Corolla Engine Problem - Losing Oil

[schnitzel]

I tend to agree that it could be the pcv, would still think that if you were burning oil you would see some sign ,either smoke or an oil trail. Oil should be either a 10w 40 or 15w40 later engine style, so api sm spec as a minimum. Older style thicker oilwould possibly blow seals. Other than that I cant think what else could be causing it, I would try a different brand of oil to see if it makes any difference but would stay away from the bargain basement type oils and go for somethimg similar to gtx 3 modern engine 15w 40, visco 3000 or magnatec 10 w 40. Was interested to note they dont recommend the newer 10w 30 or 0w 40 oils for this motor.

[jeffro ra28]

Im a bit concerned about the pressure coming out from the rocker cover when you remove the pcv valve. There actually should be vaccum at idle if the engine is in a good state. IF you were not burning oil but the crankcase was being pressurized it COULD mean that combustion pressure is excaping past the compression rings but perhaps the oil ring may still be functioning properly and keeping oil under control.

Wipe your finger over the exhaust tip. Is it damp and suity, or completely dry & powdery?

Can we get a snap of your spark plugs? Is that a hard task on these corolla's? That would be the first place id look for burning of oil.

[river]

Hi,

Yes, I'd like to see the state the plugs are in. If you're burning all that oil it should show on the condition of the plugs.

seeyuzz
river

[jeffro ra28]

Lets say for example that the valve seals were perished/worn out. It will blow smoke IF the intake valve stem seals are leaking, which is most likely in this case because of the vacum in the port sucking the oil down the stem of the valve, then entering the cylinder and burning, creating SMOKE! BUT if the exhaust seals were the culprit we would not see smoke of any sort because most of the oil would run/be sucked down the valve steam on reversion and then blown straight out the exhaust as raw unburnt oil. This may however show up on your exhaust tip. Or an experienced engine "enthusiast" may just be able to have a sniff of your exhaust gas and say, "yep thats fumy" smells like oil. I know i have .

[Trekka273]

Thanks for the tips guys.

The spark plugs are a light grey in colour, and quite dry looking.

When I rubbed mt finger on the inside of the exhaust tip the other night I was left with a light covering of black on my finger. The pipe doesn't feel "wet" at all, it feels quite dry, but as I said, very dark, which is sort of what I expected. There is also no obvious sign of any oil residue build up on the body of the car at all which is something I have seen on some other cars losing oil down the pipe.

It is a worry though... I don't want to go pulling the engine apart when it is in the car. With my back I find it hard to work on engines when they are in the car. I have a blacktop 20 valve in my garage that I tinker with, which isn't a problem, but I don't really want to do too much here... think i will take it to Toyota to have a look at...

[jeffro ra28]

Sell it, its only going to cause drama's...
My olds have had the same problem with a 2003 holden rodeo with a turbo deisel isuzu.
After using 1 litre per 1000 km's and qouting that to the tech department at holden, they said that was within the desired oil usage for that engine! Im an engine builder by trade and i think that is fu*king discracefull. Its only caused us drama's ever since.

[Vios-GT_07]

^^
Isuzu engines are tough as... i'm guessing you've got the previous generation turbo diesel that isn't as reliable.. they've rectified their issues and the new generation (i.e. 2004 onward) of diesel and diesel turbo engines are very reliable.. the 3.0 diesel turbo has less problems than the 3.1 diesel turbo, but again it's a question of when it was built and what turbo it uses..

and yea even my dad's 3.1 N/A diesel goes through oil at a rate of 1 liter per 2500 kms.. less with mineral oil and even less with a higher viscoscity (from 10W-40 to 20W-50).. we found that using castrol's 5W-40 Magnatec fully synthetic reduces a lot missing oil issue..

stop bagging isuzus man.. they're so good holden's rebadging them as their own

[cambelt]

Just a note these 7A FE,s do use more oil than other corollas , i service many of these and the late 4AFE and 7AFE do seem to use more oil than other engines , i have a couple after 10000klm i only get 200ml out of the sump , both around 100000 klm , if yr east of melb id be happy to take a look,
Dave

[cambelt]

alloytec V6 is no isuzu , and on previous isuzu petrols they used the shit delco efi
Dave

[Trekka273]

Thanks Cambelt, appreciate the offer. I am actually based in the north-west of Melbourne.

THe strange thing with the engine is that it never used oil beofre, it has only been over the past few months that it has started to disappear. It is very strange....

[jeffro ra28]

^^
Isuzu engines are tough as... i'm guessing you've got the previous generation turbo diesel that isn't as reliable.. they've rectified their issues and the new generation (i.e. 2004 onward) of diesel and diesel turbo engines are very reliable.. the 3.0 diesel turbo has less problems than the 3.1 diesel turbo, but again it's a question of when it was built and what turbo it uses..

and yea even my dad's 3.1 N/A diesel goes through oil at a rate of 1 liter per 2500 kms.. less with mineral oil and even less with a higher viscoscity (from 10W-40 to 20W-50).. we found that using castrol's 5W-40 Magnatec fully synthetic reduces a lot missing oil issue..

stop bagging isuzus man.. they're so good holden's rebadging them as their own

Lol your bagging them yourself buddy! Their fucking shit!

[Trekka273]

Just an update...

The rocker cover has been off, and the PCV valve tested. There is no build up of any sludge, etc in the top of the head and the PVC valve is working perfectly.

Followed my wife while she drove it yesterday... there is the odd small puff of smole at different times, so it is eaither getting past the rings or going past the valve stem seals. In its early life, before I came along, it often only drove around 8km per day, five or six days a week for weeks on end (from new), so I think that may have lead to a slight polishing of the bores, and that is where it is now losing the oil.

So, it will soon be sold....

[love ke70]

the air coming out of the cam cover, is it a constant whoosh or in gusts? for lack of better words.
im guessing it will be combustion pressure leaking past the rings. explains the low readings

cheers, andrew

[Trekka273]

I wouldn't say that it was a constant whosh, as in it is blowing air constantly at the same velocity. It is like in beats, which is sort of what I would have expected. It did seem to be a fair bit, but then I guess it should be to. With the CV valve off the rocker cover, if you hold your hand there and open the throttle the amount of air decreases, which once again is what I would have expected.

My thoughts are that it is going past the rings. It isn't a heap of oil each drive that it is losing, but these things don't get better over time, they only get worse. I am looking to seell it and buy my dad's Mazda 2 that he has for sale... only has 50,000 km on it and can get a good deal.

[cambelt]

What model is it exactly, and is it auto
Dave