Rav4 Oil Consumption

[Indium]

Hi guys,

We have an '07 Rav4 XT5. It has been using what seems like a hell of a lot of oil. We bought it a year ago from a Toyota garage and we have done about 8,000 miles since buying it. I have put in 6 litres of oil so far but it's just on the minimum line again. I have phoned the toyota garage as it's due for a service next week and they say that Toyota say 1litre of oil for every 1000 miles is acceptable!?!?!??!?! (not for me who buys it). This is strange as my previous car never needed topping up and it was a Ford Escort. There is no obvious smoke coming out of the exhaust and no oil spillages where we park the car, so I am baffled about where the oil actually goes.

I have a few questions I was hoping that someone could answer.

• Is this right? What do other Rav4 owners experience with this?
  
• A few of the posts that i have read on here discuss which oil to use. The dealer told us that we should use fully synthetic 0W30 oil. Where would they get this information as everything points towards 5W30 or 10W30 - even in the manual!
  
• What happens if 0W30 and 5W30 are mixed (I put in 0W30 like they said, but what if something else was in there).
  

Thanks in advance.

[anchorman]

Hi and welcome to the club

Yest it is quite normal for these new 2.2 diesels to use quite a lot of oil. The reason is not so much down to the engine but down to the oil. They are filled with 5W/30 semi synthetic and these oils have exceptional "clinging" properties where as the older mineral based oils would get wiped from the bores. The upside of this consumption is that it extends the life of the upper cylinder parts but it is a bit of a culture shock until you get used to the idea. Older cars would use oil from poor tolerances then we have become used to more modern engines that virtually eliminated consumption. Finding yourself back watching the dipstick seems a backward step but in fact it a positive one.

You need to watch your oil level carefully and it will be adversly affected by short and cold trips. However, it does get better as the engine beds in but the catch 22 situation is that bedding takes longer because the oil is better!!!

The recommended oil is 5W/30 semi synthetic although 0W/30 is acceptable. Fully synthetic oils can be used but they are expensive and you can expect the consumption to be worse still. Your dealer will be quite happy to sell it to you as it costs more but it is really a waste of money. Because of my very low mileage I change the oil twice a year in the spring and the autumn. It has now done 20k and the oil consumption has settled to about 1 litre per 5000 miles. It works out that it gets an oil change rather than a top up and I put that litre of oil towards the oil change. Changing the oil is quite easy and you can find instructions in the pinned section at the top of the RAV page;

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=81467

You haven't done any harm mixing the oils as described except to your bank balance. I pay about £18 including VAT for 5 litres of Morris's 5W/30 semi synthetic to give you some idea.

Incidentally my mate has bought a new Honda CRV with a 2.2 diesel and as well as the dealer going overboard on telling him to check the oil there are stickers all over the place. He just changed that from a new Merc B Class that drank oil!

[Indium]

Thanks for taking time for writing that response, I appreciate it. It also makes me feel a little better. It is a culture shock, but when I check the water levels, I'll check the oil as well. I have bought the Castrol edge as most people seem to say that you should buy the best you can afford and with an almost new Rav4 that has to be the best! :)

The oil consumption took me by suprise. I checked it when I bought it and I checked it again a few months later but the oil was a bit below the minimum line. I was quite suprised that there was no warning light in the car for it. I just hope there's no damage to the engine. But I keep a very close eye on it now. It's going in for it's 20,000 mile service next week. I guess (because of the price) that they will change the oil. Do I get to ask if I can have 5W30 semi-synthetic or do they have to stick to their own recommended oil?

Thanks for the howto document. I will bookmark it.

[anchorman]

The dealers I know use 5W/30 so it is certainly worth asking them and tell them it is your intention to use it for topping up. There is a low oil level light but it will indicate the oil is at the bare minimum you can operate the engine on the road (fairly level). There is also no low oil pressure light which in reality is a waste of time anyway as if that comes on when you are driving the engine is wrecked anyway.

Apart from a few little foibles you should enjoy your new car.

Regards.

[richwafta]

Glad I read this post as I am so used to not topping up on my previous cars, I hadn't bothered to check my pride & joy other than when I first collected it. (to busy polishing it and oiling the hinges) :D

Found the level on the minimum mark, so a quick dash to Halfrauds to get some 5 W 30.

Thanks for posting and definitely recommend any new owners to keep an eye on the oil levels

[shcm]

Pedant time! :D.

There is also no low oil pressure light which in reality is a waste of time anyway as if that comes on when you are driving the engine is wrecked anyway.

True, but don't forget for markets equipped with the multi-func display you should still get a warning like this:

[anchorman]

Pedant time! :D.

There is also no low oil pressure light which in reality is a waste of time anyway as if that comes on when you are driving the engine is wrecked anyway.

True, but don't forget for markets equipped with the multi-func display you should still get a warning like this:

Good point shcm but they wouldn't show until you had got to that situation unlike a "normal" oil light that you can watch go off when you start it. If anyone sees that low oil pressure sign they will have to think on their feet to avoid wrecking the engine as it will take only seconds. The best action is to take the load off the engine and if possible coast to a safe refuge. If this is not possible in the interests of safety then it is fingers crossed for no engine damage.

The best option is keep a beady eye on that oil!!!

[shcm]

Yup Anchorman, I'd grasped what you were on about first time. As I said, just being my usual pedantic self.

Odd thing is though, I usually deliberately watch the oil pressure light go out, first start after an oil change and I could have sworn I'd done that with the 4.3 too. I even had to go and check there wasn't the usual oil pressure lamp, 'cause, again, I couldn't actually remember.

Oh well, looks like it will be full blown Alzheimer's for me in about 10 years time then. By the way who are you anyway? What is this place?

(I check the oil once a week anyway......well at least I think I do).

[anchorman]

I think it is an instinctive thing - you start it up and watch all the lights go out. Your attention would only be drawn to one that stayed and thats not a bad thing!

[local hero]

I think it is an instinctive thing - you start it up and watch all the lights go out. Your attention would only be drawn to one that stayed and thats not a bad thing!

If iam honest i check my oil very rarely i kind of assume because i only do about 5000 mls between services that it won't need any, that said i checked it before Hoovie had it recently and it hadn't used any must have a check tomorrow.. PS my cab now has 120,000 mls on the clock + uses no oil at all

[enid's rav]

rav oil/ light flashed very quickly so took 3 or 4 times to read!!!!!!!!! could not get acea c1 so had to ring dealer!!!!!!up dating manual needed urgent no 5/30 or 10/40/for diesels. every 1000 miles gone back 30 years!!!!!!! about to tell toyota all buyers need to be advised before ordering!!!!! do F1 keep 1 ltr in case they run out mid lap!!!! lovely car spoiled!!!!

[bobby2011]

Hi and welcome to the club

Yest it is quite normal for these new 2.2 diesels to use quite a lot of oil. The reason is not so much down to the engine but down to the oil. They are filled with 5W/30 semi synthetic and these oils have exceptional "clinging" properties where as the older mineral based oils would get wiped from the bores. The upside of this consumption is that it extends the life of the upper cylinder parts but it is a bit of a culture shock until you get used to the idea. Older cars would use oil from poor tolerances then we have become used to more modern engines that virtually eliminated consumption. Finding yourself back watching the dipstick seems a backward step but in fact it a positive one.

You need to watch your oil level carefully and it will be adversly affected by short and cold trips. However, it does get better as the engine beds in but the catch 22 situation is that bedding takes longer because the oil is better!!!

The recommended oil is 5W/30 semi synthetic although 0W/30 is acceptable. Fully synthetic oils can be used but they are expensive and you can expect the consumption to be worse still. Your dealer will be quite happy to sell it to you as it costs more but it is really a waste of money. Because of my very low mileage I change the oil twice a year in the spring and the autumn. It has now done 20k and the oil consumption has settled to about 1 litre per 5000 miles. It works out that it gets an oil change rather than a top up and I put that litre of oil towards the oil change. Changing the oil is quite easy and you can find instructions in the pinned section at the top of the RAV page;

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=81467

You haven't done any harm mixing the oils as described except to your bank balance. I pay about £18 including VAT for 5 litres of Morris's 5W/30 semi synthetic to give you some idea.

Incidentally my mate has bought a new Honda CRV with a 2.2 diesel and as well as the dealer going overboard on telling him to check the oil there are stickers all over the place. He just changed that from a new Merc B Class that drank oil!

[Dippy]

Wow. I've gone from a 4.2 where I looked at the dipstick once a year - and it never moved - to a 4.3 T180 and I've never looked at the dipstick either.

We're probably on 5-6000 miles now.

Best go and check :o

[anchorman]

Wow. I've gone from a 4.2 where I looked at the dipstick once a year - and it never moved - to a 4.3 T180 and I've never looked at the dipstick either.

We're probably on 5-6000 miles now.

Best go and check :o

You might need a longer dipstick by now Dippy!!!

[HEMI]

10/40 semi synthetic,that fully synth stuff is too thin and it passes by the rings.I've been using it in our 4.2 for years with no oil loss

[OldSkoO1]

Hi Anchorman,

Why have you gone for the morris semi-synthetic stuff? I know you know a lot about these toyota cars and you must have gone for that oil for a reason. Has it won some awards or does it have a better make up then the other oils.

I was looking for some Shell Helix 5w/40 but as you recommended this and its a lot cheaper practically half price! http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/sc...hetic+Motor+Oil

[anchorman]

Hi Anchorman,

Why have you gone for the morris semi-synthetic stuff? I know you know a lot about these toyota cars and you must have gone for that oil for a reason. Has it won some awards or does it have a better make up then the other oils.

I was looking for some Shell Helix 5w/40 but as you recommended this and its a lot cheaper practically half price! http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/sc...hetic+Motor+Oil

Morris's used to supply the company I worked for during my apprenticeship and it is a true British family owned firm. All of the old classic car bods use Morris's but they now produce top notch oil for almost any application. It has a similar pedigree to one of these small companies that produce really good quality hifi stuff when we are more familiar with the big brand names.

If you phone them up they will spend as much time talking to you as they would a national fleet of buses. If you order £50 worth of oil at really competitive prices they will deliver it to your door FOC. On top of that the oil is very high spec and I have never heard of anyone who has dealt with them having anything but the utmost respect.

It is the kind of service that you would always want to get and where ever I can I always ask for it as first choice.

http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/scripts/default.asp

[Dippy]

Right, hoping I wasn't about to have a major problem I just went out and checked.

Car has it's right-hand wheels up on the pavement, so tilting slightly down to the left.

Car has now covered 5700km, oil is visible above the minimum mark - but not by much. I've no idea what the level was when they delivered it to me. As the dipstick is on the RH side of the car, presumably a bit more would show if the car was level. So no panicking yet but I'm pleased I read this thread.

The car gets a strange mix of use. I don't commute in it, but we live by a motorway and tend to nip up and down that a few junctions (5-15 miles) to get to many of our destinations, as much as any urban driving. And we don't hang about on the motorway (though that's as much due to the long-legged sixth gear as the engine power).

You lot should be ashamed of yourselves, scaring a poor old man like that... :help2: ;)

[anchorman]

Right, hoping I wasn't about to have a major problem I just went out and checked.

Car has it's right-hand wheels up on the pavement, so tilting slightly down to the left.

Car has now covered 5700km, oil is visible above the minimum mark - but not by much. I've no idea what the level was when they delivered it to me. As the dipstick is on the RH side of the car, presumably a bit more would show if the car was level. So no panicking yet but I'm pleased I read this thread.

The car gets a strange mix of use. I don't commute in it, but we live by a motorway and tend to nip up and down that a few junctions (5-15 miles) to get to many of our destinations, as much as any urban driving. And we don't hang about on the motorway (though that's as much due to the long-legged sixth gear as the engine power).

You lot should be ashamed of yourselves, scaring a poor old man like that... :help2: ;)

Its better to be safe than sorry.

If you pm me with your VIN no I will tell you which of the oil usage mods you engine was built with.

[OldSkoO1]

Hi Anchorman,

Why have you gone for the morris semi-synthetic stuff? I know you know a lot about these toyota cars and you must have gone for that oil for a reason. Has it won some awards or does it have a better make up then the other oils.

I was looking for some Shell Helix 5w/40 but as you recommended this and its a lot cheaper practically half price! http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/sc...hetic+Motor+Oil

Morris's used to supply the company I worked for during my apprenticeship and it is a true British family owned firm. All of the old classic car bods use Morris's but they now produce top notch oil for almost any application. It has a similar pedigree to one of these small companies that produce really good quality hifi stuff when we are more familiar with the big brand names.

If you phone them up they will spend as much time talking to you as they would a national fleet of buses. If you order £50 worth of oil at really competitive prices they will deliver it to your door FOC. On top of that the oil is very high spec and I have never heard of anyone who has dealt with them having anything but the utmost respect.

It is the kind of service that you would always want to get and where ever I can I always ask for it as first choice.

http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/scripts/default.asp

Thanks Anchorman, i thought you were going to say something like that

I too have a thing for small / independent / specialist or hobby product makers. Like you say with hifi, just last year i bought a valve amp from a small hifi company. In fact its just 1 guy who has designed a valve amp circuit and sent it out to china for assembly and it comes back into him for testing and then he sends them out. Service was better than first class, he rings me and it is the best sounding valve amp i've had the pleasure of owning.

So, i'm glad you said that, before i thought the only oil worth buying was Shell Helix :)