Dip Stick TSB for newer models

[nikesocks]

I have a 2000 Rolla with a 1.8, just bought it to laugh a bit at the gas stations as I drove by, car has just over 100k, gas mileage is great (i drive 180 miles round trip each day) and is making between 33 and 39. I use a quart of oil each 1000 miles. I am totally not used to burning oil at this rate. (my 96 taurus has 285k on it and barely uses a quart in 5000k miles).

I have been reading up and found a tsb for a dip stick with the full marks and add marks moved up the stick added for another 1/2 quart of oil. Presumably to keep more oil on the pistons to prevent the ring groves from caking up.

Strange thing is the tsb isnt for older models even though the block, pistons, and oil pan are all the same part numbers for a 2000 versus a 2003??? I am confused here....why more oil for a 2 year newer car with the exact same engine??

[Highway_maniac]

Search for vvti oil usage. It's a known problem with the first vvti engines. Toyota modified the engine to try solve the oil burning problems.

The fix for oil burning was to install a new short block (bottom/lower part of the engine). This modification included new oil rings (other metal I think was used) and 8 oil passages in the piston, old had 4. Also think the passages ware made larger. Other modification was that the engine now needs half liter more engine oil. The new oil dipstick has a green dot on it, to identify it. Thus - the engine has changed internally.

Although the engine may seem the same, they are not. If your short block was exchanged for a redisigned one, you should have received a new dipstick, and maybe the engine in your car may be the same as the 2003 Toyota.

[pdq]

The common oil leak locations on this gen Corolla are:

- clogged PCV valve
- clogged VVTI screen
- valve cover gasket
- timing chain tensioner leak
- stuck piston oil control rings

The good news is that all but the piston rings can be checked and replaced/repaired relatively easily. Check the PCV valve and VVTI screen, and then look for any oil buildup around the valve cover gasket or timing chain tensioner (at the backside of the engine). If either of those are leaking, you need to replace the valve cover gasket and/or timing chain tensioner.

If you remove the oil filler cap and it's caked with sludge, I'd recommend adding a half-quart of Marvel Mystery Oil to your oil at each oil change to slowly de-sludge the engine.

I'd ignore the dipstick TSB and see if you can spot any of the above common cases first.

[leeor_net]

That sludging on the inside of the oil cap occurs not because the ending is sludged but because oil splatters there during normal operation. There's a small metal flap under the filler neck in the valve cover where oil can get trapped and gel even if the rest of the engine is in good condition.

Don't use the oil cap as an indicator of sludging problems -- sluding problems can only be verified by pulling the valve cover off, pulling the oil pan off or both.

I can agree, though, that you can try using a detergent additive to free up stuck piston rings (an apparently common problem). If you don't see any leaks, the next possible problem would be the rings. Marvel mystery oil is cheap so I don't know how well it works. It may also be too agressive. I personally would recommend AutoRX. It's expensive but it does its job very, very well.