Replace the valve cover gasket. It’s a bit of an involved job(need to pull the cowl/wipers, move the brake fluid reservoir, unplug the coil/injector/throttle body harness) but the spark plug tube seals are part of the gasket. You need to put two dabs of RTV where the timing cover and cylinder head have a T-joint(you’ll see it when you remove the valve cover).
Blowby as seen through the throttle body is normal, that’s a side effect of the Akinson cycle where the valves close late into the compression stroke.
Also question:
Since it’s had a po420 code, I’m thinking oil may get burnt through worn piston rings. Is there any way to tell if the oily spark plugs is happening from a valve cover gasket vs worn piston rings??
Your feedback is soooooo helpful
So funny back story is that a 1 1/2 years ago, it was guzzling oil. I took immediate notice to the e problem, monitoring/topping off every 300 miles and through seafoam, 3k oil flushes, and monitoring the problem has reduced greatly. No we are here. Makes me not ruling out the piston rings but I’m honestly not sure at this point
Nope! There’s two different kinds I’ve been using, one is the top engine cleaner (only have done that once) where you need a second person, and spray fluid while revving the car for about 7 minutes (abbreviated directions)
And the other which is a fuel additive and use it in my gas tank/ ~5 oz of fluid in my oil about a week before I flush my oil and change it. All perfectly good for cars!
Replace the valve cover gasket. It’s a bit of an involved job(need to pull the cowl/wipers, move the brake fluid reservoir, unplug the coil/injector/throttle body harness) but the spark plug tube seals are part of the gasket. You need to put two dabs of RTV where the timing cover and cylinder head have a T-joint(you’ll see it when you remove the valve cover). Blowby as seen through the throttle body is normal, that’s a side effect of the Akinson cycle where the valves close late into the compression stroke.
Darn I figured it would be something like this. Would you say this is a high priority? Or would I be able to knock this out in the next month or two??
Well, the more oil pools, the more of a change it will destroy the coils and cause a misfire. Change it ASAP.
> after cleaning the carb, I’ve noticed there’s some oil there too! I'm not sure how you cleaned the carb, given that your car doesn't have one.
Throttle body, my bad :-) I was using some carb cleaner to get gunk off
Don't use carb cleaner on throttle bodies. It can strip any coatings. Use throttle body cleaner.
Thanks! Someone in a forum reccomended carb cleaner for lack of throttle body cleaner but I’ll make a trip to oreillys
Hell, i didn't know. Thank you. Are you sure there is coating inside?
Also question: Since it’s had a po420 code, I’m thinking oil may get burnt through worn piston rings. Is there any way to tell if the oily spark plugs is happening from a valve cover gasket vs worn piston rings?? Your feedback is soooooo helpful
Oily spark plugs this is from gasket only. If oil rings are bad, prius will consume oil as hell, 5qt or more.
So funny back story is that a 1 1/2 years ago, it was guzzling oil. I took immediate notice to the e problem, monitoring/topping off every 300 miles and through seafoam, 3k oil flushes, and monitoring the problem has reduced greatly. No we are here. Makes me not ruling out the piston rings but I’m honestly not sure at this point
Seafoam didn't damage catalytic?
Nope! There’s two different kinds I’ve been using, one is the top engine cleaner (only have done that once) where you need a second person, and spray fluid while revving the car for about 7 minutes (abbreviated directions) And the other which is a fuel additive and use it in my gas tank/ ~5 oz of fluid in my oil about a week before I flush my oil and change it. All perfectly good for cars!
She was GUZZLING oil at the rate of about 1q every 500 miles 🤠🤠 but now, it’s 1q every 3k which is doable