If you have a 2009 1.8L corolla, you might want a dealer to check your VIM firmware. My 2009 model has had no burning oil for almost a year. Just over a year, I found my engine oil losing a quarter mark on the stick for only 4500 kilometers.
Take the car to the dealer. He hooked up a computer and updated the computer firmware. He admitted it was a software issue that the computer let the valve open too long so that it causes oil burning.
If you have a 2009 1.8L corolla, you might want a dealer to check your VIM firmware. My 2009 model has had no burning oil for almost a year. Just over a year, I found my engine oil losing a quarter mark on the stick for only 4500 kilometers.
Take the car to the dealer. He hooked up a computer and updated the computer firmware. He admitted it was a software issue that the computer let the valve open too long so that it causes oil burning.
in case you didnt know, here is a tidy little thread discussing oil cosumption (and the Toyoya Service Bulletin) in the corolla. should only take a couple minutes to read.
in case you didnt know, here is a tidy little thread discussing oil cosumption (and the Toyoya Service Bulletin) in the corolla. should only take a couple minutes to read.
Unfortunately, that firmware update has a reputation for negatively impacting fuel economy and only reducing oil consumption in the short term, if at all. The better/safer option, firmware update or not, is to use 0W30/5W30 synthetic instead of the factory 0W20/5W20 synthetic. The 30 weight oil usually corrects the oil consumption problem, quiets the engine, and does a much better job of lubricating everything. Toyota specifies 20 weight oil in the U.S. for the new 1.8L engine in order to slightly boost their CAFE numbers. But the downside is less effective engine protection because of the lower viscosity, as evidenced by oil consumption (almost certainly accompanied by premature engine wear).
Unfortunately, that firmware update has a reputation for negatively impacting fuel economy and only reducing oil consumption in the short term, if at all. The better/safer option, firmware update or not, is to use 0W30/5W30 synthetic instead of the factory 0W20/5W20 synthetic. The 30 weight oil usually corrects the oil consumption problem, quiets the engine, and does a much better job of lubricating everything. Toyota specifies 20 weight oil in the U.S. for the new 1.8L engine in order to slightly boost their CAFE numbers. But the downside is less effective engine protection because of the lower viscosity, as evidenced by oil consumption (almost certainly accompanied by premature engine wear).
i agree with all of this. ive seen people who have switched to 0w30 or 5w30 permanently fix the problem, whereas some reflashes have not done the job completely.
furthermore, i think there is validity to the reflash affecting FE. the 2010 corolla (for which the ECU has already been reprogrammed) EPA rating dropped to 26/34 mpg, yet the 2009 corolla carried a rating of 27/35. oddly, the manual transmission rating did not drop for the 2010 model.
does anyone have any other theories as to why the mpg rating dropped for the 2010 automatic corolla?
They use 5w30 in the rest of the world with the same engine....Most dealers are putting whatever bulk oil they have the most of usually(5w30) anyways as thats what oil weight corollas have been using for the past 30 years.
Cold weather is where synthetic oils really shine.
Pennzoil Platinum give excellent winter performance with pour point down at -45C and great pumping and viscosity specs at -35C. You can find it on sale right now 4.4L for $21.88 at Wal-mart last time I was there.
Other full synthetics will give simlar performance, Petro Canada also makes a great synthetic oil with very good low temperature specs, and is readily available.
buddy97.....Not sure as to why they dropped the ratings. I haven't driven the new '10 corollas. It would be highly unlikely they would change the auto transmission during this model run anyway, it has been the corolla mainstay for almost a decade in its current form, very reliable, excellent fuel economy. In the '09 spec print the auto and the manual had the same ratings. Perhaps they felt it was optimistic (even though it was true) that the auto could get the same as the manual. Maybe someone that works there or that has asked Toyotal could chime in?
__________________ '09 Corolla CE Enhanced Auto
Lifetime : 6.125L/100km(38.712mpgUS)
Maximum: 5.082L/100km(46.287mpgUS)
(manually calculated) (original unflashed factory ECM code)
So the conclusion is that you can safely use 5W30 (regular or synthetic) in our cars? all year long, even in Canadian winter?
I like 5W30, it is readily available everywhere and costs less too.
For Canadian winters, I would use 0W30 full synthetic. "0W" is the important part for you, where "0" stands for viscosity grade when the engine is cold and "W" stands for Winter. "0" weight has lower viscosity than "5" weight, so with "0" weight you will have an easier time starting the engine during the winter. "30" is the viscosity grade at normal engine operating temperature. Per my previous comments, your 1.8L engine will be much happier and last a lot longer with 5W30 (during summer) and 0W30 (winter or all year round), preferably full synthetic in either case.
buddy97.....Not sure as to why they dropped the ratings. I haven't driven the new '10 corollas. It would be highly unlikely they would change the auto transmission during this model run anyway, it has been the corolla mainstay for almost a decade in its current form, very reliable, excellent fuel economy. In the '09 spec print the auto and the manual had the same ratings. Perhaps they felt it was optimistic (even though it was true) that the auto could get the same as the manual. Maybe someone that works there or that has asked Toyotal could chime in?
the only thing that would be different with the 2010 would be the reprogramming of the ecu (so that the reflash would no longer be necessary as it is for the 2009 models).
2009 corolla: 2010 corolla:
auto-27/35 auto-26/34
manual-26/35 manual-26/35
i have wondered if the reflash/reprogramming in some way affects the automatic differently than the manual (doesnt seem like it would) or if the 5 speeds arent having the oil consumption issues. nevertheless, much like what i saw with the yaris, while the epa rating are also only 1 mpg apart between the auto and manual, a good majority of the manual drivers were achieving more than that 1 mpg difference over the auto drivers. there arent very many manual drivers of the 10th gen corolla (since the most popular seller, the LE, isnt even available with the 5 speed, but it sure seems that im finding many of the 5 speed drivers more commonly achieving 40+ mpg without too much effort. maybe people willing to do their own shifting any more are just more cognizant of their driving habits???
Mine was still consuming oil even with 5w30 in it (1.8l)
AFAIK there are two TSB that might fix it, one is the ECU flash, and another is some new cam timing parts that was apparently causing a rattle, squeek and using oil in some 1.8 engines. I have yet to get either of the TSB done....
__________________
09 Corolla Matrix 1.8l Dual VVT-i 5spd Manual Sundance Metallic - Alpine CDA 9883 - TRD drop in - Enkei BMBT 16" Alloys new addition: '93 2.7L Tacoma 2wd
So what would happen if you have a 2009 Toyota Corolla S that hasnt had any oil consumption issues? I am going in for an oil change at 16000 miles in a few weeks. I havent had any issues and dont want to mention this if it is unnecessary. I havent had this reflash that is mentioned in the post but am now kind of concerned.
vatecbound
Continue on course. It seems to be working for you. Try to see what oil your dealership is using on your car. You may discover something, and let us know.
As a side note, continue monitoring your oil levels. Keep vigilant (check once a week) as oil is a pretty important key to indicating engine health.
__________________ '09 Corolla CE Enhanced Auto
Lifetime : 6.125L/100km(38.712mpgUS)
Maximum: 5.082L/100km(46.287mpgUS)
(manually calculated) (original unflashed factory ECM code)
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oil consumption in 2009 model
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