Engine losing oil but not leaking

[ogre]

A question for those in the know. I've got a 1.8L corolla ce 2000 that I've owned for more than five years now. I've literally got to put in a gallon of new engine oil every month and a half or so. So every three weeks about I look at the dipstick and nothing. I also put in the same oil it says to on the cap. I know it doesn't leak because i have no marks in my driveway or in the street and i've left it sitting there for a week straight at times.
I've pretty much given up on scheduled oil changes aswell because the oil is always new.

So does anyone know what could be causing this and if it's an expensive fix? Would i be better off selling it and buying something much newer?

[fishexpo101]

Do a search up on most any Corolla forum, especially 8th generation ones, and you'll see some model years tend to have oil consumption problems. Some cases are pretty mild, others seem go through oil as fast as you can pour it in.

Expensive fix - depends on what is wrong and what you would consider expensive. Could be rings or oil seals or both. Either case, you could be looking at a few hundred dollars to start - could go all the way up to having to replace the engine.

You mentioned that you have to put about 4 quarts of oil in the engine every 30 - 45 days. Fine - need more info - about how much distance do you cover over that period of time, and what type of driving conditions due to subject the car to (stop and go, city, highway, etc.).

Part that I don't understand - but you wait every 3 weeks or so to pull the dipstick and find that it is empty?? You've pretty much given up on scheduled oil changes since the oil is always new???

If you know that the car is running through oil - check it daily (every day), before you drive. Running low on oil only increases the rate that it gets consumed. Having owned it for that period of time and running it low at least a couple of times - chances are pretty high that you are looking at pretty expensive repair bill. You've basically neglected to take care of the engine and are surprised that it is going through a lot of oil?!

Keep up on oil levels, and don't let it drop at all - you might be able to drive that car for awhile.

[dorman68]

You need new piston rings. A very common issue for the 2002-98 1zzfe engines. The oil control rings get gummed up and stuck. The pistons do not have enough drain holes for the oil control rings. Revised new pistons and new rings will eliminate your problem.

[Bdub215]

^^ werd.. To the OP your best bet is to get a complete 1zz bottom end from a 9th gen corolla 03-08. as far as i have seen they've had no issues and someone here is running that setup.