RAV is drinking oil!

intercoms · Oct 1, 2011

Hey JuneBug, thanks for the link to the article, they do deserve some credit there.

But, what about our RAV4s here in North America?? I wonder if they'll ever look at this issue under warranty for us

JuneBug · Oct 1, 2011

intercoms said:
Hey JuneBug, thanks for the link to the article, they do deserve some credit there.

But, what about our RAV4s here in North America?? I wonder if they'll ever look at this issue under warranty for us

It depends on how widespread the problem is. When the VVT-i oil hose problem on the V6 started being reported, many people dismissed it and even ridiculed the original poster. But when it started happening more and more, Toyota finally took notice and issued a TSB and Service Campaign. Same with the 5-speed transmission whine--I just got a new transmission installed in my 2008. Hopefully the same thing will happen with these engines--Toyota may be a little slow, but they do seem to eventually fix the problems.

Blogson · Oct 1, 2011

JuneBug said:
You've got to give Toyota credit--in Europe and the UK, they are replacing the D4-D diesel engines that show excessive oil consumption. The warranty on these engines has been extended to 7 yrs./110,000 miles. According to this Toyota bulletin, excessive oil consumption is defined as using more than half a liter every 1000 km (621 miles):

Oil Consumption Egr Clogged Extended Warranty1[1]

I wonder whether Toyota's action regarding Diesel engines in Europe and the U.K.has more to do with European regulations regarding emissions and "global warming" than with Toyota's desiring to sort out customer complaints about engine oil consumption. E.U. regs. about both generally are more stringent than those in the U.S.

Carbon · Oct 1, 2011

Do our 4.3 gasoline engines have an EGR valve? I find "EGR" and "Gas Recirculation" in the 2006 service manual, but only in a list of terms and error codes.

Carbon · Oct 1, 2011

JuneBug said:
When the VVT-i oil hose problem on the V6 started being reported, many people dismissed it and even ridiculed the original poster.

I think the complaint was that he posted the same thing into all four 4.3 forums. Ravman dropped that to 1.

friendly_jacek · Oct 1, 2011

Carbon said:
I think the complaint was that he posted the same thing into all four 4.3 forums. Ravman dropped that to 1.

I remember that thread, and you can search for it, but the truth is several our own toyota fanboys called the OP a troll and denied the story could be possibly true. Only several pages of posts later additional people chimed in with similar problems.

friendly_jacek · Oct 1, 2011

JuneBug said:
It depends on how widespread the problem is. When the VVT-i oil hose problem on the V6 started being reported, many people dismissed it and even ridiculed the original poster. But when it started happening more and more, Toyota finally took notice and issued a TSB and Service Campaign. Same with the 5-speed transmission whine--I just got a new transmission installed in my 2008. Hopefully the same thing will happen with these engines--Toyota may be a little slow, but they do seem to eventually fix the problems.

I doubt any of that will happen because I remember what happened with the 1998-2002 corollas worldwide when huge numbers of cars developed oil consumption. Toyota had to fix several different problems in their ZZ-FE engines via implementing changes in production to finally stop the consumption, but never gave any relief to owners with defective engines unless they could prove consumption of more 1L/1000 miles and had warranty in effect and had rock solid evidence of maintenance. Few people qualified as that severe oil consumption took time to develop and not everyone had bulletproof maintenance records.

Oil consumption is sticky issue (just as oil sludge) as it could be a defect or owner neglect and it's easy to point fingers.

mossie · Jan 7, 2012

I foolishly bought my wife a Rav4 for Christmas. Its a 2002 1.8L. In 200 miles of gentle driving it has used 2 liters of oil!! This surpasses not only Toyotas ridiculous cop-out excuse of 1L per 1000km being normal, it even surpasses the oil burning capability of a 2-stroke dirtbike I had in the 1980's. Shame on you Toyota. Not only is it mysteriously burning oil, polluting our atmosphere excessively, but Toyota have the cheek to proudly announce to us goons that this is normal?!?? Happilly I have a solution, the Rav4 will from now on be treated to a cocktail of gloopy 20/50, used engine oil from my mates garage, cooking oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, you name it I'm chucking it in the hole in the top. Cos this boat anchor of an engine doesn't deserve good quality oil any more.

jbwood5 · Jan 8, 2012

2009, I4, 2.5, auto RAV4:
I use about 3/4 quart between oil changes which are roughly 5,000 miles. The last oil change was Mobil 1 0W20. So far I have never added between changes, but I don't think I'll be using 0-20 again because it is too expensive. The vehicle has about 29,000 miles on it.

The posts I have been reading here are cause for concern. Apparently Toyota is not as "Green" as they lead us to believe. It sounds like some folks are adding as much as a quart at each fill-up (about $5 in oil). Heck, I've got an old Chrysler mini-van with 207,000 on it and it only uses a quart every 1200 miles.

I really hope I don't get the high oil consumption problem as I get up in mileage. Otherwise the RAV4 has performed pretty well with no problems.

dtalk · Jan 9, 2012

You are OK

jbwood5 said:
2009, I4, 2.5, auto RAV4:
I use about 3/4 quart between oil changes which are roughly 5,000 miles. The last oil change was Mobil 1 0W20. So far I have never added between changes, but I don't think I'll be using 0-20 again because it is too expensive. The vehicle has about 29,000 miles on it.

The posts I have been reading here are cause for concern. Apparently Toyota is not as "Green" as they lead us to believe. It sounds like some folks are adding as much as a quart at each fill-up (about $5 in oil). Heck, I've got an old Chrysler mini-van with 207,000 on it and it only uses a quart every 1200 miles.

I really hope I don't get the high oil consumption problem as I get up in mileage. Otherwise the RAV4 has performed pretty well with no problems.

This oil problem effects only 2006 - 2008 Rav4 with engine 2AZ-FE.

K6WYO · Jun 19, 2012

I seem to have this issue as well. I noticed the oil light when braking, added 2.5 qts and a week later we are down another qt.
I switched to Mobile 1(0W-20) two oil changes ago. I find this a major coincidence. So this week I will be switching back to Quaker State. I will post my results in a week or two.

K6WYO · Jul 2, 2012

K6WYO said:
I seem to have this issue as well. I noticed the oil light when braking, added 2.5 qts and a week later we are down another qt.
I switched to Mobile 1(0W-20) two oil changes ago. I find this a major coincidence. So this week I will be switching back to Quaker State. I will post my results in a week or two.

Switched back to Quaker State 5w 30 and it hasn't burned any oil. So looks like although 0w 20 Mobil 1 would be a more expensive choice it surely isn't the best choice. Probably just too damn hot out for 0w 20.:shrug:

friendly_jacek · Jul 2, 2012

Mobil 1 is notorious for making oil consumption worse. I have no idea why that is.

In you climate, 5W20 should suffice in I4, but 5W30 is needed in V6.
I use Mobil 1 0W20 oil in my Prius, and it's a great oil, but one has to realize that oil is to maximize fuel efficiency at the expense of some other stuff. I don't mind it as engine in Prius works part time only.

starfighter · Jul 4, 2012

My Mercedes started burning 1 qt/3000 miles on Mobile 1......
I switched to dinosaur oil and problem solved......................
My tech. said synthetic is smaller molecules.......................

seadragon · Jul 4, 2012

I got rid of my RAV. Problem solved.

BigSwede · Jul 9, 2012

friendly_jacek said:
Mobil 1 is notorious for making oil consumption worse. I have no idea why that is.

I think it would be more accurate to say that Mobil One is notorious for making oil leaks worse...conventional wisdom being that the slipperier synthetic will find its way through seals and gaskets more easily than conventional oil.

FWIW I use Mobil One 0W-30, and just changed my oil yesterday. My RAV4 had used about half a quart in 5000 miles. The oil didn't even look all that dirty, really.

AndreLaplume · Nov 30, 2012

BigSwede said:
I think it would be more accurate to say that Mobil One is notorious for making oil leaks worse...conventional wisdom being that the slipperier synthetic will find its way through seals and gaskets more easily than conventional oil.

FWIW I use Mobil One 0W-30, and just changed my oil yesterday. My RAV4 had used about half a quart in 5000 miles. The oil didn't even look all that dirty, really.

I have an 06 I4 with 90K miles that runs out of it's platinum 7/100K warranty in afew months. I am very disspointed in this crap. Ours is on its second consumption test...so far its with in what toyota says is reasonable. I'D LIKE TO SEE CONSUMER REPORTS PUBLISH THAT 1 QT IN 1200 MILES IS REASONABLE!

I'll mention about switching to 5w30 oil...to be honest, I am scared to keep the sucker for a few more years......

Wizard · Dec 1, 2012

Hi folks , if you have a search on the net you will find many reports of problems with Toyota oil consumption and on the avensis 1.6 and 1.8 engines there have been many smash up because of lack of oil !

Toyota always say it because the owner did not check often enough !

And also reports of excessive oil consumption is common place but still not any kind of explanation from toyota and no cures apparently ! you can go on to a " thicker " oil and that will help with consumption and do no damage but what has gone wrong with toyota engines where once upon a time if you checked once a year it still had not used any !

Thats progress for you guys ! LOL

Sammy · Dec 1, 2012

2007 RAV4 burning Oil

Same issue here at 53 k miles burning 2 quarts between an oil change, going to talk to the dealership see what they say about it.

dtalk · Dec 1, 2012

I posted about this as well, did the oil test and was told it was within specs. It sucks , but now I just keep an eagle eye on my oil level, which is why I install engine hood shock lifts. Lifting this hood up after every long drive was becoming a PITA.

RAV is drinking oil!

intercoms

JuneBug

Blogson

Carbon

Carbon

friendly_jacek

friendly_jacek

mossie

jbwood5

dtalk

K6WYO

K6WYO

friendly_jacek

starfighter

seadragon

BigSwede

AndreLaplume

Wizard

Sammy

dtalk

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