04 corolla for shedy run around- oil use issues?
Discussion
No idea about Toyota but SWMBO's old 1.6 vauxhall used oil, 1.2l/1000 miles was printed in the handbook.
You get used to it! Oil light comes on, top up at the next opportunity! I used to let it do it 6 or 7 times then change the oil and filter! Voila, self timing 6/7000 mile oil changes (she did short, stupid journeys so I changed it more frequently than my car)
She now has a 1.8 Zafira, and guess what it does... (it is dribbling it down the front of the rocker cover though, but I imagine it'll no oil too, ecotec quirk I think...)
Whereas my ancient 1.9TD citroens, not a drop used ever! No idea what my current 2.2dci is like though, not even found the dipstick yet
You get used to it! Oil light comes on, top up at the next opportunity! I used to let it do it 6 or 7 times then change the oil and filter! Voila, self timing 6/7000 mile oil changes (she did short, stupid journeys so I changed it more frequently than my car)
She now has a 1.8 Zafira, and guess what it does... (it is dribbling it down the front of the rocker cover though, but I imagine it'll no oil too, ecotec quirk I think...)
Whereas my ancient 1.9TD citroens, not a drop used ever! No idea what my current 2.2dci is like though, not even found the dipstick yet
steveo3002 said:
spotted a nice clean and looked after 2004 1600 petrol corolla , looks like it would do use for a run around but then spotted reviews mention some have massive oil useage issues
is that so ? effects all models or no?
It's not massive (IMHO). From what I recall the VVTi engines needed about 1 litre every month / 1000 miles (worse if you were doing long high speed motorway runs, better if you were just pottering round town). is that so ? effects all models or no?
However they're not as reliable as they used to be. The fuse for the rear windscreen heater on my wife's Corolla failed after only 3 years. Another major issue on most of these is the window lock switch, which sticks a bit
steveo3002 said:
is it that they use oil and will carry on doing so for a decent milage , id not mind regular top ups as long as its not bletching out blue smoke and causing mot problems
Definitely no belching. Vaguely I seem to recall burn marks around the exhaust and a rich smell of unburnt petrol on startup (although that might have been something else) 
.She only ran it to 120k though so I couldn't say beyond that
Countdown said:
Definitely no belching. Vaguely I seem to recall burn marks around the exhaust and a rich smell of unburnt petrol on startup (although that might have been something else) .
She only ran it to 120k though so I couldn't say beyond that
I know of one engine failure and one needing a rebuild due to the oil burning issue.She only ran it to 120k though so I couldn't say beyond that
So major problems do happen, but they're probably not as common as the internet makes out
beko1987 said:
Oil light comes on, top up at the next opportunity!
You do know they're not "oil level low" lights, they're "oil pressure low" lights???So you're letting it run that low that it cant keep all the parts lubricated.
Far more sensible to get in to the regime of checking and topping up once a week.
Jimmy Recard said:
Countdown said:
Definitely no belching. Vaguely I seem to recall burn marks around the exhaust and a rich smell of unburnt petrol on startup (although that might have been something else) .
She only ran it to 120k though so I couldn't say beyond that
I know of one engine failure and one needing a rebuild due to the oil burning issue.She only ran it to 120k though so I couldn't say beyond that
So major problems do happen, but they're probably not as common as the internet makes out
daemon said:
beko1987 said:
Oil light comes on, top up at the next opportunity!
You do know they're not "oil level low" lights, they're "oil pressure low" lights???So you're letting it run that low that it cant keep all the parts lubricated.
Far more sensible to get in to the regime of checking and topping up once a week.
The light will come on way before the level is so critically low it'll do damage. Even forgetting for a day and swmbo doing a 7 mile round trip to work the oil was showing on the dipstick.
But I do agree, I should get into the habit of weekly checks.
Countdown said:
daemon said:
I would suggest both of those engines got to that point not due to oil usage but due to lack of oil...
Design issue with early 1.6 and 1.8 VVTi engines. Relatively common between 1998-2004. Toyota was replacing engine blocks and extending warranties for a while.beko1987 said:
daemon said:
beko1987 said:
Oil light comes on, top up at the next opportunity!
You do know they're not "oil level low" lights, they're "oil pressure low" lights???So you're letting it run that low that it cant keep all the parts lubricated.
Far more sensible to get in to the regime of checking and topping up once a week.
The light will come on way before the level is so critically low it'll do damage. Even forgetting for a day and swmbo doing a 7 mile round trip to work the oil was showing on the dipstick.
But I do agree, I should get into the habit of weekly checks.
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