96 factory serviced 80 consuming oil

[concretejungle]

Local friend has a white 80 and he is always talking about how much he loves it. I posted earlier that he was thinking of selling it, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Now he comes to me and says that during his last beach trip he had the truck full of people and luggage and was pulling 2 harleys. He said that when he got to the beach it was low on oil 1 quart. Beach trip was about 300 miles one-way. He was asking me what it could be. I was thinking the rings, but to be honest i'm not really sure what would cause a truck to use oil. It does have a slight rear-main leak, but not enough to even drop on the ground after it's been parked all night.

Suggestions welcome before he takes it to the stealer and has them quote him a new motor or something.

 

[concretejungle]

sorry doug, i thought i had enough info. It's a 96 with right at 100,000 miles on her. No lockers, he has owned since new, ALWAYS been serviced or fixed at the local toyota dealer. Oil change is dino oil, at the dealer, every 3,000 miles.

He told me it has been consuming oil a lot lately. He said he has to add a quart every 800 to 1,000 miles. I would agree with the shorting comment, but he adds oil to bring it up to full, and then has to add again on down the road.

Also, truck has never been off-road. He is a doctor and just drives around town.

P.S. he says that he enjoys his 80 more than his two harley's, one bourgett(sp?) custom, porsche cayane and BMW 5 series!

 

[wob]

It could be like mine, bleeding oil around the valve cover seal.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Others may have thoughts as well, but I'd say it's not going go be a HG issue at this volume, but is either leaking or being burned. Since it's not leaking (I'd think he would note puddles at his office space or garage), that leaves burning. Generally, rings will not suddenly have an issue and start burning, so forget them.

I'd wonder about two things were it my vehicle. One - the PCV valve which will cause some consumption when aged/crudded up. If he chooses to change it, be sure to give him the tips on this board so someone doesn't drop the gasket parts into the engine and never tell anyone. Two, I believe there is a baffle arrangement on the underside of the valve cover on a lot of Toyota engines. When these become clogged from sludge, oil consumption goes up dramatically. I'd definitely investigate this even though I'm not personally sure the FZJ engine has one (anyone?).

As additional precaution, I'd check the engine bay for a vacuum hose knocked loose. Has he had any work done on the vehicle lately?

DougM

 

[robbie]

Yes there is a baffle. I also would look to the PCV first. at His next tune up, check his compression. Switch to a higher weight oil or go synthetic. Do some sort of engine flush to loosen up the rings. I have seen a couple of 1FZ with the rings stuck out and wearing into the cylinder wall, Lots of carbon behind the rings, creating some problems. I would do the PCV and then on next change go to a some 40 weight oil if the consumption is still there to see if the engine does not like the 30 weight oil. later robbie

 

[lurker]

OK everyone get prepared to shot me , but when you say pvc valve the only one that I know of is the one on top of the valve cover. Yes, no?

Now I hear something about a gasket getting lost inside of the cam cover. Am I reading this right, do you mean the rubber grommet? The one that is all but impossible to remove?

Reload!

Baffle under the cam cover I’ve heard about ,but hardly mentioned since I’ve been on this board, what is its evil purpose in life as far as oil consumption is concerned?

 

[Rookie2]

OK everyone get prepared to shot me , but when you say pvc valve the only one that I know of is the one on top of the valve cover. Yes, no?

Now I hear something about a gasket getting lost inside of the cam cover. Am I reading this right, do you mean the rubber grommet? The one that is all but impossible to remove?

Responses in order of request:


Yes
Yes
Yes
The grommet (sometimes rotted and cracked) generally ends up in smaller pieces by the time you get it out. A less conscious DYI'er or stealer mechanic may have some of those smaller pieces fall down into the valve cover.


Rookie2

 

[IdahoDoug]

Do a search for a post on ye old PCV grommet by yours truly in the past 90 days. I have done two with the first working out well but the second phenomenal. Don't know if you're gonna do it for your bud, but 1 minute with a pair of vice grips and something to pry with got my second one out in a single piece.

Anyone have more info on that baffle thing? I ask because this feature on a Camry caused one of my best friends unbelievable grief tracking down oil consumption before this simple item was discovered. I'd like to know why it's there and what's it's role in oil consumption increasing when it's clogged?? Sorry for the hijack, but this may be exactly what's going on with your buddy's 80.

DougM

 

[cruiserdan]

In some cases a sudden spike in oil consumption can be linked to the type of usage. In short-trip driving oil is consumed but it's volume is replaced with unburned gasoline and other dilutants. The net result is the crankcase still shows "full". Take said vehicle out and run it down the hiway for a couple hundred miles and get it good and hot and all of the sudden the dilutants evaporate and the oil level is low.

 

[toddslater]

doug, the only thing I can think of regarding your baffle question would be....generally speaking the suction port for the pcv valve is located in the valve cover, above the baffle so it doesn't suck oil. If the baffle were to clog to the point that air movement was restricted or shut off completely, then it would mimmick a blocked pcv valve, allow pressure to build up in the crackcase, oil blow by and consumption.

 

[MoJ]

In some cases a sudden spike in oil consumption can be linked to the type of usage. In short-trip driving oil is consumed but it's volume is replaced with unburned gasoline and other dilutants. The net result is the crankcase still shows "full". Take said vehicle out and run it down the hiway for a couple hundred miles and get it good and hot and all of the sudden the dilutants evaporate and the oil level is low.

The situation C-Dan is describing is also discussed in the owner's manual. (go figure ) You may have your friend read up on it. I'm often making several short trips followed by a long trip to the airport. I end up about a quart down every 3k.

 

[lurker]

Responses in order of request:


Yes
Yes
Yes
The grommet (sometimes rotted and cracked) generally ends up in smaller pieces by the time you get it out. A less conscious DYI'er or stealer mechanic may have some of those smaller pieces fall down into the valve cover.


Rookie2

Thanks

 

[concretejungle]

Thanks for all the input. I will do a search on the PCV, try to give that a check.

I just really don't want him to have the dealer start fixing things. When i spoke with him last, he told me that his transmission was leaking and the dealer told him $4,000 for a new one! When i looked under it, it appeared to be a small leak from either the upper pan or the rear main, couldn't tell exactly but it was barely leaking. I'm just worried if he takes it to the dealer and they start telling him he has to replace all this stuff he'll sell the cruiser and say Fawk cruisers. As you can tell, our local dealer is less than satisfactory!

 

[cary]

Some cruisers seem to have high oil consumption when run hard. My cruiser consumes no oil during normal driving, but on long trips where I average about 85mph, consumption goes to 1 quart every 800-1000 miles. Others have reported similar consumption (I believe idahodoug is one). In addition to changing the pcv valve (a 2 minute 1 job), I would suggest that you go to Walmart and pick up a couple of gallons of Shell Rotella T 5w-40 synthetic oil. This is a heavy duty engine oil that is designed for diesels and fleet vehicles and has stronger additive pack than a basic engine oil so may have some cleaning effect. It is a group III hydrocracked synthetic so it can be run 7500 mile intervals, year round without worry. For people who have had consumption issues, it seems to lower the consumption.


If you think the truck may have stuck rings, there are products to free up the carbon in the rings. Basically they work by pulling out the spark plugs, pouring the product down in the bore, waiting an hour or so and then vacuming or blowing out the cylinder with compressed air. I know this a common problem with saturns and I believe the GM makes one the products to do this.

 

[sjcruiser]

All engines consume oil. The rationale behind the difference in the consuming rate is mentioned in Dan & Jason's posts above.

 

[concretejungle]

All engines consume oil. The rationale behind the difference in the consuming rate is mentioned in Dan & Jason's posts above.

So i guess if you drive your truck around for a week, it's normal for you to add 1 quart of oil every week.

I guess my truck is not normal since i don't have to add any oil between my 6,000 mile oil changes.

but, i do appreciate the info. THis all helps.

 

[landtank]

I run my truck hard usually 6+ hours at 80~85 for work. Never had any need to add a quart during 5k cycles.

 

[lurker]

FWIW, my 93 LC has 250,000 miles on her and with 5w-40 syn. it burns about 1 qt every 3k to 5k, but when I change to 15w-40 dyno it doesn't burn any oil.

Strange, but in my case it's directly attributed to viscosity.

 

[concretejungle]

THe cruiser in question runs dino.

 

[lurker]

THe cruiser in question runs dino.

But is it running 15w-40 dyno?