Yahoo article on oil usage

[LeakySeals]

Check out a random Toyota manual where they discuss oil burning from day 1.

2012 Camry. 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance (Page 358)

Engine oil consumption

- The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the oil viscosity, the quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
- More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds and frequent acceleration and deceleration.
- A new engine consumes more oil.
- When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level accurately.
- Oil consumption: Max. 1.1 qt./600 miles (0.9 Imp. qt./600 miles, 1.0 L/
1000 km)
- If your vehicle consumes more than 1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp. qt.) every 600 miles (1000 km), contact your Toyota dealer.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM33856U/pdf/sec_04-03.pdf

 

[Clevy]

Didn't this trend with increased oil consumption start with low tension rings to decrease resistance therefore less fuel consumption.
Then once the oil consumption issue arose it was discovered that the cats died quicker,so the "fix" was to reduce phos in engine oil,thereby increasing the cats longevity.
I find it amusing that instead of just going back to piston rings with more tension which would eliminate the oil burning issue they decide to band aid fix the problem,which leads to more band aid fixes.
Yes,this is what is considered progress.

 

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

But IMO oil usage in a normal car is a no no, I would not be happy at all.


Me either. If an engine that I had the opportunity to break-in exhibited such consumption after a fair run in, I'd be [censored] quite frankly. I could never accept oil consumption of anything close to what manufacturers are calling normal.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: ram_man
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
I like how they call 0W-40 a "thin" oil...

0w40 is a thin oil. We have this new trend with wanting super thin oil. 40yrs ago if you mentioned 0w anything people would think you were crazy. 0=the consistency of water. That is thin.



I don't know how anyone can consider a 40 grade "thin". Its a 40 grade,no matter whether its got a 0w or 15w in front of that 40 number.
Now 0w-40 may be thin at start up compared to a 15w40 however its not thin oil. Might be thin for a Harley but its certainly not a thin oil.

 

[Clevy]

Didn't this trend with increased oil consumption start with low tension rings to decrease resistance therefore less fuel consumption.
Then once the oil consumption issue arose it was discovered that the cats died quicker,so the "fix" was to reduce phos in engine oil,thereby increasing the cats longevity.
I find it amusing that instead of just going back to piston rings with more tension which would eliminate the oil burning issue they decide to band aid fix the problem,which leads to more band aid fixes.
Yes,this is what is considered progress.
Originally Posted By: jrustles
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

But IMO oil usage in a normal car is a no no, I would not be happy at all.


Me either. If an engine that I had the opportunity to break-in exhibited such consumption after a fair run in, I'd be [censored] quite frankly. I could never accept oil consumption of anything close to what manufacturers are calling normal.


When I was a kid 1 quart per 1000 miles was considered time for a rebuild,luckily I've never owned a vehicle with consumption like that,imagine how often plug changes due to fouling.

 

[fdcg27]

IDK?
Based upon my sample of one, our '12 Accord used almost none of the FF 0W-20 in the 8702 miles I ran it.
I drained about four quarts out of the sump, plus whatever was in the oil filter, out of a listed capacity of 4.2 quarts with filter.
If the thing ever does start using oil, I could always bump up to a 5w30 from the recommended 0W-20.
Oil use with a VW or Porsche engine hardly seems surprising.
You could throw MB and BMW in there as well.
Not much you could use beyond a 0W-40, though.
Maybe M1 15W-50 or Syntec 5W-50?

 

[jrustles]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Didn't this trend with increased oil consumption start with low tension rings to decrease resistance therefore less fuel consumption.


Low tension rings have been around for a long time, and there are plenty of engines with them installed that have non-existent oil consumption including my original engine from 93.


What CR is seeing, is what many of us have been seeing; SOME new cars consuming unreasonable amounts of engine oil, and the high VI PCMOs are always implicated. Nevertheless, methinks it's improper ring seal. Remember Cadillac's Northstar engine, where they tried out an aggressive 'race' hone with deeper, oil retaining crosshatching? The people that bought them were the piston rings' worst nightmare- chuggling around, low speed, low load. Driving them hard (as they were intended) really helped the problem.

 

[PhillyJoe]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Extra credit: can anyone identify the vehicle used in the cover art for their article?

Looks most certainly to be a GM Series II or III 3800 V-6, probably in a Pontiac Bonneville or similar.


I'll go with a 2001 black Grand Prix with the 3.8l supercharged engine. What do I win?

 

[Rolla07]

My rolla never used any oil between 5k mile changes til recently. Its my 3rd straight run on 0w20 Toy syn and it was down 1/4 quart. I topped it up. hoping it aint the start of anything bad..i know it aint much but its never needed any topping up.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Check out a random Toyota manual where they discuss oil burning from day 1.

2012 Camry. 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance (Page 358)

Engine oil consumption

- The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the oil viscosity, the quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
- More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds and frequent acceleration and deceleration.
- A new engine consumes more oil.
- When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level accurately.
- Oil consumption: Max. 1.1 qt./600 miles (0.9 Imp. qt./600 miles, 1.0 L/
1000 km)
- If your vehicle consumes more than 1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp. qt.) every 600 miles (1000 km), contact your Toyota dealer.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM33856U/pdf/sec_04-03.pdf


This is unacceptable. If I had to add a quart of oil every time I filled the gas tank I'd be ticked. I can't believe any manufacturer considers that to be acceptable, much less Toyota.

 

[DrDusty86]

THIS IS PROOF TOTOTA puts out disposable junk. straight from the manual. The manufacture is even telling the public they produce junk (per manual) and yet people continue to buy that garbage....but my toyota is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I put 100k miles on it. I only have to put only in it every 750 miles. It has been flawless..never a thing wrong with it.

I'm in a battle with Honda right now over a 12' civic that now shuts the blower completely off when you floor the gas pedal. When it comes to Honda/Toyota/Nissan, we have NOT had good luck with them. I have had people say that we have gotten lemons....Good lord, we must own the lemonade stand and taken all the junk from everyone else so they can claim a decent car. we have have BAD luck with them

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
THIS IS PROOF TOTOTA puts out disposable junk. straight from the manual. The manufacture is even telling the public they produce junk (per manual) and yet people continue to buy that garbage....but my toyota is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I put 100k miles on it. I only have to put only in it every 750 miles. It has been flawless..never a thing wrong with it.

I'm in a battle with Honda right now over a 12' civic that now shuts the blower completely off when you floor the gas pedal. When it comes to Honda/Toyota/Nissan, we have NOT had good luck with them. I have had people say that we have gotten lemons....Good lord, we must own the lemonade stand and taken all the junk from everyone else so they can claim a decent car. we have have BAD luck with them


......except you can find similar documentation with any manufacturer.

My experience with Toyota products is still that they basically run forever when maintained properly, but still run for longer than the average vehicle when neglected.

I still stand by my statement that consuming a quart of oil in 600 miles is unacceptable, but even if this is considered acceptable by Toyota it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

 

[kschachn]

Wow.

And my two Toyotas? They are indeed the two best vehicles I have ever owned, at least from a reliability standpoint. And combined between the two I have nearly a half million miles.

Oh and the Honda isn't bad either.

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
THIS IS PROOF TOTOTA puts out disposable junk. straight from the manual. The manufacture is even telling the public they produce junk (per manual) and yet people continue to buy that garbage....but my toyota is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I put 100k miles on it. I only have to put only in it every 750 miles. It has been flawless..never a thing wrong with it.

I'm in a battle with Honda right now over a 12' civic that now shuts the blower completely off when you floor the gas pedal. When it comes to Honda/Toyota/Nissan, we have NOT had good luck with them. I have had people say that we have gotten lemons....Good lord, we must own the lemonade stand and taken all the junk from everyone else so they can claim a decent car. we have have BAD luck with them