2010 Tundra Indecision - Oil Consumption

At a crossroads...I have a 2010 Tundra 5.7 with 215,000 miles on it - bought it (8) years ago with 127,000 miles on it and about a year ago, it developed the noted cam tensioner clang on cold starts but I have not heard it for the last month. In addition, it drinks about a liter of oil every (300) city miles but not if the miles are on the highway (suspected piston rings?) I am somewhat hesitant to perform the cam tensioner service as I just stuck an unexpected $6k into the truck (would not have stuck the $6k into it but I had the rear springs replaced and when they attempted to do the alignment, the rack & pinion had to be replaced due to extreme rust - truck lived most of it's life in Minnesota...)

I have followed all of the maintenance schedules since I owned the truck and if I do the service, I am fully aware I will have more money into the truck than what it is worth but I am more concerned about the potential relationship between the oil consumption and the cam tensioner and if it presents a safety issue?

 

Have you checked to see if you have the cam tower leak? It's something that can pop up on the 5.7s. Usually it's a weeping issue, but if it can develop into a larger leak over time.

Before delving to deep into the engine needs I would do a really thorough rust check on the frame. Especially the crossmember under the bed that the spare blocks. If your frame is shot, then it doesn't really matter what is going on with the engine.

 

A quart of oil every fill up is excessive consumption. It’s going somewhere. If it’s not leaking (shame, might actually help prevent some rusting wherever it soaks onto) then it’s burning. Pretty unusual for these.

 

You're right...the oil is definitely going somewhere and does not look like it is leaking out of the cam towers. Really going to miss that truck.

 

Could a PCV valve stuck open , allow enough oil to pass through it and cause that much consumption ?

 

That crossed my mind as well but the shop was not able to confirm.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Do you still own the truck ? Would be a cheap and easy fix , to find out if that's the problem.

 

What was the oil change interval if you know? Does sound like a stuck / gummed up piston ring.