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Normal Oil Consumption between changes

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Old Dec 28, 2024 | 04:06 AM
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Default Normal Oil Consumption between changes

Hey I am new with my 07 Base model bought it with 155k miles (250k km) Engine runs smooth no known issues so far.
About 2 months ago I changed the oil and filter myself using the 0W20 Kirkland due to the weather getting cooler (Canada) and drove mostly 90% highway, and if I remember correctly the level I left at oil change was close to MAX with the engine warmed and waiting at least 10-20 min to check. I kinda forgot about it and drove around 2000 miles or 3200km then the other day just doing a normal oil check with the engine cold, about -12 degrees Celsius or 10-F in my garage, no signs of oil in the dipstick, my jaw dropped I ended up adding another aprox 1,3 ish liter/quart to bring it back close to MAX and that I checked with the engine warm and again about 10 min after engine stopped.
I remember that on my other vehicles with smaller engines I'd loose about 1 liter or less between a 3800 mile (6000km) oil change interval, this oil consumption kinda scared me a bit.
Should I be worried?

Last edited by Rapha; Dec 28, 2024 at 04:08 AM. Reason: adding context to the maintenance history
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Old Dec 28, 2024 | 07:05 AM
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These engines can use a lot of oil as they get older, especially with a thin oil like a 0W20. When they are new they didn't use any oil. So unfortunately that is not unusual for that specific engine. I would check the oil once a week. I would consider bumping up to a 0W30 or a 5W30.
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Old Dec 28, 2024 | 08:42 AM
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Most likely your car previously was on longer oil change intervals with cheaper oil like dealer supplied or something similar to what you're using now, when you're using the amount you stated I don't think there's much you can do to improve it especially with the amount of fuel dilution this engine has if the car is mainly used for short trips or idles a lot.
You could try a better brand of oil and shorter oci's but that's not a cure, just a way to hide the issue.
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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
These engines can use a lot of oil as they get older, especially with a thin oil like a 0W20. When they are new they didn't use any oil. So unfortunately that is not unusual for that specific engine. I would check the oil once a week. I would consider bumping up to a 0W30 or a 5W30.
I thought about the 0W20 since it's winter now in Canada and temperatures are dropping significantly now, the manual states only 0W20 or 5W20 if I remember correctly, I don't think I saw 5W30 in the specificationns.

Originally Posted by Gerf
Most likely your car previously was on longer oil change intervals with cheaper oil like dealer supplied or something similar to what you're using now, when you're using the amount you stated I don't think there's much you can do to improve it especially with the amount of fuel dilution this engine has if the car is mainly used for short trips or idles a lot.
You could try a better brand of oil and shorter oci's but that's not a cure, just a way to hide the issue.
The car was only serviced by Lexus basically it's whole life and I don't think they missed the maintenance often but Toyota is recommending recently oil changes every 8k Km or 6k miles, in my opinion, that is a very long interval, even for Syntetic oils.
I did a bit of research before going for the Costco Kirkland oil and from what I could see it's a rebranded Mobil 1, so It's still a good reasonable high quality oil. unless this engine demands a specific brand or additives.

What would you say in terms of quarts a normal or average oil consumption for these engines? when should I be worried about worn out piston rings and seals?
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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 11:42 AM
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Oh also, my driving is basically highway around 70mph with very little idling about 60 miles each way to work
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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapha
What would you say in terms of quarts a normal or average oil consumption for these engines? when should I be worried about worn out piston rings and seals?
Well first of all I would start over and try to be more exact on how you're calculating oil consumption, start with the level being as close to the full mark as you can get it after sitting overnight then drive for 2- 3k kms or miles and then after sitting overnight again check and fill to the mark as before and do the math.

If you can't see any oil on the dipstick after 2000 miles or 3200km without any visible leaks (that's around 3 litres) imo you already have a ring problem.




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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Gerf
Well first of all I would start over and try to be more exact on how you're calculating oil consumption, start with the level being as close to the full mark as you can get it after sitting overnight then drive for 2- 3k kms or miles and then after sitting overnight again check and fill to the mark as before and do the math.

If you can't see any oil on the dipstick after 2000 miles or 3200km without any visible leaks (that's around 3 litres) imo you already have a ring problem.
Good point, I will do that. I am not gonna get desperate just yet haha, will try that, I drove around 500 km 300miles, checked the oil and didn't see any change on the level so far.
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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 09:36 PM
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My 07 LS 460 has 162,000 miles and it burns oil quite frequently now. I have to add a quart of oil almost every 500 miles or so.

I switched back to a 0W20 oil to see if the oil burning got worse, and the burning increased much faster than the 5W30 I had in it before. So I will go back to a 5W30 oil with this next oil change. I do a lot of highway with a mix of heavy traffic driving as well, but I also live in an area where it’s very hilly, so all that uphill travel puts additional stress on the engine, thus increasing the rpm’s which makes the oil burning worse.

Plus with all the hills, my front brake rotors are already warped in less than 2 years of changing them. I can’t wait to move to a city with flatter roadways and no mountains.

BTW has anyone here used 5W40 oil in your 460? And if so, did it cause any issues?

Last edited by FlexnLexus; Dec 30, 2024 at 09:38 PM.
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Old Dec 30, 2024 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapha
I did a bit of research before going for the Costco Kirkland oil and from what I could see it's a rebranded Mobil 1, so It's still a good reasonable high quality oil.
It says on the box it’s manufactured by Warren oil, I have never used it. Here’s the review from project farm.



Last edited by Gerf; Dec 30, 2024 at 11:38 PM.
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Old Dec 31, 2024 | 05:04 PM
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2007 with 168k, when I bought it it ate a quart in about 800-1100 miles. Uses zero now
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Old Jan 1, 2025 | 01:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Striker223
2007 with 168k, when I bought it it ate a quart in about 800-1100 miles. Uses zero now

What did you do differently for it to stop using so much oil?
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Old Jan 1, 2025 | 08:24 AM
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You may be a candidate for a couple of oil changes with this elixer....
I have never used it but if you read the comments of many that have commented after the video, it seems to have made a difference in oil consumption for many of the users.
In general , from my reading of other sites, doing a full engine flush is taking a chance that too much is dislodged too quickly and can lead to serious issues.
Check it out,
"Valvoline Restore and Protect"
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Old Jan 1, 2025 | 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Striker223
2007 with 168k, when I bought it it ate a quart in about 800-1100 miles. Uses zero now
Also interested to know what you did there please.
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Old Jan 1, 2025 | 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Lexicon1
You may be a candidate for a couple of oil changes with this elixer....
I have never used it but if you read the comments of many that have commented after the video, it seems to have made a difference in oil consumption for many of the users.
In general , from my reading of other sites, doing a full engine flush is taking a chance that too much is dislodged too quickly and can lead to serious issues.
Check it out,
"Valvoline Restore and Protect"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyyZDghgdCI&t=5s
I will think about it, but I don't think there's any sludge in my engine, usually you can see clear signs of sludge on the oil cap, and by simply looking inside on the valve cover, mine looks clean too, I will do another oil change with the kirkland one and analize more precisely how much oil it's taking. I'm just not sure how this engine is supposed to be checked, I always knew it was supposed to be with a cold engine first thing in the morning but the CCN said a few times that the Lexus engine has to be checked warm, I assumed after a few minutes so the oil comes down fully to the pan.
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Old Jan 1, 2025 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Rapha;11840626,
I assumed after a few minutes so the oil comes down fully to the pan.
If you're just doing a regular planned oil change then a few minutes is fine but when trying to get a better guesstimate on oil consumption it wont hurt to let it sit overnight,
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