I just drove to San Francisco from Denver, and I noticed some interesting fluctuations in my oil level. I noticed that my dipstick showed only a speck of oil on the tip, after triple checking, waiting 20 minutes, and checking again. This is like 2k miles after an oil change. I added a qt, and dipstick showed perfect amount in there.

Now I just went to check it after it sat for 24 hrs, and it's way over full!

What gives? Has anyone ever had this before? What's happening!?

Thanks a million. I'm about to drive back and I'm really nervous about my oil.

 

Maybe your filter drained back into the oil pan? I check mine cold, as long as its full cold, its got oil. If ya learn where it sits after running, you can get a feel-good check on it hot, but it's always gonna be lower than when cold. Oil on top of head, miscellaneous galleys still holding oil, etc.

 

I guess that's probably right, it was the filter. Have you ever seen your oil that low on the dipstick though, when warm?

I put in a 5qt jug when I change my oil

 

Fill it to spec, not just 5 quarts.

:wabbit2:

 

Are your drain holes plugged? One reason I dont use Pennzoil. I have seen some really bad sludge build up in a motor from using Pennzoil in my experience. There as some that will probably think it is great so this is just my personal opinion. Also lack of oil changes can cause a sludge build up. I would suggest pulling the valve cover and see what it looks like in there.

About a month ago some one posted a 3.4 that the sludge was so bad that the only place there wasnt a build up was were the moving parts kept it knocked loose.

Getting Toyota filters from the dealer is about the same price as a parts store. Suggest picking up 2 or 3 from the dealer and use your preferred oil. I seen a study where Pennzoil is great for breaking in a motor due to the lubricating properties that is in it but when used for long periods of time, those same properties are what cause the build up.

Any study can be turned into what you want it to say, but this has been my experience with Pennzoil. Also I stay with one brand of oil. I dont put in Brand A one day and Brand B the the next time. Other then the filter maybe draining back, I am thinking your oil is staying on top of the motor and slowy draining back.

 

I checked the factory owner manuals, and it says that the motor will consume oil. I am checking it constantly and I think I am losing close to 1/2 qt per 1000 miles.

My oil pressure gauge has not been fluctuating however. Even when the dipstick shows low to almost zero oil on it.

I'm going to check the valve covers next, but until further evidence, I'm assuming this is oil getting burned.

 

Mine with around 200K never uses any between changes, and lo and behold I use Pennzoil, my 85 Chevy truck with 270K has used Pennzoil all it's life and no sludge, I must be lucky LOL.

 

I don't have any particular affinity or dislike for Penzoil. However, everything, and I mean everything I have read about Pennzoil and sludge is either hearsay or anecdotal accounts from the 1970s.

 

I use Castrol, with purolator filters.

I also have a leak that I thought was coming from my transmission shifter tower, and was either the tranny or the tcase. Tranny still has full oil though. I'm checking the tcase tonight.

Is there any way that the engine oil is leaking in a way that would lead down to drip off of the tcase? The leak winds around but only drips at the tcase base.

I ask because the timing of this engine consumption and the leak are suspicious.

 

Thanks for the tip, I did 4.5 after that advice

 

It ought to be pretty easy to tell whether it's engine oil, gear oil, or ATF.

 

Well, it's not ATF because I have a 5sp. It's redline mt90. And as easy as you'd think it is, it actually takes careful leak detection to figure out, especially if the leak is coming from the shifter tower. The tcase and tranny shifters are so close together and visibility is so low in there from underneath that it's honestly very difficult to tell at first glance, if not impossible.

I don't touch tranny/tcase oils enough to be able to distinguish them from each other.