Sell or keep?

Typically an engine that is burning oil will also have a bluish (sometimes grayish) tint smoke coming from the exhuast during acceleration and deceleration. Cam tower leak generally doesn't result in that much oil loss (unless you're seeing it on the ground).

My vote is to keep it and drive the shit out of it since you still have a warranty on it. In the meantime, figure out what the threshold is or what the testing standards would be for the warranty to kick in and accept that the oil consumption is enough to trigger testing and possibly repair. Oftentimes, it is thought that burning a qt of oil every 5k isn't 'unacceptable'. So, at this point, without any additional tests or symptoms, they may not even try to diagnose or repair under warranty.

 

After 300k on my first one and just under 100k on my current one, I couldn’t tell you if it burned oil or not. I put in ~8.5 quarts at every oil change. I know that I don’t drain out 8.5 quarts when I do the oil change (honestly don’t recall how much does come out). But the dip stick always is somewhere between the high and low marks and that’s been all I’ve worried about…

I have never had a rig that drained out as much oil as what I put into it fresh when I changed the oil. So I haven’t ever really been concerned… it’s definitely not like an 80’s Subrau - if it wasn’t burning oil it was because you were out.

 

Ouch, that Subie comment hurts, haha.... but yea, it is either you have oil or you don't, nothing in between.
But yea, I put around 8.5qt in and never get that out, unless I drop the pan and I have no desire of doing anytime soon, due to just too messy and working on an incline driveway this isn't exactly easy and mess-free.
Now this can of worm has been opened, guess I will be watching that dip stick like hawk....

 

Is the warranty Toyota factory or aftermarket?

 

I got it through Toyota, so Toyota warranty.

 

My daughters Subaru forester eats oil so I change it every 3500 miles…..and I never get out what I put into the tundra (2019 with 110k miles). I don’t worry too much since it runs like a top. I usually put 8 quarts in and measure the dipstick and add if necessary after the run to recycle the oil.

 

I worked as a dealer tech for a couple of different Japanese car brands over the years. Both had literature stating that burning less than 1 quart per 1000 miles was acceptable and not grounds for a warranty repair/replacement. I'm not saying I agree with that policy but I'd be surprised if Toyota would consider 1 quart per 5000 miles excessive and if Toyota says that's OK I'd suspect the warranty company will say if Toyota says it's OK then we're not fixing it.

 

How old is that Forester? I had a 2018 but didn't notice if it was eating that much.... I just did oil change every 5K....

 

Switch to 5w30 it’s normal for the 5.7 to burn oil since it uses 0w20 and has low tension piston rings if you google it you’ll see it’s quite common and since most folks don’t check their oil level between changes you don’t hear about people bitching about it as much

 

177k on my 2013. 5k OCI 0W20
Add 8.5 drain 7.5 pretty consistently for a decade.

 

I always thought most Subies leak it rather than burn it.

 

I swear I didn't drink it....

 

It’s a 2012 and they’re notorious for it apparently. About 2 quarts.

 

Oh yea, that age Subie drink it like whiskey.....

 

Does it wander in the lane on the highways, though?

 

Nope, because it struggles to even enter the highway, much less maintain highway speed. Or speeding, either or, nothing in between.

 

The hypocrisy of SAIS, catalytic converters, and 0W20 oil in the face of literally lighting a quart of oil on fire every month for the average driver as being “acceptable” is laughable. My 2000 4.7 doesn’t seem to use a drop between annual 5-6k oil changes. Dipstick is always on full.

 

Your 2000 was built before the manufacturers were try terrible ideas like low tension rings to meet ever stricter EPA requirements.

 

Amen brother. Amen.

 

Up to around quart every 5k? I would just keep it. Spend the 3 bucks on oil and the 5 minutes of time it would take to add oil every 2000 miles.

I would make sure it is burning oil/rings.

I would realize an extended warranty will not cover the repair now or in the future. Are you sure "Toyota" sells a warranty untill 170k? Sounds more like the dealer teamed up with Ice Tea for a warranty that hardly ever pays claims.

I would realize if this really bothers me I should buy new vehicles and trade them in every 3 to 5 yeras so I have a factory warranty.

 

With the exception of the 124, I haven't owned a car that needed the oil topped off between changes. My heel-toe downshifts increased oil consumption from 4 oz to 8 oz in about 7k miles.

 

I don’t believe the 5.7s use low tension rings.

Im getting ready to do a 5K oil change on my Tundra in the next week or two, I’ll measure what comes out. Dip sticks are good for making sure you have enough oil, not for accurate measurement of consumption. This is the last run of 0w20 before I switch to 5w30, so I’ll do a comparison at the next oil change as well.

In the grand scheme of things, 1/8.5 quarts of 0w20 over 5K miles is almost insignificant. As long as it stays consistent, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.

 

I appreciate all of the responses.

 

So what's your game plan?

 

Seems like the consensus is that they do use oil in between oil changes however I will confirm what should be the threshold with my dealership and just be happy.

I do have an extended warranty through Toyota Financial until 170k so I have peace of mind for a while. I’ll sell/trade-in when i get closer to 170k.