I just finished a 4100 mile trip in the 2010 Prius IV bringing its total mileage to 232k. FL-TX-IN-FL I only stayed in Indiana for 20 hours! Much too cold for me!! I had done the full EGR cooler cleaning, replacing the cooler & valve with a replacement I had obtained from ebay. Added an OCC at the same time. Also (finally) got spark plugs replaced. All completed about a month before my trip. At some point in time the Prius developed a misfire or lean run at times. During the whole trip the engine coolant only went down <1/2". I tried to keep my speed to around 70 but probably averaged close to 75. S of Atlanta I was at 80 & ppl were passing me on both sides. On the 4100 mile trip the OCC caught 2.2oz of oil. I checked the intake manifold & there was the same "pool" of oil below the throttle body which I removed. The engine consumed 3.0 qts of oil on the trip. Oil was changed right before the trip - Mobil 1 0W-20 as I have always used. Make up oil was Mobil 1 0W-30. My last oil change was almost all around town driving - 11.5k & I had added <2 quarts of oil. So the speed really burns the oil. I'm (slowly) investigating the problems with the 2010. Not having a second vehicle available I started looking around & found a 2015 four with <12K on it. Clean carfax, purchased, maintained, & traded in at the same local dealer. The gray 2010 pic is at a I95 rest area just S of Jacksonville FL 2015 four is on dealer lot as I drove off on Dec 22.
I notice my intake manifold had a sheen of new oil, about 300 kms post OCC install. Dribbling down from the intake manifold, something to do with the Atkinson cycle?
It appears that expecting a simple OCC to catch 100% of the oil mist is out of the question. My wag is it is catching <50%. After 4100 miles my OCC was only (maybe)1/4 full. I actually measured 2.2 oz. I can only guess how much passed through into the intake manifold. After the trip the IM had the same amount of oil sitting in it as it did when I installed the OCC & cleaned the IM at ~220K miles?
I see in your OCC that you only have the demister pad that came with your can. Try another layer of steel wool in it to see if you can increase residence time in the can. If you make it harder for the most to get out of the can, it’ll stay in. Nice newer Gen3 btw.
Is it better to put the OCC lower than the intake manifold so that stuff can drip down into the OCC on engine shutdown?
I have it as the lowest spot in the circuit. Helps with drainage and ensuring nothing collects on the discharge side of the PCV valve, inhibiting it’s functionality . Give it a shot.
Some readers may remember that I have been known to go camping in my 2010. Sleeping in the Prius while running the AC has a cost of about 0.7 gal of fuel per night. Well tonight, instead of being on the road, i'm "camped" at a I75 rest area. I'm quite comfortable - it is only 59F outside! Happy New Year!!
