2011 Prius Valve Cover Photos

[The Critic]

Current odometer reading: 184,997 miles.

For the first 90k, I followed the Toyota recommendation of 10K drains using 0w-20 full synthetic.

From 90k - present, I have been replacing the oil and filter every 5K miles.

About 75% of the time I used Mobil 1 EP 0w-20. The rest of the time has been various other brands (TGMO, Pennzoil, ServicePro, ACDelco).

The engine valve cover and timing cover were removed in preparation for cylinder head removal. The headgasket failed last week and is dumping coolant into cyl 2.

 

[wemay]

Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing . Hope you get everything sorted.

 

[Pat in Speedway]

Wow, all that varnish...on the bolt heads.

Did you do any UOAs is the past?

 

[demarpaint]

Nice! I doubt a steady diet of dino oil would done anywhere near that good.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Weird question: Do the red colored links on the timing chain signify something?

 

[ARB1977]

Awesome man. Bummer about the head gasket.

 

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted by The Critic
About 75% of the time I used Mobil 1 EP 0w-20.

That shows the PAO-based M1 EP 0W-20 keeps the engine as clean as new.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by Gokhan
Originally Posted by The Critic
About 75% of the time I used Mobil 1 EP 0w-20.

That shows the PAO-based M1 EP 0W-20 keeps the engine as clean as new.


Gokhan, I hope that's tongue and cheek. We've seen countless "Grp III" Synthetics look just as pristine.

 

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Weird question: Do the red colored links on the timing chain signify something?


They are used to install the chain and properly time the engine using marks on the crank and cam sprockets.

In the pictures above, you can see that the mark on the right sprocket lines up between the two colored links. On the left cam, there should be a mark that lines up to the middle of the colored link. Same with the crank.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted by cpayne5
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Weird question: Do the red colored links on the timing chain signify something?


They are used to install the chain and properly time the engine using marks on the crank and cam sprockets.

In the pictures above, you can see that the mark on the right sprocket lines up between the two colored links. On the left cam, there should be a mark that lines up to the middle of the colored link. Same with the crank.


^^This.

You'll see that very same thing on timing belt systems too.

 

[Whipcitywrencher]

Nice!

Thanks for the Pic's.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by cpayne5
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
Weird question: Do the red colored links on the timing chain signify something?


They are used to install the chain and properly time the engine using marks on the crank and cam sprockets.

In the pictures above, you can see that the mark on the right sprocket lines up between the two colored links. On the left cam, there should be a mark that lines up to the middle of the colored link. Same with the crank.


That's what I was thinking. Thanks !

 

[maverickfhs]

Very nice

 

[Snagglefoot]

That must be a typo. You can't get 185,000 miles on 0w20!

 

[Phishin]

Why is there piece of paper towel or something else tucked around the cam lobes in pic 2 and 3??

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Well, forget about Mobil 1 if it doesn't prevent HG failure!

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by Phishin
Why is there piece of paper towel or something else tucked around the cam lobes in pic 2 and 3??


Evidence that the OP really spent hours upon hours using paper towel to wipe away all the sludge prior to taking the photo.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Looks clean in the cam box.

Are the cams / tappets servicable? Did you plan to have them profiled /measured?


Good luck with the HG repair.

 

[RamFan]

Nice pics. What was the reasoning for scaling back from 10k to 5k oci?

 

[StevieC]

Look at all that carnage from a 20wt. My god man you should switch to a 0w40 immediately.

Thanks for posting.