Any updates on consumption? Did you change out the PCV and switch to another motor oil brand or weight?
BAJA-First let me apologize for bring so verbose in this next comment. I was thinking about commenting on this again and when I saw your inquiry I figured that I should do so....So here goes.. Yes...I had the PCV Valve checked. It was said to be in like new condition. I also had the oil changed (It was a little early but why not). Anyhow the mechanic that Inspected the PCV Valve and changed the oil this last time is not the same mechanic that told me to ditch 5w-30 synthetic and go with 10w-30 conventional. I wanted to get another opinion. This new guy said that the engine was in pristine condition. No leaks whatsoever. At this oil change I elected to go with a different BRAND of 5w-30 for this oil change instead of the normal Mobil 1 full synthetic I went with the Valvoline Extended Protection 5w-30 Full Synthetic (SP rated) to see if I could get better results. Well it just so happens that we took the RAV in for brakes. We took it to the same mechanic that has been telling us to switch to conventional 10w-30. He fixed the brakes and checked my oil level. He said it was a quarte low (at the first dot). I had checked the oil the week before and it was midway between the top and lower dots.. The vehicle was at the 3,000 mile mark from the last oil change when I had taken it the new shop for the PCV Valve inspection and oil change....Again my oil change interval is every 5000 miles. Well, I get home and let the car sit overnight on a level surface and checked it the next day. As it turns out the oil level was not quite at the first dot it was very slightly above the first dot....but not by much. I was always under the impression that you don't need to add a full quarte until you are a little below the first dot...not at or slightly above the first dot. So, I split the difference. Instead of adding 1 full quarte, I added a HALF quarte and it brought the level up to exactly between the two dots (AKA the half way point on the dipstick). That was a week ago. I checked it again this morning and the oil level is still holding steady at right in the middle. All in All I'm more pleased with the Valvoline over the Mobil 1 in the RAV ....That said, the Mobil 1 has performed very well in my 4Runner. Crazy right? Also, while the Valvoline is showing less oil consumption than the Mobil, I still think I can do better. One of the other guys that commented mentioned using Redline...I've looked for that stuff locally at Autozone and Wally World and can't find it. I have "heard" that Castrol Edge is supposed to be good in fighting oil consumption because it tends to be slightly thicker than advertised but I have no idea if there is any truth to that or not. As for my mechanic (my regular mechanic that insisists that I switch to 10-30 conventional)....He says that he hasn't changed a PCV Valve in 10 years and that they very rarely go bad in his opinion. This is contrary to what I've heard from so many others. In-fact others say that if anything they are cheap junky parts that should be checked and replaced or AT LEAST cleaned from time to time.. They asked me why am I so reluctant to change to 10w-30 conventional oil? I told him that I don't want to swap an oil consumption problem for other issues by using the wrong grade of oil....especially when the Valvoline seems to be holding up better than the Mobil-1....It hasn't stopped the oil consumption issue and I'll probably need to add a little more before the next oil change, but at least it's doing "better " Truthfully, I'm wondering if ut's a Valvoline thing or if it's a GF-6 thing? Either way, I'm likely to try Castrol Edge just to see how it stacks up. Having said all of that, I've heard some say that it the difference between 10w-30 and 5w-30 is so miniscule that it's not worth giving it a second thought. When I look in my Owners Manuel, Toyota says that if you can't find 5w-30 then 10w-30 may be used with the caveat that you switch back to 5w-30 on your next oil change. That tells me that it might not be the smart play. I live in the mid-south....Our summers are always brutally hot but our winters typically dip down to single digits for a few days with an occasional winter that will get down to -5 when you factor in windchill...but again that is not most winters. ...just occasionally. I admit that this mechanic has forgotten more about Toyota's than I will ever know. He has a stellar reputation in town and has done very good work for us. I just can't quite figure this oil consumption thing out. I've never had a vehicle that I needed to top off between oil changes. Folks say not to stress over this because all modern cars with VVT and/or GDI do this and that it is "nornal" to have to top off in between oil changes....It just seem that "normal" is driving me a little crazy these days.