Avensis Hatchback 1.8 2001 Burning Oil

[raymondwalter]

Hi I have recently bought a 2001 toyota avensis hatchback 51 plate and have noticed it is using about a litre of oil every 800 miles. I have been told that this model had a modified head gassket introduced to overcome this problem but when I spoke to Toyota world in birmingham they said the modified gasket was for 56 plates onwards and want £102 to do a diagnostic check. The car has only done 66000 miles. Does anybody know about this problem or gove me some advice

Thanks

Raymondwalter

[talldave]

Sounds like the dreaded oil consumption problem that early vvti's suffer from. Suggest you search this forum for "oil consumption". Good luck.

[t-spiritpete]

Hi I have recently bought a 2001 toyota avensis hatchback 51 plate and have noticed it is using about a litre of oil every 800 miles. I have been told that this model had a modified head gassket introduced to overcome this problem but when I spoke to Toyota world in birmingham they said the modified gasket was for 56 plates onwards and want £102 to do a diagnostic check. The car has only done 66000 miles. Does anybody know about this problem or gove me some advice

Thanks

Raymondwalter

Hi mate sorry to say that it's the piston rings that are at fault, a common thing with the early VVTI engines. The car is too old now to get any help from Toyota so you will need to put up with it I'm afraid. At 800 miles per litre of oil you are lucky so if it stays that that's not too bad really as some are much worse. The chances of getting a second hand engine that's not got the same problem is remote and a rebuild of your one will be a lot of money.

Top tip for you, when they fitted a modified short engine under warranty it included a modified dip stick tube to allow an extra pint of oil so when you top up take it just over the full mark and this may help the problem of running low on oil if you say don't top up for 1000 miles by mistake, keep your eye on it though.

Regards Pete.

[Thermal]

Hi,

You may get a quote here, http://toyota.reconditioned-engines.co.uk and then decide if the car is still worth it...

They even collect the car and fit it for you.