Generation 3 oil consumption

All our Hondas over the years would be down 2~3 cups between changes. Never any better or worse, saw that as the norm.

 

My 2010 now has 152,000 miles. Oil has always been changed by the dealer every 10,000. My car ran flawlessly up until about 90,000-100,000 miles, then it started burning oil. It burns about 9.5 ounces/600 miles if there are long highway runs. If I am just running around town it burns 6.5 ounces/600 miles. Thinking about having oil changed every 5,000. Not quite what I was expecting with this vehicle, since my 2004 4Runner, with 151,000, doesn't burn any oil. My Prius also suffers from the marbles in a can starting issue, which it has done since 70,000 miles, and throws misfire codes once in a while. Having said all that the car has always gotten very good fuel mileage and has been dependable.

 

Had my 2011 serviced (oil/rotate) today at 140k. It was last changed at 130k. I put oil in it twice -- still some in the qt bottle. I checked the level this morning before it went in --- oil was down a tad ... about what remained in the bottle I would think.

So the car used about 1 qt in 10k

My 2015 CT will hit 10k in about 400 miles. Also checked this morning -- at most 1/4 down

 

Did the dealer use Toyota 0W-20, or some other oil?

 

What hump?

 

Young Frankenstein?

 

My 2010 has 172k and I have been adding 1 quart every week for about a year or two. Not sure what happened the first 40k but oil was changed around every 9k. I still change at 9k I figure with a quart going in every week the oil is still pretty clean. no leaks it just vanishes like magic. Dealer said they could rebuild but no guarantee that it would not burn oil at a lesser rate as it fits the expected burn in the manual (I forget the numbers, been a while). I drive about 150 miles a day mostly at 75MPH. Hate adding the oil but whatever with that many miles and still getting 43MPG I think the costs work out. Fingers crossed for hitting 200K then I will look for another used Gen3.

 

At roughly what mileage did oil consumption noticeably increase? What kind(s) of oil was used before then?

 

Maybe Danny can add an "OUCH!" button?

 

Dealer was servicing the car so what ever they put in (if they put it in) I started seeing oil consumption 2 years ago... the little light popped on in a turn then went away. I read that low oil level can cause this so I started monitoring it to set up my weekly routine. I now use Mobile1 15000 5w-30 the 0w-30 seems to disappear quicker. I tried 10w-30 but it was the same as 5 so I switched back. and for all oil vs. mpg talk I see no difference with the miles I drive... ECO mode floor it off the light and push up the hills still get 42-43 and if I drive it like a Prius I can still get 51-52 but I get bored driving like that.

 

yes, with long distance hwy driving, there would be hardly any difference. most of the difference is in short trip city driving cycle when oil is barely warm and very thick and lower viscosity makes a huge difference.

 

Took a trip last week to Branson from OKC. Turnpike driving 75+ went about 750 miles. Car burned 1/2 quart. When I first got the car, it had 84k miles and burned no oil that I could tell. Once it passed 100k is when I noticed it. Currently, it has 125k

 

Wonder if we should use a 5w20/30 or 0w40 except cold winter after 60K?.

Any test results with 5w20 on new car for MPG? Seems to me in hot climates it would be better to use a 5 weight oil.

 

The "W" stands for winter not weight. The lower the number, the better the oil flows at low temperature. The second number is the vicosity measured at 100 degrees C.

 

What's second gen, the original spec? 5W30?

 

What kind of oil was used between 84K and 100K, and how often was it changed?

My owner's manual cryptically warns "An oil with a higher viscosity [than 0W-20] may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds ... "

 

Think it was 5W20.

 

Toyota Tech info site was not working for me, but I found this in 2005 Owners Manual I'd downloaded previously. Not sure about later years, say 2009. There was a bulletin out too, I think: authorizing 0W20 for 2nd gen. Might be interesting to try 5W30, see what it does to mpg.

 

My son's 2006 Prius takes 5W30. We use synthetic.

 

Yep, time to switch back on the 2009 and maybe the 2011.