Furious - Oil Issue Again

[familyfitz]

Have posted previously on this but 2000 Avensis 1.8 VVTi estate has been going through it's 1000 mile oil check following reported oil loss between services.

Had it checked on Tues and they say it 'only' lost 500mls oil in 1000mls so no action to be taken. The dipstick was at max after they put in oil to start the test, and halfway between min and max when I took it back.

We were alerted to the problem when the oil light briefly came on at end of March, checked the oil and the dip stick wasn't wet - very lucky escape.

How can they say there isn't a problem.

been told to follow it up with Toyota themselves which I will do.

So much for loyalty to Toyota. We are on our third Toyota all serviced there (not always bought due to their inability to source what we wanted) and the one with the probelm having an extended warranty which runs out in September. My wider family are alo Toyota drivers - I learnt to drive on a Toyota corolla estate which was 10 yrs old at the time and only eventually was scrapped by my parents due to rust.

I was told yesterday that at nearly 5 yrs old my car was getting on and so oil loss was to be expected. That is not what we are led to believe with Toyotas and why I buy them. Long lasting, reliable cf to other cars.

Even worse is we have just bought another 1.8VVti estate (03 plate) so no doubt this will happen again on this car.

What a hassle - all they could offer was to top up the oil for us free of charge, and replace an ignition switch which they say wasn't working right but which we have been having no problems with.

Sorry, just had to rant.

Now for my letter to Toyota.....

Can anyone give me the right address (those who have had success in chasing them up).

Ta

sara

[Black Knight]

1/2 a litre in 1000 miles is not that bad, particularly considering it's a 5 year old engine. I'd be more worried about the oil pressure light having come on!!

Suppose it's a sign of the times but I grew up being taught you checked your fluids and tyres at least once a week because cars use oil, and tyre pressures change with weather

[jamesholden]

1/2 a litre in 1000 miles is not that bad, particularly considering it's a 5 year old engine. I'd be more worried about the oil pressure light having come on!!

←

I think a 5 year old engine using oil at almost any mileage is appaling. Out of all the car's we've ever had the only one to ever use any oil was an Audi, but all the other proper cars like Honda's, Nissan's, Toyota's, Lexus even Vauxhall's never used a drop.

I think it's more to do with the fact that since Toyota has gone after profit and market share they have let things slip and the VVT-i range of engines in particular the 1.8 is just a weak unit, I know a lot of people who have worked in the taxi business and the superior old school non VVT-i engines used to run forever and were smoother (i've had lots of experience of both), I even know of a 17 year old 1.6 Carina II still going strong at over 400,000 miles and never uses a drop.

[Black Knight]

Best mates Audi A6 - 1 Litre/ 1000 miles (perception is premium brand) - 2 years old/30,000kms

Several people at work with Pugs/citroens/renaults. Couple of those were using 1/2 litre/1000miles from new (Typical french motors)

Mazda RX-8 is well renowned for using over a litre/1000miles (although granted that's a total loss system) and you can't really compare

All engines are going to have varying oil consumption rates after 5 years dependant on running conditions/care.

One mates Avensis blew up and he was pretty aggrevated despite the fact he never got the thing serviced and caned it everywhere.

I've seen endless Fords/Vauxhalls about 4-5 years old beeing thrashed down motorways with blue exhaust smoke obviously burning oil.

It's very subjective as to what you feel is high oil consumption and acceptable.

You make a good point, some engines are better than others but you can't expect any to run forever without starting to wear in one way or another

[Zz24hours]

I'll have to agree with Familyfitz. None of my previous Toyotas (Corolla '90 - 210.000km, Corolla '95 - 130.000km and Carina E '92 - 280.000km!) used a drop of oil.

Don't expect my brand new Avensis to use any either - and if it does, I'll be dissapointed

[familyfitz]

I think there are two main points here

A) we bought toyota as we know from past experience that they are / were reliable cars standing above most others for how long they last etc. To suggest a Toyota is getting on at under 5yrs old and 65,000 miles is completely against the grain for what we know and have come to expect from a Toyota....in light of recent events that is changing but unfortunately not early enough to have prevented us buying another 1.8 VVti engined estate!

B) They know / and we know there is a big problem and to say nothing is wrong when the car uses almost all it's oil between services when it never has needed any before is ridiculous. And there mucking about is just delaying an inevitable job which they will try to push beyond warranty cover. So much for loyalty.

I stress this car has always been serviced and maintained as it should be.

Sara

[Avensis wagon]

I'm not sure there's a need to have doubts about your latest car. It would seem that the machining tolerances were off on some of the early 1.8 engines -- pre or up to 2002. Some talk of bore, others of piston rings, but I suspect that's because larger piston rings are a cheap way around it. It doesn't seem to be a flaw in the design if there are few problems of this kind with newer engines, so it's not that the 1.8 VVT-i is a flawed engine as such, it's that a few badly made ones got through in the early days. Very unfortunate for the owners concerned. It's a pity you couldn't have traded your old car in against your latest purchase -- after all, the dealer says there's nothing wrong with it. It might be worth looking at getting rid.

If I were to make a small critism of the engine in general, it's that we're all suppose to say '000h, VVT-i, flattens the torque curve, more power at lower revs. Fact is that the previous engines had to be revved quite high to get any real go out of them, and the VVT-i has helped a little but doesn't actually make a mind-blowing difference. The petrol engines still have to be at 4,000 to 5,000 revs to accelerate decently, at which point they sound almost as harsh as before. Nice enough engines, but not exactly wow. Volkswagon's new FSI engine is something else -- the 2.0 litre gives 150 bhp, more importantly peak torque at 3,500 revs and has fantastic fuel economy, and you can even get it in a Skoda! (admittedly, that last part put me off)

[Black Knight]

I seem to remember the owners manual saying that the engine might use upto 1litre/1000miles somewhere (can't remember if it's in oil spec or regular maintenance). If I'm right on that then how can the dealer say there is something wrong with it when the useage is inside of guidelines? I believe that this is the spec dealers work to.

I do agree with Avensis Wagon on looking to trade the car though. As I mentioned earlier your oil pressure warning light came on. If that's happened your engine has probably already had some level of oil starvation to the bearings. IF that has happened it could start to cause expensive problems in the not too distant future.

[thiambal]

Have posted previously on this but 2000 Avensis 1.8 VVTi estate has been going through it's 1000 mile oil check following reported oil loss between services.

Had it checked on Tues and they say it 'only' lost 500mls oil in 1000mls so no action to be taken. The dipstick was at max after they put in oil to start the test, and halfway between min and max when I took it back.

We were alerted to the problem when the oil light briefly came on at end of March, checked the oil and the dip stick wasn't wet - very lucky escape.

How can they say there isn't a problem.

been told to follow it up with Toyota themselves which I will do.

So much for loyalty to Toyota. We are on our third Toyota all serviced there (not always bought due to their inability to source what we wanted) and the one with the probelm having an extended warranty which runs out in September. My wider family are alo Toyota drivers - I learnt to drive on a Toyota corolla estate which was 10 yrs old at the time and only eventually was scrapped by my parents due to rust.

I was told yesterday that at nearly 5 yrs old my car was getting on and so oil loss was to be expected. That is not what we are led to believe with Toyotas and why I buy them. Long lasting, reliable cf to other cars.

Even worse is we have just bought another 1.8VVti estate (03 plate) so no doubt this will happen again on this car.

What a hassle - all they could offer was to top up the oil for us free of charge, and replace an ignition switch which they say wasn't working right but which we have been having no problems with.

Sorry, just had to rant.

Now for my letter to Toyota.....

Can anyone give me the right address (those who have had success in chasing them up).

Ta

sara

My newly bought 2000/x has just gone over the 5 year mark. I am concerned that is may develop the dreaded oil problem. Did you get anywhere with Toyota on this issue?