Re: 87 Corolla oil consumption drop

"Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:SXu%g.17273$vJ2.9855@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...[color=blue]
> Folks,
>
> Sorry for the on-topic post, but this one is a puzzler to me.
>
> 87 Toyota Corolla FWD auto, 4A engine, 135K miles
>
> When I bought it, and as my wife has driven it, it has burned a quart of
> oil every 10 days to two weeks. A telltale but faint blue cloud was in
> evidence occasionally when accelerating from a stop.
>
> Over the last two months I've been driving the car. I've added one quart
> of oil in the past 2 months. I haven't spotted any blue cloud either.
>
> I'm not complaining mind you, but I am curious why the difference.
>
> Driving has been about the same, in-town trips mainly to work and back.
> Commute is 10 miles one way for me, 7 for her. I leave the car in the lot
> all day; she generally runs one or two errands. I tend to be a much more
> aggressive driver; unlike me, she rarely accelerates hard enough to kick
> the transmission into low. Outdoor temperatures - hey, this is Central
> Texas. Hot, hot and D***ed hot, throughout.
>
> For the record, there's no evidence of either coolant or gasoline in the
> oil; motor oil remains clear and smells normal. Fuel mileage and engine
> temperatures are normal. No white or black smoke in the exhaust.
> --
> Mike Harris[/color]

I think you answered the question. It's your driving. My ex would sometimes
complain about her car idling funny. The car was too new to behave like a
two year old Chrysler mini-van. We'd switch cars for a day, and her car
would run fine afterward. Whenever I asked our mechanic about it, he was too
busy to explain. He'd just say "Keep doing that. I'm not gonna take your
money for doing the same thing".

For absolutely irrefutable proof of this theory, open the vents any time
you're behind a corpse who's driving 23 mph in a 40 zone. Savor the smell.