jvah1980

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I have a 2006 IS250. 128,000 miles on it. Never had TSB for piston rings / carbon build-up.

I will on occasion, typically if the car sits a few days without driving, get a few seconds of rough idle at start.

Today, my 'engine oil low' flashed on the screen for about 10 seconds and went away. I stopped and the oil level was JUST above the tip of the dip-stick. I added a quart and it came just above the first dot, so I'm guessing it needs about another quart to get it to full.

The oil was presumably changed within the past 1500 miles or so (although I can't be certain, I was told it was done when I purchased the car and the fluid looked fresh at the time).

There are no leaks or anything obvious. It seems to exhibit some of the carbon-build up issues. I guess my main question is, how completely screwed am I? Many of the threads are from 4 or 5 years ago, I don't see many recent threads.

If I add a quart ever 1000 miles, does that turn into 3 quarts ever 500 miles? Or a blown-engine in 3 months? How fast do these issues typically progress?

I've never had rough idle when car is warmed. The car drives smooth and feels great. I plan on only keeping it for about year until upgrading to something else.

What should I expect long-term with leaky piston rings / carbon build-up issues? What have others experienced that are outside of all extended warranties?

Thanks!

Zmon

iTrader: (2)

Any chance you have a blue puff of smoke out of the exhaust on a cold start after sitting overnight? If so, valve stem seals.

Any leaks on your valve cover?

edit: Could also be clogged oil return holes on the pistons, you'll be burning oil as badly as you are claiming. Had the same problem on old 07 Camry, the 2az-fe was notorious for that problem and Toyota finally started a service campaign to replace peoples pistons if they were burning more than a quart every 1200 miles last year.

jvah1980

Definitely no leaks on valve cover. No blue smoke I noticed, but never really looked for it either, so I will double check this in the morning.

jvah1980

Just to follow up, absolutely no smoke on cold start up. I stood outside the vehicle while someone else started the car. Nothing at all.

The good news (or not as bad), is I checked the oil properly on the cold car and it was just shy of the full dot, so in reality it was just a nudge over a quart low after 1200+ miles, not 2 quarts. As for now i"ll just keep an eye on it.

Thanks