Mystery oil consumption - 2002 Highlander V6

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Bud H - 15 Apr 2006 23:51 GMT

I have a 2002 Toyota Highlander V6 with 130,000 miles which had exhibited
negligible oil consumption between oil changes -- that is, until about a
month ago.

Just as I was arriving home from work, I saw the low oil pressure light blip
on for a moment. When I checked the oil level, I found almost nothing was
showing on the dipstick!

I refilled it to the full line and have been monitoring it every few days,
checking it first thing in the morning before starting to make it easy to
see the oil on the dipstick.

It is using about 1 quart of oil (Mobil 1 synthetic - I've used synthetic
oil since the 10,000 mile mark) every 5,000 miles now after using nothing
during the first 120,000 miles. There are no visible leaks, and I don't see
anything unusual with the exhaust to show oil consumption.

Any idea where the 1 quart of oil every 5,000 miles is going?

Bud H

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zonie - 19 Apr 2006 04:32 GMT

Bud,
Strange problem. I couldnt imagine what has gone on in your Highlander. I
use Mobil 1 also and have no oil consumption . Please keep us posted on
what you find out. Scott

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MrFixit469 - 21 Apr 2006 06:05 GMT

Full synthetic oil IS NOT recommended for high mileage engines such as
yours as the synthetic formulation has a tendancy to seep through seals
& gaskets more than conventional motor oils. I have seen NUMEROUS
vehicles with 75,000 plus miles exibit "mysterious" oil consumption or
annoying leaks while using synthetic oils, just to have the problem
solved by switching back to conventional motor oil and having it
changed as recommended.

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Ken Shelton - 22 Apr 2006 16:49 GMT

> Full synthetic oil IS NOT recommended for high mileage engines such as
> yours as the synthetic formulation has a tendancy to seep through seals
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> solved by switching back to conventional motor oil and having it
> changed as recommended.

Lots of big trucks run their engines over a million miles on
synthetic oil, Mobil Delvac 1 being one of the oils. There
sometimes is a problem starting synthetic oil on high mileage
engines, but that goes away after one to three oil change intervals.

I do not know where the Highlander oil might be going.

Ken

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ds549@webtv.net - 22 Apr 2006 14:36 GMT

check pcv valve and filter..

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

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Bud H - 23 Apr 2006 14:27 GMT

"Bud H" <budh@REMOVETHISwmis.net> wrote in message news:...

>I have a 2002 Toyota Highlander V6 with 130,000 miles which had exhibited
>negligible oil consumption between oil changes -- that is, until about a
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Bud H

It took 4,000 miles for level to go from the high to low mark on the
dipstick.

A surprise, however. It took TWO quarts of oil to fill from the low to high
mark. Something I was not expecting. (All levels taken on level ground
first thing in the morning before the vehicle was started.)

So the oil consumption rate is 2,000 miles per quart of oil, not 5,000 miles
per quart as I thought previously.

Bud H

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PeonHonda - 23 Apr 2006 16:17 GMT

actually ken, if you switch to synthetic oil after you have been using
conventional oil for some time the problem should not go away. in
conventional oil the oil molecules are larger than those in synthetic
oil. that is why people who switch to synthetic oil after long use of
convetional oil are complaing of oil consumption and oil leaks.

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PeonHonda

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