Excessive Oil Consumption in Trueno GT-Apex 1991

The car is Toyota Trueno GT-Apex 1991. It has 236,000km on it. It needs
topping up with 1 liter of oil after approximately 3 to 4 hundred
kilometers driving.

Is there any way to deduce whether it's the valve guides, valve seals
or piston rings (or something else) without taking it apart? Am hoping
it is something cheap and easy, but the high km's would suggest
otherwise?

There are no oil leaks on the ground, it doesn't seem to smoke under
normal driving conditions, but it does put out a lot of blue smoke at
higher rpm's (over 6000 rpm). There is some leakage of oil coming out
of the seals on the top of the head. On cold nights it smokes for 10ish
minutes after start-up, but is hard to tell what colour the smoke is.
(Is assumed it is the oil again).

Have gone from 15-40 to 20-50, but has had only 1 liter in it so far.
Would the thicker grade make a noticeable difference over time? How
about some kind of oil additive?

<ridge_rockfield@yahoo.co.nz> wrote in message
news:1166611047.604090.143410@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> The car is Toyota Trueno GT-Apex 1991. It has 236,000km on it. It needs
> topping up with 1 liter of oil after approximately 3 to 4 hundred
> kilometers driving.
>
> Is there any way to deduce whether it's the valve guides, valve seals
> or piston rings (or something else) without taking it apart? Am hoping
> it is something cheap and easy, but the high km's would suggest
> otherwise?
>
> There are no oil leaks on the ground, it doesn't seem to smoke under
> normal driving conditions, but it does put out a lot of blue smoke at
> higher rpm's (over 6000 rpm). There is some leakage of oil coming out
> of the seals on the top of the head. On cold nights it smokes for 10ish
> minutes after start-up, but is hard to tell what colour the smoke is.
> (Is assumed it is the oil again).[/color]

If there is more bluish or grey smoke at startup after sitting for several
hours than when the engine is warmed up, then the valve guide seals are
suspect.

If there is more bluish or grey smoke under hard acceleration, then the
piston rings are suspect. A cylinder leak-down compression and leak-down
check can provide further clues as to the condition of the rings.

If the coolant has oil mixed in or if the motor oil has a milkshake
appearance, then there can be a head or head gasket problem.

[color=blue]
>
> Have gone from 15-40 to 20-50, but has had only 1 liter in it so far.
> Would the thicker grade make a noticeable difference over time? How
> about some kind of oil additive?
>[/color]

Higher viscosity oil may reduce oil consumption if the problem is with valve
guide seals or piston rings, depending on the condition of the seals and
rings. I am not a big fan of oil additives.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[email]ridge_rockfield@yahoo.co.nz[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Am hoping
> it is something cheap and easy[/color]
================
Check for a restricted PCV valve

An inexpensive cylinder compression check would seem to be in order,
followed by a cylinder leak down test if one or more cylinders is
reading low. Oil or carbon on a spark plug (which is very easy to
check) can indicate leaky valve seals. The Q&A on this page may help -

[url]http://www.2carpros.com/topics/compress.htm[/url]


[email]ridge_rockfield@yahoo.co.nz[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> The car is Toyota Trueno GT-Apex 1991. It has 236,000km on it. It needs
> topping up with 1 liter of oil after approximately 3 to 4 hundred
> kilometers driving.
>
> Is there any way to deduce whether it's the valve guides, valve seals
> or piston rings (or something else) without taking it apart? Am hoping
> it is something cheap and easy, but the high km's would suggest
> otherwise?
>
> There are no oil leaks on the ground, it doesn't seem to smoke under
> normal driving conditions, but it does put out a lot of blue smoke at
> higher rpm's (over 6000 rpm). There is some leakage of oil coming out
> of the seals on the top of the head. On cold nights it smokes for 10ish
> minutes after start-up, but is hard to tell what colour the smoke is.
> (Is assumed it is the oil again).
>
> Have gone from 15-40 to 20-50, but has had only 1 liter in it so far.
> Would the thicker grade make a noticeable difference over time? How
> about some kind of oil additive?[/color]

It would seem that a blocked PCV would be more likely to cause a leaky
valve cover gasket, and that would be very noticeable with the kind of
oil use noted by the OP. It's worth checking but doubtful as a primary
cause IMHO.


[email]nospampls2002@yahoo.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> [email]ridge_rockfield@yahoo.co.nz[/email] wrote:[color=green]
> > Am hoping
> > it is something cheap and easy[/color]
> ================
> Check for a restricted PCV valve[/color]

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 02:37:27 -0800, ridge_rockfield wrote:
[color=blue]
> The car is Toyota Trueno GT-Apex 1991. It has 236,000km on it. It needs
> topping up with 1 liter of oil after approximately 3 to 4 hundred
> kilometers driving.
>
> Is there any way to deduce whether it's the valve guides, valve seals or
> piston rings (or something else) without taking it apart? Am hoping it is
> something cheap and easy, but the high km's would suggest otherwise?
>
> There are no oil leaks on the ground, it doesn't seem to smoke under
> normal driving conditions, but it does put out a lot of blue smoke at
> higher rpm's (over 6000 rpm). There is some leakage of oil coming out of
> the seals on the top of the head. On cold nights it smokes for 10ish
> minutes after start-up, but is hard to tell what colour the smoke is. (Is
> assumed it is the oil again).
>
> Have gone from 15-40 to 20-50, but has had only 1 liter in it so far.
> Would the thicker grade make a noticeable difference over time? How about
> some kind of oil additive?[/color]


Is there oil on the frame near the oil pan?

I am assuming you have the 4A-GE engine that was in the '84 and up Truenos
(Corolla GT-S here in the states). Mine had oil pan bolts that were coming
loose. I tighten them about every 30,000 miles. It also happened on the
car before that one, an '80 TE72. That's where I first noticed the oil.
When I started losing a quart every 7-900 miles with the GT-S, I found the
pan bolts were loose.

Thanks to all who replied. The coolant looks fine, so can theoretically
eliminate a head gasket problem. And there is no leak evident in the
engine bay other than a small bit on the top of the head. A minimal
amount - not looking like a quart every 250 odd miles.

Unfortunately the car isn't worth enough to justify any moderate to
large spend on the engine. Especially given other Warrant Of Fitness
(roadworthiness certificate) bits and pieces that need doing. Used
Japanese imports are very cheap to pick up in this country. There are
no tariffs on them (no local car industry in New Zealand to protect).

It will be a shame to let this piece of 'Toyota Sprinter' lineage die.
As an aside it is indeed a 4A-GE, 1600cc DOHC. I might try to find a
leak down gauge and test the cylinders. Who knows, they might surprise
and check out fine. But the signs do seem to point towards worn piston
rings.

Thanks again...

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:42:33 -0800, ridge_rockfield wrote:
[color=blue]
> Thanks to all who replied. The coolant looks fine, so can theoretically
> eliminate a head gasket problem. And there is no leak evident in the
> engine bay other than a small bit on the top of the head. A minimal amount
> - not looking like a quart every 250 odd miles.
>
> Unfortunately the car isn't worth enough to justify any moderate to large
> spend on the engine. Especially given other Warrant Of Fitness
> (roadworthiness certificate) bits and pieces that need doing. Used
> Japanese imports are very cheap to pick up in this country. There are no
> tariffs on them (no local car industry in New Zealand to protect).
>
> It will be a shame to let this piece of 'Toyota Sprinter' lineage die. As
> an aside it is indeed a 4A-GE, 1600cc DOHC. I might try to find a leak
> down gauge and test the cylinders. Who knows, they might surprise and
> check out fine. But the signs do seem to point towards worn piston rings.
>
> Thanks again...[/color]


Now, you aren't Nick, are you?

> Now, you aren't Nick, are you?

Nah, thats not me...

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:46:53 -0800, ridge_rockfield wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
>> Now, you aren't Nick, are you?[/color]
>
> Nah, thats not me...[/color]


Aw, well. Nick is a sorely missed (By me, anyway) member of our group from
a few years ago. He spoke with the wisdom of a guy I know who has been
rebuilding Toys for 30 years; imagine my surprise when I learned he was 19!!!
I'm almost 50 and I don't know as much as Nick does! He is from NZ also;
has a Fiero (Pontiac) converted for RHD.

Well, welcome aboard!