So my beast is running pretty well as far as I can tell. There is a slight tapping in the valvetrain but other than a valve adjustment things seem good. I changed the oil about 10 days ago now, ahve driven maybe 300 miles, and my oil level on the dipstick has already fallen from full to low. No dark smoke, plugs looked normal last time I pulled em, I changed the oil after changing the oil pan seal and the oil cooler seal. Nothing is hitting the ground and I am stumped as to where the oil is going. Suggestions?

 

Did you check your radiator?

 

I have the same thing. Bugging the hell out of me. I almost made this exact same post earlier in the day too.

 

Same here but mine is happening at around 2K after an oil change.

 

Same issue here.

The oil change place I goto says my car is down 1 quart after every change. I have no idea where it would be going.. Besides, I'm too lazy to check.

 

How's the bottom of the engine look? You may have a bad main seal.

That is a lot of oil going somewhere. I think from Low to Full is a quart? That would be 10 quarts for a 3000 mile oil change interval.

 

At least for me, my entire engine is nearly oil-free. Amazing.

Uhh sorry for hijacking, this thread isn't about me!

 

Wow, the same thing happened to me too, before I blew my engine. (Unrelated)

 

I am sure glad you brought this to light.

Last night, as I unscrewed the drain plug, I noticed quit the oil stain from underneath the engine to underneath the transmission pan.

In fact, between the the transmission pan and the back of the engine, it clearly shows that there is a leak as the oil stain is much darker.

I had a severe power steeering pump leak just about two months ago and my mind was set that it was just that.

Is replacing a main seal an expansive job?

 

This is a likely culprit on the 3.0
Rubber "O" ring and a metal gasket cost about $10.00 CDN (Scofco). But I hear it's a pain to get to, and very messy. Had this occur on my previous 91, but I rolled it, prior to fixing it, so I'm hanging on to the parts until I need 'em again.
My symptoms were very similar. THe only noticable oil was collecting on the cross member.

 

We ought to make a thread in which contains all possible problems encounterable with the 3VZ-E 3.0 liter engine.

A never ending list.

:pat:

 

I actually replaced the oil cooler gasket jsut to be sure while I had the front diff off and had easy access. You can actually do it through the driver's side wheel well but it is pretty messy. The main seal huh? This is around the input shaft? Forgive me if I am wrong on that one, I am learning and these things have a bit different nomenclature than my air cooled vws.

 

I am checking my coolant for oil aka the notorious head gasket issue? I drained my coolant when I did the oil cooler and I didn't notice any oil in there.

 

I can only tell you what the dipstick is telling me. I can say for sure though that between the last 2 changes I put in over 3 qts of oil. Is the main seal a real pita or what?

 

There are two main seals, one on the front and one on the back of the engine. The rear one is the harder one to change out because the transmission has to be dropped to get access to the back of the engine block. The front main seal isn't as hard, but still not a job for the novice mechanic.

 

I can end the mystery! I had the same problem on my '94 Runner when I first bought it. Brought it to the dealer's attention and they told me this was normal oil consumption for the 3.0. Not believeing them I called Toyota USA and they told me it is normal for the 3.0 to consume a quart of oil every 1,000-1,200 miles. I was shocked but that is straight from the horses mouth.

So stop searching for leaks. You won't find 'em.

 

You didn't solve the mystery. The original post was discussing approximately a quart of oil every 300 miles, which is a lot more than 1000-1200 miles.

 

This maybe not normal but perhaps with all the problems encountered with the 3.0, it is considered normal now.

Won't be surprised if blow headgasket will be considered normal, poor gas mileage, and anything else you may find wrong with the 3.0 are going to be normal as well.

 

yup, little late on the post but I got same problem on my '94. She drinks oil just as much as gas. On a trip to tahoe from the bay area she will take a quart down. Granted I have her in 3rd gear going 55-60 up hill on some of the grades. I think high RPM driving definately sucks down the oil. I have no smoke out of the tail pipe. I am pretty sure its normal..., just keep an eye on it.

 

i noticed mine using oil, and oil underneath quite a bit. turned out my valve cover had a gasket screwed up in the back. i couldnt see the leak looking at the top of the motor. but when i installed new valve cover gaskets the problem went away. has never lost oil since.