Boy, did I get taken…

[Owen Lucas]

Try running some UV dye in the engine oil to pinpoint any leaks.

https://www.amazon.com/Interdynamics-Certified-Fuel-Systems-Ounce/dp/B002M4G24U

Otherwise, if you can't return it and don't want to stomach the repair costs I would just keep feeding it oil. Maybe an engine flush would help as well?

 

[ecotourist]

I had an oil burner once, probably a quart in 500 miles. This was in the days before catalytic converters. It puffed a bit of smoke, quite a bit if you revved it. The inside of its exhaust pipe was always black.

I assume that smoke in the exhaust is motor oil fume and carbon particles. If there is no smoke I have to think they're being burned in your catalytic converter. And I'd wonder how long it can keep this up.

 

[Cujet]

You might find that a synthetic 5W-40 diesel oil will reduce the oil consumption to acceptable levels. If you decide to keep the car, and nothing else works, try Mobil 1, TDT 5W-40.

The one thing I would not do is to continue to feed it a diet of thin oils. Toyota's are well known for this and people have had some success with higher viscosities. Some long distance Prius owners go up to 20W-50 for quite some time before tearing the engine down.

 

[DirectRejection]

Check with your Toyota dealer's parts counter. Toyota had a recommended cleaner system that was added to oil and fuel tank I believe to help cure the oil burning problems they had with the earlier 4 cylinders that had to small of holes behind oil scraper ring.

I know someone who followed the Toyota parts counter man recommendation and it fixed his oil burning situation.

BG Oil System Cleaner ?

 

[Wrenchturner44]

This is the additive pack that is sold by the Toyota parts counter in most dealerships.
https://www.amazon.com/New-44K-Plat...=sr_1_8?keywords=bg+44k&qid=1638133513&sr=8-8

According to Toyota's recommendation, the red can is used for 30 minutes before you change the oil. The blue can is added to the oil at the time you change it. The 44K is the gas additive.

I hope this helps you and good luck. Also I agree on checking and or replacing the PCV valve first.

 

[supton]

Short trips and errands? I might just ignore it, keep with the thinner oil even (unless if I thought the oil would get up to temp). Run for a year or two, then maybe move on—that way I might feel like I got my monies worth.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

Be aware if the car is burning that much oil your catalytic converter is going to be plugged soon. I’d try the ring soak you are doing and then hopefully it slows down. If not I’d use a 5w40 HDEO or 5w30 HM oil.

I’m not sure the dealership would be of much help but you could ask.

Just my $0.02

 

[Kuato]

I’m pretty sure it’s being burned. I don’t see any oil on the ground or in the engine compartment.

1, then 2, then 3. Obviously the car is in otherwise good shape, so in my opinion it is worth the investment to fix the coked up rings -- and get another 100k out of it easily.

 

[meep]

Seafoam in my oil in a burner Volvo made a dramatic difference, with synthetic oil, over time. Like over 15k miles.

 

[Hall]

Because it’s a 2009 it’s outside the Toyota 10 year repair program even though it has less than 150k miles.

I don't know anything about this program but reach out to Toyota and see if they'll offer anything, even if they offer to pay for part of a repair to solve this (presuming that's an option you're interested in).

 

[Wrenchturner44]

Hall, has a great suggestion.....maybe at the very least they could offer you a discounted price on the BG kit.

@ Direct Rejection.....thanks for jogging my memory. I have heard great things about the additives made by this company. If they are good enough for an OEM dealer to stock in the parts inventory, then they must work very well.

You see if does to take the "The Village Of BITOG" to keep a car well maintained.

 

[Elkins45]

I have a case of straight 30 weight that I use in my mower. Wonder if that would help it or kill it?

 

[Chris142]

I have a case of straight 30 weight that I use in my mower. Wonder if that would help it or kill it?

Might as well try it. Our FJ recently had the vvt pin stick. A bottle of rislone seemed to unstick it. Worth a try anyway.

 

[Corollaman]

Stock up on the cheapest oil you can find and keep it topped off. There are a lot of these toyota engines running around burning oil, who knows you might drive this way for a long time.

 

[spasm3]

There were a lot of s series Saturn's that burned a quart in 400-800 miles with minimal or no smoke. The upper rings may be good and the engine has good compression, therefore cleanly burning all that oil. The oil control rings may have lost their tension and that's allowing the oil to get in the combustion chamber.
I tried piston soaks and what not with little success of in Saturn's. Basically weak low tension oil control rings. Sounds like yours is a similar condition.
I had the best luck with 10w40 year round.

 

[Elkins45]

There were a lot of s series Saturn's that burned a quart in 400-800 miles with minimal or no smoke. The upper rings may be good and the engine has good compression, therefore cleanly burning all that oil. The oil control rings may have lost their tension and that's allowing the oil to get in the combustion chamber.
I tried piston soaks and what not with little success of in Saturn's. Basically weak low tension oil control rings. Sounds like yours is a similar condition.
I had the best luck with 10w40 year round.

It runs great and is getting 28 mpg so I’m guessing the compression is still pretty good. How often did you have to change the plugs in your Saturn? I bought a set of the expensive iridium plugs but also a set of the cheapest Champions that will fit in the hole. I figured I would sacrifice the cheap plugs while I was trying all the easy fixes.

 

[supton]

I have a case of straight 30 weight that I use in my mower. Wonder if that would help it or kill it?

Not sure I would in winter. Yes I know that used to be common, but is the starter and battery sized for extra load in cold weather? Also, does it meet min specs required?

But for summer? sure why not.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

When I first started caring for my wife's Saturn, the hot ticket was cases of Chevron Supreme at Kragen, 49-cents per quart after rebate. I tried almost every elixir and potion and miracle-in-a-can BITOG could throw at it and watched the consumption go from 500 miles per quart down to about 200. It once got 36 or 38 mpg on a highway trip, but needed a quart of oil before it needed gas.

 

[The Critic]

Try a piston soak.

 

[dishdude]

I have a case of straight 30 weight that I use in my mower. Wonder if that would help it or kill it?

Northern KY? Good luck getting it started in the winter.