blowing smoke on start up - burning oil

[mtdidomenico]

My 2001 Solara started burning oil and blowing smoke on start up about 6 month ago. I continue to add new oil as the oil light comes on. If I add less than 1 qt when the oil light comes on, it helps a little with the start up smoke.

I tried some of the additives from Autozone but no luck.

Aside from an engine rebuild, Any advise?

Thanks
Mike

[Mike Gerber]

Yes, stop waiting for the oil light to come on before adding oil. When the oil light comes on while driving or stopping with the engine running, it means you have lost all oil pressure. At this time you are putting an extreme amount of wear on the engine. Check the oil level on a regular basis and add oil to bring the level to the full line. This will buy you some time, but if the light has come on a few times there is extreme wear on all the moving parts of the engine and you are probably looking at a new engine. Which engine does the car have, I4 or V6, and how many miles are on this car/engine?

Mike

[ycartf]

Ditto what Mike said. Waiting until the oil light comes on to add oil is liking waiting for flys to circle your butt to wipe it.

[carsrus]

If its that bad, fill it up with some THICK oil. 10w40 at a minimum, High Mileage Conventional.

If that doesn't slow it down just up to 20w50 diesel oil and drive it till it dies. Make sure your not leaking oil in addition to the burning.

Basically, the thicker the better. I wouldn't waste money on additives as they just thicken the oil for the most part.

[mtdidomenico]

Its the V6 version with 130K on it.

If I go the rebuilt engine route, any warnings I should look for in terms of people trying to stick it to me?

[Mike Gerber]

The best advice I can give you now would be to ask friends or relatives if they can recommend a mechanic that they trust.

Mike

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Yes, stop waiting for the oil light to come on before adding oil. When the oil light comes on while driving or stopping with the engine running, it means you have lost all oil pressure. At this time you are putting an extreme amount of wear on the engine. Check the oil level on a regular basis and add oil to bring the level to the full line. This will buy you some time, but if the light has come on a few times there is extreme wear on all the moving parts of the engine and you are probably looking at a new engine. Which engine does the car have, I4 or V6, and how many miles are on this car/engine?

Mike

yeah the 4cylinder oil pressure light comes on when the car is below 4psi of pressure. Not good though! lol

[molson.david]

like was said above:
check your oil level at least ones every 3-4 days. add oil as needed.
use 10-40 oil or even thicker.
don't know what additives you using, I will recommend Restore Engine Restorer
http://www.restoreusa.com/Engine_Restorer.html

I've seen it at autozone and even walmart.
if it will not help-nothing will.
good luck.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by ycartf

Ditto what Mike said. Waiting until the oil light comes on to add oil is liking waiting for flys to circle your butt to wipe it.

LOL, I've never heard that before...I thanked you for that LOL.

Wow, this thread made me feel better. My car burns oil a bit but never has the oil pressure light gone on. Not to jinx or brag...but wow. That's just not good. And 130,000 miles isn't that much (even though I bought mine at that mileage and had BAD oil leak/burn and still does :-( So if I can go another 100,000 miles like that I'm sure your 99 can too.

Def. switch to high mileage if you haven't already. Any brand will work but Penz, Vav, Quaker state, Castrol last a bit longer than generic.

I just bought some 10W 40 today and can't wait til Friday to put it in and see what happens. I used to use Lucas, and you can if you want but from what people have said it just thickens it. The bottle even says 100% petroleum.

[JohnGD]

Aside from oil consumption is the engine running smooth? If so I'd remove the valve cover and inspect things underneath. The 01 belongs to the sludge maker generation. If it's not leaky stem seals or piston rings, then maybe it's heavily sludged up.

If you want to rebuild it, besides friends' recommendations try an AERA member shop. See if you can find a shop that participates in racing. Some of the shops are duds however.

http://www.aera.org/member-services/member-locator/

Originally Posted by mtdidomenico

Its the V6 version with 130K on it.

If I go the rebuilt engine route, any warnings I should look for in terms of people trying to stick it to me?