[hedly]

Hey all, so I’m sitting here at the dealership getting the oil changed and told him that it looked like the previous mechanic didn’t put enough in I had to put in almost 3 quarts about 3500 miles after the last oil change, the oil light came on(). He replied, saying that the four-cylinder engine in the 2013’s or notorious for earning well after about 120,000 miles. He then went and pulled the dipstick and showed me that the oil was down to the lower notch. When I filled it back up, it was somewhere closer to the higher notch.

So I searched the inter-webs and came across a few posts here about it. But it doesn’t look like it’s as common a problem as the technician stated.
So is there a consensus? Do these four-cylinder engines in the second generation Highlanders burn excessive oil after 100 or 120,000 miles?

and in case, you’re wondering, I’ve done regular maintenance on this vehicle. I have taken it to the dealership exclusively since we got the vehicle at a relatively young age and I wanted to keep it in the best shape. I don’t know what oil they used, but I assume they used whatever synthetic oil is recommended by the manufacturer. oil changes were done every 5000 miles.

 

[dcm0123]

I believe your 2.7L 4 is similar to the 2.5L 4 which is in my 2012 Camry since head gaskets and many other components are the same. I put in 5 quarts of 0W-20 oil when I change and drain out about 4.5 after 5K miles. I do not add oil between and have almost 150K on my engine.

It does not sound right that you would use 3 quarts in 3500 miles. Lets hear what others say. I believe the engine predominantly used in this vehicle is the 3.5L V6 so you may not recieve a lot of responses..

I would check the crank case vent system (PCV valve and all hoses) for blockage. Pulling a vacuum below the pistons help keep the oil from going past the rings.

Also check you oil level immediately after having it changed.

Has this vehicle been used for a lot of city slow speed driving?

 

[Gugi53]

I don't spend money on others, I check with the computer what is going on. Ken be so many things, including a head gasket. Good luck.

 

[hedly]

I believe your 2.7L 4 is similar to the 2.5L 4 which is in my 2012 Camry since head gaskets and many other components are the same. I put in 5 quarts of 0W-20 oil when I change and drain out about 4.5 after 5K miles. I do not add oil between and have almost 150K on my engine.

It does not sound right that you would use 3 quarts in 3500 miles. Lets hear what others say. I believe the engine predominantly used in this vehicle is the 3.5L V6 so you may not recieve a lot of responses..

I would check the crank case vent system (PCV valve and all hoses) for blockage. Pulling a vacuum below the pistons help keep the oil from going past the rings.

Also check you oil level immediately after having it changed.

Has this vehicle been used for a lot of city slow speed driving?

Thanks @dcm0123. I had seen other posts about the PCV valve. I'll check that tomorrow.

The mechanic filled it exactly to the top line. When I got home I checked it and took a photo. So I have the mileage and oil level recorded. I'll be monitoring it.

@Gugi53, it it was a head gasket I'd see oil leaking round the block and on to the driveway. Engine's clean.

 

[TruckerI5]

Thanks @dcm0123. I had seen other posts about the PCV valve. I'll check that tomorrow.

The mechanic filled it exactly to the top line. When I got home I checked it and took a photo. So I have the mileage and oil level recorded. I'll be monitoring it.

@Gugi53, it it was a head gasket I'd see oil leaking round the block and on to the driveway. Engine's clean.

Ya, the oil is going somewhere, if you do not see any visible oil leaks or seepage on the engine itself then it is going somewhere. I would maybe change out that PCV valve, they are cheap If it was clogged I would expect to see some oil leaks somewhere such as at your valve cover gaskets, maybe it is stuck wide open, not sure how much oil would let through over 3500miles. If it is an issue with blowby past one or more of your pistons, at that kind of consumption I would suspect you should be able to see an issue with your compression. A compression test is pretty easy to do and a cylinder compression test kit is pretty inexpensive. You would likely see quite a bit of contamination on the plug/s as well. the oil is diffidently going somewhere, just need to figure out where and why.

 

[underthehood51]

If you're not lifting the hood occasionally and checking some of it is on you. The 2.7 has not been known as an excessive oil consumer. However being a small engine in a large vehicle it's going to work harder than the 3.5 and by that nature will likely consume some as compared to the 3.5
Also as oil is consumed the rate of consumption gets even more so. So regularly running your engine low on oil will only hasten it becoming worse.
It just leaves me SMH that people don't bother to lift the hood once in a while

 

[Gugi53]

Not necessary. Can be between the water and the oil.

Thanks @dcm0123. I had seen other posts about the PCV valve. I'll check that tomorrow.

The mechanic filled it exactly to the top line. When I got home I checked it and took a photo. So I have the mileage and oil level recorded. I'll be monitoring it.

@Gugi53, it it was a head gasket I'd see oil leaking round the block and on to the driveway. Engine's clean.

 

[lyndmccormick]

I can’t speak directly to your newer I4 engine, but I had this exact problem with my ‘07 I4. The oil return holes clog in the pistons, under the rings. This caused my I4 to burn a quart of oil every 1000-1200 miles. There is a lot of history on this, search Toyota excessive oil consumption TSB. I’m not sure how long this problem existed beyond 07, but it’s worth checking. Toyota will repair it if you fall in that covered range. My car started it at 95k. The car had always been dealer maintained by the previous owner and it had a good maintenance pedigree. I had just bought the car about 2k before this happens and to this day I think that Seafoam caused the issue to instantly appear. It would have happened anyway, but I think Seafoam sped it up. The solution is new pistons. The dealer can replace the pistons without pulling the engine. A word to the wise, if you go this route, have valve seals installed at the same time to avoid the puff of blue smoke on startup.

 

[rustfarmer]

A trusted service advisor with many years at different makes tells me that most newer engines are being built "loose" to squeeze every mile per gallon out. He recommended using a product called B G Engine restore (pricey at $40 a quart) at next oil change. Get a quart low, add product, run at high idle for 10 minutes, shut down and cool completely. Restart and run 5 minutes, then change oil while hot. I did this on a Subaru and cut oil consumption in half. He recommends doing this again at next change. This product basically cleans pistons, rings and cylinder walls thus restoring compression.

 

[fjguercio]

motor oil is lubrication and cooling too. down 3.5 qts is a lot.
maybe enough to void any warranty claim

 

[lyndmccormick]

A trusted service advisor with many years at different makes tells me that most newer engines are being built "loose" to squeeze every mile per gallon out. He recommended using a product called B G Engine restore (pricey at $40 a quart) at next oil change. Get a quart low, add product, run at high idle for 10 minutes, shut down and cool completely. Restart and run 5 minutes, then change oil while hot. I did this on a Subaru and cut oil consumption in half. He recommends doing this again at next change. This product basically cleans pistons, rings and cylinder walls thus restoring compression.

BG are trusted products, I used to use them before I lost my connection. A friend of mine had BG MOA in his car and he lost control on ice and flipped it on its side. The motor never skipped a beat and kept running until the car was back on its wheels and we turned the key off.

 

[Bippy]

Hedley, how many miles on that Highlander? And how many miles on it when you bought it?
Sounds like an oil burner. Check the spark plugs, they should look ugly from burning that much oil.
The white deposits are ash and a sign of burning oil.

 

[ken2116]

Check out the possible reasons for oil burning, but No. 1: check your oil level regularly, even on a new car - things can change suddenly, or they can creep up on you - at some point as cars age they're likely to need oil between changes. Also check immediately after an oil service and again after a few miles, in case filter or drain plug weren't installed properly - it happens.

 

[Tarsun2]

the 2.7 4cyl has the power to move the HL and i think is a decent engine but as others have said, will need to work a bit harder.

that engine also has low tension piston rings (iirc) for that extra little MPG. its good for reduced resistance and increased fuel economy but not so good for longevity and oil control.
the rings get stuck with carbon and sludge build up and no longer seal as good as they should.


the pcv is cheap and easy to replace, but if that dosent do it, your options are limited.

 

[dcm0123]

the rings get stuck with carbon and sludge build up and no longer seal as good as they should.

.
Sounds like a good cleaner is needed

 

[Tarsun2]

theres no cleaning it without taking out the pistons.

do people still use seafoam? maybe worth a shot but its pretty much there for good.