how fast should the oil leak out...

[Tercel Lady]

if I need a valve cover gasket. I still hadn't gotten it done yet. I noticed two weeks ago it was 3/4s up the dipstick. So I didn't add any, as I wasn't going to be driving much more than 8 or 10 miles a day. I checked it today, and it was nearly empty on the dipstick, below the "low" level.

is that par for the course when you need a gasket, or is this something worse?

[Donald]

There might be a difference in the oil hight on the dip-stick if the car is not on relatively level ground, or between a hot and cold engine, so try to find a good spot to do your check and use that same spot as much as possible, also try and do it always hot, or always cold. How much oil do you need to bring it back up to the full mark? Once it is at the right level, record the miles and see how many miles you get per quart / litre added. That is the best way to know if your consumption is excessive or not. Also check the ground where you park to see if you have a large puddle.

A normal engine can consume as much as 1 quart per 1000 miles under extreme conditions, but that is at the limit of acceptability by some manufacturers. For an engine with no leaks, a rate of consumption of 1 quart or less per 3000 miles is prefered.

[Tercel Lady]

Yikes. For me, it is just a few hundred miles for a quart.

Maybe the guy who changed the valve cover gasket a half dozen years ago didn't get it right in the first place?

Before that, I never had any problems till one day it was bone dry and they told me I needed a valve cover gasket. After that, I have had to always add oil all the time in very few miles.

[NickR]

If it's leaking that much, you will see a lot of oil on the ground under your car.

[Tercel Lady]

I don't, though. I would have noticed.

[89toyota4x4]

If you are losing that much oil and dont see any on the ground under the car, you are probably burning the oil. Do you see blue smoke when you start the car for the first time in the morning? Or maybe when accelerating hard, in your rear view mirror?
My 91 tercel with the 3E-E got to where it was going through a quart every tank of gas...and is currently parked in the back yard.

[Donald]

Might be time for a new engine or a rebuild.

[Celler]

If its 3EE then expect nothing but loose oil in any way. It burns oil and leacks oil....And fun part the older it gets the more leacks it gets and it leacks from every possible hole lol. I never seen any other motor I mean non 3EE that leack as much or burned oil. 3EE they all do it I think they were designed like that with oil over use in mind lol. I was going to rebuild mine and put all the new gaskets and seals in there. But in the end its not worth it. 3EE its just a weak oil burnning and no power producing motor that not worth the time or money. Mine just hit 210K. I think swap is in order lol.
I will still keep the 3EE around, put the rebulding of it on my ToDo list and loos that list ASAP lol.

[kamesama980]

again: probably time for a rebuild. when it went dry, the stem seals or rings were probably damaged, allowing more oil to leak and be burned. im in the same boat with my cressida 5mge. leaks oil till it goes dry, damaging oil seals, allowing more oil to leak, etc etc. i keep a close eye on it. i always check before i drive it in the morning (or whtaever time of day) and on level ground.

[Tercel GTS]

If you think your car can make it down here I have a very low mileage 3EE that I'd like to sell cheap and can install it for you in one day for a very reasonable price. Zip code is 31406, tell me if you're interested.

[Tercel Lady]

That's very sweet, but I live in New Jersey. I think I shall try the valve cover gasket fix and then when I have more $$$, the valve seal replacement.

The dream is to get a full-time permanent job and start socking away for a new car....dreaming of a prius but it's a long way to $21K!!!

Thanks, guys.

You really don;t think the valve cover gasket and seals would help?

Oh, yeah, I was exaggerating when I said down to dry. Not "dry dry" but really really low. And didn't drive around with it like that for more than the amount of time to read the idiot light coming on and adding oil in a business dress in a parking lot!

I always carry oil in the trunk because of that experience. But I don't have to check it every day. It's more like, depending on how many miles, every three or four weeks.

A guy I met while waiting for the DMV inspection in NJ (which is a biggg deal) told me he installed seals on his sister's tercel and he would do mine for a good deal...I thought I was gonna fail because of the blue smoke. But I didn't, I had warmed the car up. Instead, I failed because the top break light, the one in the rear window, was out and I didn't even know it!! ANyway, I have his card somewhere...can't find it though. I don't know if he runs a garage, or is just a guy who monkeys with cars...

[timothyc1984]

im going through the same thing driven 200 miles and it uses about a quart of oil...im thinking about overhauling the motor.

[jakprince]

Would 20W-50 help,or is it too thick?

[Emilyprw]

My '97 tercel burns oil too, and according to my bf the mechanic its just because it has highmiles. SO i just keep oil in the trunk at all times. Does your car have high miles?

[Camry005man]

My 91 Tercel not only burns oil but very small leak too, with only 14000km. I will give it up soon because it makes me so busy every weekend. I decided to get Honda Civic Coupe for my wife and son with AC, summer is coming soon. I like Toyota, but my son, he likes Honda. So it's up to who is going to use it. I am very happy with my Camry.
As for Tercel, most of them with burning oil. I think it's not worth to fix it.