RAV is drinking oil!

seadragon · 12-09-2007, 05:14 PM

My RAV4 seems to be using up oil and there are no signs of where its going.

I noticed it was on the bottom dot on the dipstick a couple of weeks ago. I added more oil (almost 1 Litre) till it was just under the full mark.

Now its back down to below the half way mark (in 2 weeks). This has been going on for a while.

So I look in the owners manual and it states that its normal for 1 Litre of oil consumption per 1000 Kilometers. Thats ridiculous! That would mean that it would be normal to add 8 Litres of oil between oil changes (at 8000K intervals).

Anyone else having this problem? There's no sign of leakage anywhere. I've never had a vehicle that has done this before.

SeriousBlack · 12-09-2007, 05:17 PM

V6 or I4?

seadragon · 12-09-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeriousBlack

V6 or I4?

Oh, sorry.. its the I4.

Forest · 12-09-2007, 06:02 PM

Sounds like something is wrong if you went from little consumption to extreme consumption.

I am sure you are doing this but....

Checking the oil at operating temperature?
Making sure the car is level when checking?
Waiting about 5 minutes or so after turning off your engine so the oil drains back in the pan?

Octane · 12-09-2007, 06:26 PM

I lost 1.5 liters between my first and second oil change (5000km) and so far I still seem to be ok after 2000km (3000km until I do my 3rd oil change)

keep a tab of how much you put in, and how much comes out, if it keep on going like this, after a couple of oil changes, you should ask for an oil consumption test at the dealership...

luigi524td · 12-09-2007, 07:28 PM

I think a quart (or liter for our friends outside of the United States) drop every 1K miles is excessive for any of the engines installed in a Rav4.

Our '07 V-6 AWD is about to turn 10K miles. At about 2K miles I did the first oil change [Synthetic 5W30] followed by the scheduled 5K mile oil change [also synthetic]. The oil level was OK at each step. With about 5K since the last change the oil level is perfectly fine. The 10K mile oil change will also be synthetic.

Our Rav4 is driven a mix of city, suburban, and highway driving. At least once a week the vehicle is used for a 40-70 mile drive @ 55-75mph. It is not used for towing or carrying heavy loads.

Checking oil is done after the vehicle has been at rest at least 30 minutes. And, it should be done on as level a surface as practical.

wingdr · 12-09-2007, 07:29 PM

The first place to check is the drain plug...I know you said you can't see were its going... but if it started all of a sudden...did you just have an oil change? Is the oil filter dbl gasketed? I have seen oil leaks only when hot and under pressure...when stopped nothing evident 'cept a thin coating from leak area...sometimes hard to see and harder to find, Tim

Briant73 · 12-09-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingdr

The first place to check is the drain plug...I know you said you can't see were its going... but if it started all of a sudden...did you just have an oil change? Is the oil filter dbl gasketed? I have seen oil leaks only when hot and under pressure...when stopped nothing evident 'cept a thin coating from leak area...sometimes hard to see and harder to find, Tim

I second this, check for oil residue, if you can put a sheet of cardboard under it when it's stopped to see if you get oil on the ground. A co-worker of mine got an oil change and afterwards noticed a lot of oil underneath his vehicle and on his back end. The issue turned out to be a filter had a notch/cut in the gasket.

Even if you can't locate it get a service call placed and take it in!

luigi524td · 12-10-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briant73

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingdr

The first place to check is the drain plug...I know you said you can't see were its going... but if it started all of a sudden...did you just have an oil change? Is the oil filter dbl gasketed? I have seen oil leaks only when hot and under pressure...when stopped nothing evident 'cept a thin coating from leak area...sometimes hard to see and harder to find, Tim

I second this, check for oil residue, if you can put a sheet of cardboard under it when it's stopped to see if you get oil on the ground. A co-worker of mine got an oil change and afterwards noticed a lot of oil underneath his vehicle and on his back end. The issue turned out to be a filter had a notch/cut in the gasket.

Even if you can't locate it get a service call placed and take it in!

+3

seadragon · 12-10-2007, 10:32 PM

Thanks for your replies guys, greatly appreciated!

I guess I'll put the RAV up on the ramps this weekend and have a look underneath to see if I can see anything unusual. I park it in the garage each night and there's no oil on the floor at all.

I always check the oil when its parked in the garage, engine is warm after driving home from work (30 minute drive) and I wait about 15 minutes before checking the level. I haven't noticed any smoke or anything else unusual.

For comparison, my 5.7L Tundra doesn't go through any oil. It shows the same level on the dipstick each time I check it. Same with other Toyota's I've had in the past (and I've had quite a few). I'll monitor it more closely now and mention it to the dealer at next scheduled service visit.

12-09-2007, 05:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
seadragon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 252 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	RAV is drinking oil! My RAV4 seems to be using up oil and there are no signs of where its going. I noticed it was on the bottom dot on the dipstick a couple of weeks ago. I added more oil (almost 1 Litre) till it was just under the full mark. Now its back down to below the half way mark (in 2 weeks). This has been going on for a while. So I look in the owners manual and it states that its normal for 1 Litre of oil consumption per 1000 Kilometers. Thats ridiculous! That would mean that it would be normal to add 8 Litres of oil between oil changes (at 8000K intervals). Anyone else having this problem? There's no sign of leakage anywhere. I've never had a vehicle that has done this before.

12-09-2007, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
SeriousBlack Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N'Hampsha! Posts: 7,784 Thanks: 25 Thanked 23 Times in 21 Posts Feedback Score: 2 reviews	V6 or I4? __________________ To The BlackMobile!!! FS: (4) 20" Black Enkei LS-5 Rims & Tires Used (4) 255/40R20 Yokohama Parada Spec-X's

12-09-2007, 07:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
luigi524td Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 1,422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Oil Consumption I think a quart (or liter for our friends outside of the United States) drop every 1K miles is excessive for any of the engines installed in a Rav4. Our '07 V-6 AWD is about to turn 10K miles. At about 2K miles I did the first oil change [Synthetic 5W30] followed by the scheduled 5K mile oil change [also synthetic]. The oil level was OK at each step. With about 5K since the last change the oil level is perfectly fine. The 10K mile oil change will also be synthetic. Our Rav4 is driven a mix of city, suburban, and highway driving. At least once a week the vehicle is used for a 40-70 mile drive @ 55-75mph. It is not used for towing or carrying heavy loads. Checking oil is done after the vehicle has been at rest at least 30 minutes. And, it should be done on as level a surface as practical.

12-09-2007, 06:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Forest Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 257 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sounds like something is wrong if you went from little consumption to extreme consumption. I am sure you are doing this but.... Checking the oil at operating temperature? Making sure the car is level when checking? Waiting about 5 minutes or so after turning off your engine so the oil drains back in the pan?

12-09-2007, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Octane Advanced Member Country: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: near Ottawa Canada Posts: 683 Thanks: 14 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I lost 1.5 liters between my first and second oil change (5000km) and so far I still seem to be ok after 2000km (3000km until I do my 3rd oil change) keep a tab of how much you put in, and how much comes out, if it keep on going like this, after a couple of oil changes, you should ask for an oil consumption test at the dealership...

12-09-2007, 07:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
wingdr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 174 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The first place to check is the drain plug...I know you said you can't see were its going... but if it started all of a sudden...did you just have an oil change? Is the oil filter dbl gasketed? I have seen oil leaks only when hot and under pressure...when stopped nothing evident 'cept a thin coating from leak area...sometimes hard to see and harder to find, Tim

12-10-2007, 10:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
seadragon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 252 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for your replies guys, greatly appreciated! I guess I'll put the RAV up on the ramps this weekend and have a look underneath to see if I can see anything unusual. I park it in the garage each night and there's no oil on the floor at all. I always check the oil when its parked in the garage, engine is warm after driving home from work (30 minute drive) and I wait about 15 minutes before checking the level. I haven't noticed any smoke or anything else unusual. For comparison, my 5.7L Tundra doesn't go through any oil. It shows the same level on the dipstick each time I check it. Same with other Toyota's I've had in the past (and I've had quite a few). I'll monitor it more closely now and mention it to the dealer at next scheduled service visit.

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