Do the 1grfe v6 burn any oil
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gm350reratliff
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So far neither 4runner seems to be burning much oil. I measure the oil drained at each oil change and it's usually only about a 1/4 quart to 1/2 quart that has been burned off or missing. Some changes there is no oil missing.
FWIW, I do oil changes on a few of my family's cars and I do the same with them. My mom's honda pilot uses oil. It will use a quart to a quart and a half in 5k. My F150 ecoboost started making oil, as in the level would rise due to fuel dilution. This was bad and probably a contributor to why the timing chain had too much slack and something was knocking below.
FWIW, I do oil changes on a few of my family's cars and I do the same with them. My mom's honda pilot uses oil. It will use a quart to a quart and a half in 5k. My F150 ecoboost started making oil, as in the level would rise due to fuel dilution. This was bad and probably a contributor to why the timing chain had too much slack and something was knocking below.
having fun
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Especially when the viscosity of the oil depletes.
4by4runr
Member
Thanks, just curious if I missed any known problems.
Elan750
New member
I bought my t4r (120k miles) last summer and switched to synthetic a few months ago. I figured I would do an early oil change to get the rest of the conventional out so I changed it 4k miles later (yesterday). I put exactly 5.5 quarts (5w-30) in each time, but only retrieved 4 quarts! I dont notice any burning and the radiator seems to look ok.
I feel a little alarmed though that 1.5 quarts have vanished. The oils was pretty dark too. I guess I'm not counting whats in the old filter...so theres that....
Any recommendations? Next time around I was going to sent a sample out. The truck runs great all around. I can't find any leaks either....:noidea:
I feel a little alarmed though that 1.5 quarts have vanished. The oils was pretty dark too. I guess I'm not counting whats in the old filter...so theres that....
Any recommendations? Next time around I was going to sent a sample out. The truck runs great all around. I can't find any leaks either....:noidea:
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I think you're better off monitoring the level with the dipstick (that's what it's for, after all), than trying to do precision drains and measuring what comes out. There's always some spillage, some oil on the sides of your measuring container, what's left in the filter, etc., which results in an inaccurate measurement of drain quantity. The dipstick, on the other hand, should give you repeatable resolution to .25 qt as long as you measure it the same way every time. (Level surface, engine off for at least 10 minutes, that kind of thing.)
Also, my experience has been that overfilled engines will get rid of the excess oil pretty quickly (unless you have something like fuel or coolant getting added). Not exactly sure why (my theory is that it has to do with the excess oil getting splashed up on the cylinder walls from below increasing the burn rate, but that's just a theory), but typically if I fill to the full mark or a bit above, the oil level will fairly quickly drop to about .5 qt below the full mark and then stay there for 3-4 thousand miles. Depends on the engine where the "happy point" is, but they all seem to have one.
Losing a quart every 5000 miles is not cause for concern re: the engine health, and certainly is not a reason to tear into the engine, as long as it stays consistent.
Also, my experience has been that overfilled engines will get rid of the excess oil pretty quickly (unless you have something like fuel or coolant getting added). Not exactly sure why (my theory is that it has to do with the excess oil getting splashed up on the cylinder walls from below increasing the burn rate, but that's just a theory), but typically if I fill to the full mark or a bit above, the oil level will fairly quickly drop to about .5 qt below the full mark and then stay there for 3-4 thousand miles. Depends on the engine where the "happy point" is, but they all seem to have one.
Losing a quart every 5000 miles is not cause for concern re: the engine health, and certainly is not a reason to tear into the engine, as long as it stays consistent.
I am in the same boat as yiu. I put in 5.5 qt and get back 4.5 qt. And it is super black. I used to change every 10k but since this issue I have dropped down to 5k changes with no change in oil loss.
kcdehart
New member
I bought my T4R at 159k miles with a fresh oil change.
Changed the oil at 165k because I felt I needed to and it makes the intervals easy. It hadn't lost a drop, that I could see, and also still had a caramel color to it. Currently at 168,5XX and it hasn't lost any and still looks almost new. Gotta love Toyota
I'd like to send some of my oil to Blackstone for an analysis at some point just to see what they think the change interval should be (though changing every 5K regardless is a small price to pay for longevity. I used to change every 3K in my 3000GT and that was pushing it) and to get an idea of overall engine health.
Changed the oil at 165k because I felt I needed to and it makes the intervals easy. It hadn't lost a drop, that I could see, and also still had a caramel color to it. Currently at 168,5XX and it hasn't lost any and still looks almost new. Gotta love Toyota
I'd like to send some of my oil to Blackstone for an analysis at some point just to see what they think the change interval should be (though changing every 5K regardless is a small price to pay for longevity. I used to change every 3K in my 3000GT and that was pushing it) and to get an idea of overall engine health.
kcdehart
New member
FWIW I can't explain the loss (though likely just due to not getting it all out. Could be overfilled a bit).
Switching to synthetic from conventional oil, however, will always make the oil black very quickly. Synthetic oil cleans a lot of gunk out of your engine. That gunk ends up being suspended in the oil and makes it look black. It should start getting clearer with the next few changes, in my experience.
Yota_Noob
New member
I would agree. 1/2-3/4 quarts of oil used between intervals is nothing to worry about. I use penzoil synthetic with a Toyota filter and with 5k mile drain intervals. I usually add a little bit between changes just to keep the level near the top. I bought my 4R with 105k and at 130k, I changed the pcv because I assumed it hadn't been done. Didn't notice any different as far as mileage or oil consumption. The old valve did still move freely though. I work on VW's and they claim that 1 quart used every 1100 miles is acceptable. I'd say you're doing alright haha
4RunnerMexico
New member
Reviving an old thread here. I have a 2003 V6 with 202k. It doesn't leak any oil. Ive replaced the valve cover gaskets and the front main seal. The engine is very clean... Anyway after 5,000 miles on Castrol GTX High Mileage it is about a quart and a half low. Never smell any oil and it never smokes. Any ideas?
BackOff
New member
One place some of the oils goes is from the PCV valve to the air intake manifold.
I just added this oil catch can last year. 10 months.
I added metal mesh screen (to grab more dirty vapor) and the down tube (turning black, was clear).
If I did it again I would get a can that the bottom dosent come off nor have that inspection tube, just looks like possible failure/leaking areas.
I just added this oil catch can last year. 10 months.
I added metal mesh screen (to grab more dirty vapor) and the down tube (turning black, was clear).
If I did it again I would get a can that the bottom dosent come off nor have that inspection tube, just looks like possible failure/leaking areas.
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Seymore Butts
New member
I was surprised to see how much oil consumption Toyota considers normal. Page 344 of the 2008 owners manual states that max consumption is 1.1 quarts per 600 miles!
Bigshankhank
New member
At my last change (195k miles) I had lost about 3/4 of a quart. I have been using semi-synthetic ever since I bought it with 80k. I typically change oil every 5k.
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