only to find the dipstick was completely bone dry.
    The real problem started when I tried to add new oil. As I started it, oil began to sputter and bubble back out. Where would it even be coming from? I'm trying to figure out the extent of the damage and I can see oil sprayed on the panels near the radiator and on the components to the right (passenger side) of it. There are also some spots on the bottom that look burnt, probably where oil hit the hot exhaust manifold.
    I'm pretty much assuming the engine is toast. With oil sputtering back out, does that mean I've blown a seal or even thrown a rod and put a hole in the block? I know I haven't replaced the PCV valve in a long time, and I've read that can cause oil consumption, but I never expected a failure this catastrophic. Before I start looking for a replacement engine, what should I check first to confirm it's beyond repair? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
     

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  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Things like oil bubbling out bubbling out of where? What is picture ? You guys get so close no one knows what you looking at. Sounds like you might have left your oil cap off the last time you put oil in your engine it's easy for some to do or alot to do actually . Does that seem possibly logical where is the oil bubbling out of when you try to add it that's what we want to get to here is it coming out of the place where you're pouring the oil in where there was a black cap a few seconds ago before you took it off to put the oil in maybe? Or are you pouring wet it goes and it's coming out somewhere else? Maybe a picture of that would be good stand back a little bit hold your arm off to the side and the camera aimed down at what you're doing you'll get it right y'all can seem to get it right for social media posts .
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Actually?
    I think the real problem started before you added the new oil.

    This is post #1 for you in the forum.
    Congratulations on your first post and welcome aboard!!

    So....
    Without knowing anything about you or your car other than what you posted - I'm guessing that there is a hole in the engine room and oil is leaving the engine though the hole.

    It might be a new hole that was created by what airdales call an "uncontained engine failure".
    Basically it's moving parts inside your engine block, exiting the block at speed....punching out a new hole.
    or?
    The smoke and the oil might be leaving the engine through the same hole that the oil was poured into because the cap was left off.
    Don't feel bad.
    You would not be the first, and you will not be the last to do this.

    Before we move forward perhaps you should tell us where the car is today, and how it got there.


    Good Luck.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Agree.