My 92 Corolla is a little leaky. It use about 1 quart every 2k miles but consumption rate is much slower after being 1 quart low. It is spec-ed for 5W30 but I had used 5W20 in the past to increase gas mileage. I am back with 5W30 now but wonder if I should go with a thicker oil to decrease leak. I rarely use it for long distance so gas mileage isn't that important on it anymore.
Should I go with M1 5W40 for leaky Corolla
- Thread starter M1Accord
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Just get the low cost Shell 5w30.
And fix the leaks if you really care about the car.
And fix the leaks if you really care about the car.
It's 3 drops a night running from the back area and rolling down to the pain. I consider that acceptable leak for a car I bought with 15 years age and now it's 19 years old. People, unless very mechanically inclined and have plenty of experience, tend to make it worse when trying to fix a small problem like this. I will wash the area clean and will determine if a simple tightening of the screw in engine bay will solve the problem. But I figure 5W40 may be good for an old car.
I would try to pinpoint the leak and maybe tightening of few bolts/screws may stop the leak. xW40 may be okay for large displacement engines that recommends xW30, but for small engines like the one in Corolla will kill MPG and makes the car very sluggist.
First choice is AutoRx in a CI-4
Second choice is a CI-4 or CI-4 high mileage if they exist (should, but not around here).
Assuming you fix the outright and obvious leaks, your objective should be clean and swell the seals. A good 10W-30 CI-4 should get to work on that.
(Interesting note, they are finally thinking about putting a seal conditioning test into the new SN specs) About time!
Second choice is a CI-4 or CI-4 high mileage if they exist (should, but not around here).
Assuming you fix the outright and obvious leaks, your objective should be clean and swell the seals. A good 10W-30 CI-4 should get to work on that.
(Interesting note, they are finally thinking about putting a seal conditioning test into the new SN specs) About time!
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
My 92 Corolla is a little leaky. It use about 1 quart every 2k miles but consumption rate is much slower after being 1 quart low. It is spec-ed for 5W30 but I had used 5W20 in the past to increase gas mileage. I am back with 5W30 now but wonder if I should go with a thicker oil to decrease leak. I rarely use it for long distance so gas mileage isn't that important on it anymore.
M1Accord,
When I had my 89' Camry I switched from M1 10W-30 down to 5w30 in anattempt to gain some MPH. It worked to some extend and had leaks and it consumed oil some froceing me to top it off from time to time. After a while everything stopped so being a happy camper then I just let it go.
I don't think you should go to a thicker oil. Instead I'd have the engine flushed by your local dealership and have the oil pan and valve gaskets changed and re-sealed.
If MPG is your goal then I'd return to using a 5W-20 synthetic oil of your choice and once per month check the tire pressure and replace the air cleaner filter twice per year. Of course this is in conjunction of having the engine in good tune. Try and keep your car washed and polished as it makes people think it can increase the MPG as well.
Durango
My 92 Corolla is a little leaky. It use about 1 quart every 2k miles but consumption rate is much slower after being 1 quart low. It is spec-ed for 5W30 but I had used 5W20 in the past to increase gas mileage. I am back with 5W30 now but wonder if I should go with a thicker oil to decrease leak. I rarely use it for long distance so gas mileage isn't that important on it anymore.
M1Accord,
When I had my 89' Camry I switched from M1 10W-30 down to 5w30 in anattempt to gain some MPH. It worked to some extend and had leaks and it consumed oil some froceing me to top it off from time to time. After a while everything stopped so being a happy camper then I just let it go.
I don't think you should go to a thicker oil. Instead I'd have the engine flushed by your local dealership and have the oil pan and valve gaskets changed and re-sealed.
If MPG is your goal then I'd return to using a 5W-20 synthetic oil of your choice and once per month check the tire pressure and replace the air cleaner filter twice per year. Of course this is in conjunction of having the engine in good tune. Try and keep your car washed and polished as it makes people think it can increase the MPG as well.
Durango
no
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
My 92 Corolla is a little leaky. It use about 1 quart every 2k miles but consumption rate is much slower after being 1 quart low. It is spec-ed for 5W30 but I had used 5W20 in the past to increase gas mileage. I am back with 5W30 now but wonder if I should go with a thicker oil to decrease leak. I rarely use it for long distance so gas mileage isn't that important on it anymore.
Where is the leak?
My 92 Corolla is a little leaky. It use about 1 quart every 2k miles but consumption rate is much slower after being 1 quart low. It is spec-ed for 5W30 but I had used 5W20 in the past to increase gas mileage. I am back with 5W30 now but wonder if I should go with a thicker oil to decrease leak. I rarely use it for long distance so gas mileage isn't that important on it anymore.
Where is the leak?
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The decrease in consumption after the initial quart may mean some windage issue is going on. Have you serviced the PCV system? If you had a UOA you could see if the oil was thickened or whatever to explain the reduction. So, windage or volatility. The leak just adds to it.
Seals and gaskets respond differently to oil additives.
A gasket is not going to fix itself. A seal might improve.
Valve cover gaskets leaks are common, and a simple tightening can often help. You can break off the bolts if you overtighten them - so have some mercy.
And a VC gasket change is well within the average civilian's capabilities, if necessary.
You will suffer drag from any x-40, and it still won;'t fix a big leak - just slow it down.
So dive in on a nice day and see what you can repair.
A gasket is not going to fix itself. A seal might improve.
Valve cover gaskets leaks are common, and a simple tightening can often help. You can break off the bolts if you overtighten them - so have some mercy.
And a VC gasket change is well within the average civilian's capabilities, if necessary.
You will suffer drag from any x-40, and it still won;'t fix a big leak - just slow it down.
So dive in on a nice day and see what you can repair.
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Why not try something like Valvoline MaxLife 5w30? It's a semi-synthetic that has shown to be a quality oil at a great value. It's on the thicker side of 30wt oils so it might help your leak/consumption a bit. It's a "high mileage" oil which claims to have better seal conditioners to help slow leaks. And it's also available in a full synthetic if that's what you're looking for (though it's difficult to find the full syn version).
Personally that's what I'd try first, but if you're currently using M1 and want to stick with it, or want a full synthetic and can't find MaxLife full synthetic, then maybe check out the M1 5w30 HM instead.
Also, check the PCV valve and other items as people have suggested
Personally that's what I'd try first, but if you're currently using M1 and want to stick with it, or want a full synthetic and can't find MaxLife full synthetic, then maybe check out the M1 5w30 HM instead.
Also, check the PCV valve and other items as people have suggested
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