oil consumption only after 3000 miles

[friendly_jacek]

Here is the story. Car is 2003 Corolla with 71000 miles. Oil+filter changed every 6 months (3000-5000 miles). First dealer oil, later QS and Penzoil; 10w30 summer and 5w30 winter intervals. Lately Purolater filters.

The first oil consumption I noticed was a year ago when it would consume nearly a qt of oil between 3000 and 5000 miles on summer oil change. I changed oil and did MMO piston soak and no consumption in the next winter oil interval that was 3800 miles. Now, 3400 into the summer oil change, suddenly oil dropped ~200-300cc in just 200 miles but was rock solid prior to that. There was no change in driving pattern, mostly city/suburb driving, 10 miles on average (it's my commuter car). Hwy trips once a month or so, but not recently.

Why the engine would consume oil only over 3000 miles into the interval? Should I settle on 3000 max intervals or switch to synthetic oil only?

 

[d00df00d]

Check your PCV system. If it's clogged or not functioning 100%, the excess crankcase pressure could cause oil consumption.

 

[Steve S]

Why 3,000 miles? does the engine smoke at any time? You could try a double Auto R/X treatment to clean the ring lands in the pistone .Why syn oil?

 

[friendly_jacek]

Forgot to mention PCV was cleaned a year ago and it wasn't even very dirty. I guess I can replace it now. No smoke or other problems whatsoever.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Depending on the oil type and brand used my Corolla will use up to a quart per 4000 miles and has done that since new.

Did you change brands or type of oil between the two date points you referenced above?

If you do a log of highway mileage, there is a TSB on Toyota 1ZZSE using more oil due to the low tension rings.

Bill

 

[friendly_jacek]

Thanks Bill.
The summer oil is 10w30 Penzoil. The Winter oil was 5W30 Valvoline. I buy whatever is on sale. Do you think it matters? Can you tell me what brands had more consumption in your experience?
Was your consumption even or more toward the end of interval?
As I wrote, not a lot of highway driving. Did you mean 1ZZ-FE (this is the one I have)?

 

[Audi Junkie]

 

[Bill in Utah]

Yes your engine is the 1ZZFE just like mine.

Nope, it does not matter what oil you use but your engine may like one over the other. A 10-w30 *could* use less than a 5w-30 and your engine may use less Pennzoil over Valvoine.

But 1 qt every 3,000 miles is not a lot.

More towards the end of the interval every time. Worst so far has been Mobil 1 5w-30 (and when I ran 0w-30 Mobil 1 it used very little) and "best" (ie lowest consumption) has been either Pennzoil YB 5w-30 or Halvoline DS 5w-30. I've only ran 5w-30 other than the 0w-30 once in the engine. I've got one more jug of 0w-30 and prob will try it in the Subaru just to see how it does (mostly to see if any MPG improvement)

Take care, bill

 

[friendly_jacek]

Ya, I understand that I don't have a big problem yet, but I would like to prevent oil consumption as the car will go to my daughter in a few months and she will not be diligent about oil checking as much as myself.
Besides, I'm curious about why no oil consumption with new oil and increased consumption with old oil. Is this due to lower viscosity or gummed rings?

 

[Spyder7]

My experience has been more burn off after the first 2,000 km, and read the same with other's experiences on the 1ZZ-FE. Likely result of oil starting to sheer and then burn off faster as it begins to thin out a bit.

Mine burns a lot more: 1L every 2,000 km. Not to the point where I need to give up on it and just feed it the cheapest stuff I can warehouse stock, but significant.

-Spyder

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Ya, I understand that I don't have a big problem yet, but I would like to prevent oil consumption as the car will go to my daughter in a few months and she will not be diligent about oil checking as much as myself.
Besides, I'm curious about why no oil consumption with new oil and increased consumption with old oil. Is this due to lower viscosity or gummed rings?


Spyder has the same thought as I do, the older the oil the thinner it gets.

Not a gummed or deposit rings boogie man in my book. Just that the oil is a little thinner and it uses it.

But remember all engines use oil. More than others. The 1ZZFE seems to use more due to those rings.

Its NOT effecting the life of the engine. Now, if you run it out of oil then that could lower its life.

Teach the Daughter to check the oil weekly or every other depending on usage. Let her know what happens *if* something like running it low and damaging the engine will cause to her.

My daughter is out there weekly checking all fluids in her vehicle. Why? When she got the car she also got a pair of new walking shoes.

Told her if she did not respect and take care of it, she was going to get real familiar with those shoes as the car will NOT be fixed if something happens due to HER action (or lack of).

Take care, Bill

 

[number_41]

As an additional thought to all the others above. My 2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7 V-6 has always had Castrol GTX 10W30 in summer and Castrol GTX 5W30 in winter. I "think" I'm beginning to notice at 137K miles that it's burning twice as much oil in the summer on the 10W30 (same exact driving scenario) than on the 5W30. I'll be switching to the 5W30 next month for my 6 month changes, getting ready for winter and will closely observe oil useage. And then I may stick to a 5W30 for my summer change and see what happens. Reason for all this is the Jeep manual oil weight chart shows to never use 5W30 in the 2002 engine if the outside temp ever goes over 100 degrees F. I think that's an old fashioned idea now and the 5W30 could probably handle next summer. If I read your post right your situation was the same as mine, although maybe for different reasons. BTW 10W30 oil useage this summer has been 1/2 qt. per 2K miles.

 

[Spyder7]

I've run GTX 5W30 in the summer and it sheered down to a thinner weight, and burn off increased. What you observed may be temperature differences and not the difference in the W rating. People with burners burn more oil in summer than in the winter (hotter ambient temps = hotter intake temps = hotter engine and more burn off), assuming they experience much weather change between seasons.

If consumption is due to something like sticky rings (as with the 1ZZ-FE, certain Saturns, etc) then things to look for in your oil to (potentially) reduce burn off are:

- lower NOACK
- higher HTHS
- higher flashpoint

If its the result of a leaky gasket, then a slightly thicker oil (higher cSt@100C number, ideally within the same grade) and something containing seal swelling agents and conditioners is the way to go. High Mileage oils tend to meet all of these criteria.

-Spyder

 

[antonmnster]

This phenomonan is how I knew when to change the oil in my Saabs. They would never burn a drop of until the oil hit 3000 miles; then they would suddenly burn a quart.

I figured it was a sign to change the oil

 

[addyguy]

Maybe give a High-Mileage oil, like Maxlife, a try just to see if it helps....

 

[mechtech2]

Engine with internal timing chains like yours can be expected to chew up oil faster than an external rubber belt type.
This is the only substantial difference.
I had a BMW 320i that would start to use oil at 2k. Type /brand didn't seem to matter.

Nowadays, you could certainly try a different oil - it may hep.