Diagnosing oil consumption
Discussion
Hi all,
My other half's 2007 Toyota Auris (1.6 VVTi) uses a bit of oil. I usually have to put in about 750ml every 1000 miles or so.
As far as I can tell there's no signs of a leak, and I've not noticed any blue smoke while driving.
What I haven't done yet is check and clean/replace the PCV valve, or check for any blue smoke when starting up from cold (apparently a symptom of worn valve stem seals).
Is there anything else I can check for?
Is it that much of a big deal if it's in otherwise fine mechanical fettle? It drives fine, revs nice and freely, idles fine, the fuel economy is fine, there's no mayo in the filler cap or anything like that. Oil is always pretty clean.
Thanks!
My other half's 2007 Toyota Auris (1.6 VVTi) uses a bit of oil. I usually have to put in about 750ml every 1000 miles or so.
As far as I can tell there's no signs of a leak, and I've not noticed any blue smoke while driving.
What I haven't done yet is check and clean/replace the PCV valve, or check for any blue smoke when starting up from cold (apparently a symptom of worn valve stem seals).
Is there anything else I can check for?
Is it that much of a big deal if it's in otherwise fine mechanical fettle? It drives fine, revs nice and freely, idles fine, the fuel economy is fine, there's no mayo in the filler cap or anything like that. Oil is always pretty clean.
Thanks!
trickywoo said:
A compression test would give you an indication if it's cylinder / rings related.
With no leak 4.5 litres over say a 6k mile change interval is pretty heavy consumption.
Has it done lots of miles and do you know it's history?
Not really - 61k miles. Full Toyota service history, kept up by us.With no leak 4.5 litres over say a 6k mile change interval is pretty heavy consumption.
Has it done lots of miles and do you know it's history?
Checked this morning on startup and there wasn't the slightest puff of anything when the engine started, and just the usual condensation steam when it drove off.
OK so I've checked for blue smoke when starting from cold... Absolutely nothing. Not a puff.
I've also had someone follow me whilst I drive and put the engine under varying amounts of load / overrun, and not a single puff of blue smoke there either.
I'm confident it's not leaking it, as there's no sign apart from a little tiny bit of oil around the chain tensioner seal area.
If it's burning it (in any meaningful quantity), surely this would be evident through the exhaust pipe?
Still need to check the PCV valve but this looks like a right sod of a job since all the inlet manifold etc needs to come off... Is there another way of checking this without accessing the valve directly? I'm considering buying a vacuum gauge in order to check the engine's health.. Will this highlight PCV issues?
I've also had someone follow me whilst I drive and put the engine under varying amounts of load / overrun, and not a single puff of blue smoke there either.
I'm confident it's not leaking it, as there's no sign apart from a little tiny bit of oil around the chain tensioner seal area.
If it's burning it (in any meaningful quantity), surely this would be evident through the exhaust pipe?
Still need to check the PCV valve but this looks like a right sod of a job since all the inlet manifold etc needs to come off... Is there another way of checking this without accessing the valve directly? I'm considering buying a vacuum gauge in order to check the engine's health.. Will this highlight PCV issues?
Howard- said:
OK so I've checked for blue smoke when starting from cold... Absolutely nothing. Not a puff.
I've also had someone follow me whilst I drive and put the engine under varying amounts of load / overrun, and not a single puff of blue smoke there either.
I'm confident it's not leaking it, as there's no sign apart from a little tiny bit of oil around the chain tensioner seal area.
If it's burning it (in any meaningful quantity), surely this would be evident through the exhaust pipe?
Still need to check the PCV valve but this looks like a right sod of a job since all the inlet manifold etc needs to come off... Is there another way of checking this without accessing the valve directly? I'm considering buying a vacuum gauge in order to check the engine's health.. Will this highlight PCV issues?
Bump?! This is still baffling me! I bought a vacuum gauge. According to a few guides online, when I hooked it up and tested it, everything seemed spot on.I've also had someone follow me whilst I drive and put the engine under varying amounts of load / overrun, and not a single puff of blue smoke there either.
I'm confident it's not leaking it, as there's no sign apart from a little tiny bit of oil around the chain tensioner seal area.
If it's burning it (in any meaningful quantity), surely this would be evident through the exhaust pipe?
Still need to check the PCV valve but this looks like a right sod of a job since all the inlet manifold etc needs to come off... Is there another way of checking this without accessing the valve directly? I'm considering buying a vacuum gauge in order to check the engine's health.. Will this highlight PCV issues?
It's not the same engine as the 'widely-known' issue that affects the ZZ-series engines - the Auris has the newer ZR-series engine. I can't find anything on Google to suggest that it shares the same design traits. But then that doesn't mean that it doesn't, I suppose...
Is a compression test the only way I'm going to tell whether or not it is worn rings?
Is a compression test the only way I'm going to tell whether or not it is worn rings?
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