My 10 year old Lexus IS350 has 92K miles. This car was taken to the Lexus Dealer to have an oil consumption test done due to the "low oil level" light coming on after ~1500 miles of driving. First off, the car does not blow any blue smoke upon start up or during driving. Secondly, the car has only the recommended viscosity oil and changed regularly. To be honest, I love everything about this car and this is incredibly disturbing to find this out.
THE RESULTS: I was told to drive it 1300 miles exactly. It was 1.5 quarts low after driving that recommended distance. Lexus Dealer/Service desk did acknowledge my IS350 was burning or consuming oil. Lexus Corporate paid the local Dealer to conduct a Leakdown test and compression tests ($500) with these results and recommendations:
CUSTOMER HERE FOR CONTINUATION OF OIL CONSUMP
TION TEST. 1278 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN PERFORMED A LEAK DOWN TEST, A DRY AND WET COMPRESSION TEST
CYL 1,2,3 BANK ONE HAVE 11% IO 12% LEAK DOWN WITH 145-150 PSI OF DRY AND 155-160 WET COMPRESSION TEST
CYL 2.4.6 BANK TWO HAVE 13-24% LEAK DOWN WITH 125-135 PSI OF DRY AND 150-165 PSI WET COMPRESSION TEST.
COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL. LEAKDOWN TEST SUGGESTS THAT THE CYLINDER WALLS MAYBE CORRUPTED... REQUIRING A BLOCK. ABOUT $7100. TEAR DOWN WOULD BE REQUIRED TO KNOW WHAT IT NEEDS FOR SURE.
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Finally, a Lexus Corporate Case Manager has contacted me stating they will not do anything further based on the results and the fact that the vehicle is out of warranty. I was very clear in stating this is a manufacturer defect where it's relevant to various Lexus and Toyota Camry model V6s. It's incredibly disappointing to find out about the problem and realize there is nothing they are willing to do. There was nothing they would do and it was pointless to argue. The replacement of the engine is almost as much as the car is worth. Then the question posed is "how many miles will this engine go before it burns oil?"
I could pay the Lexus Dealer to tear down the engine and no matter what they find: cylinder walls prematurely worn down (not my fault) or oil additive used causing cylinder walls/rings to wear faster (my fault.... Lexus will still do nothing about this problem!!!! If enough problems exist and people complain - then they will re-visit the possibility of replacing engines. For right now, the defect is acceptable and they are sitting on their hands!!!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO if you have this problem - call Lexus Corporate and voice your opinion. They will need a Lexus Dealer to verify your car is, in fact, burning oil. Sounds dumb, but they have to verify your claim. Once they do that, it's documented. Even if your vehicle is out of warranty, there is hope IF enough people complain, they might do an out-of-warranty repair.
My local Toyota Lexus Specialist shops recommends an oil treatment additive ran through the engine which they feel will help reduce the consumption but not limiting it. At this point, the engine is FU*@'D so I should do whatever I can to reduce the oil consumption.
THE RESULTS: I was told to drive it 1300 miles exactly. It was 1.5 quarts low after driving that recommended distance. Lexus Dealer/Service desk did acknowledge my IS350 was burning or consuming oil. Lexus Corporate paid the local Dealer to conduct a Leakdown test and compression tests ($500) with these results and recommendations:
CUSTOMER HERE FOR CONTINUATION OF OIL CONSUMP
TION TEST. 1278 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN PERFORMED A LEAK DOWN TEST, A DRY AND WET COMPRESSION TEST
CYL 1,2,3 BANK ONE HAVE 11% IO 12% LEAK DOWN WITH 145-150 PSI OF DRY AND 155-160 WET COMPRESSION TEST
CYL 2.4.6 BANK TWO HAVE 13-24% LEAK DOWN WITH 125-135 PSI OF DRY AND 150-165 PSI WET COMPRESSION TEST.
COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL. LEAKDOWN TEST SUGGESTS THAT THE CYLINDER WALLS MAYBE CORRUPTED... REQUIRING A BLOCK. ABOUT $7100. TEAR DOWN WOULD BE REQUIRED TO KNOW WHAT IT NEEDS FOR SURE.
*****************
Finally, a Lexus Corporate Case Manager has contacted me stating they will not do anything further based on the results and the fact that the vehicle is out of warranty. I was very clear in stating this is a manufacturer defect where it's relevant to various Lexus and Toyota Camry model V6s. It's incredibly disappointing to find out about the problem and realize there is nothing they are willing to do. There was nothing they would do and it was pointless to argue. The replacement of the engine is almost as much as the car is worth. Then the question posed is "how many miles will this engine go before it burns oil?"
I could pay the Lexus Dealer to tear down the engine and no matter what they find: cylinder walls prematurely worn down (not my fault) or oil additive used causing cylinder walls/rings to wear faster (my fault.... Lexus will still do nothing about this problem!!!! If enough problems exist and people complain - then they will re-visit the possibility of replacing engines. For right now, the defect is acceptable and they are sitting on their hands!!!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO if you have this problem - call Lexus Corporate and voice your opinion. They will need a Lexus Dealer to verify your car is, in fact, burning oil. Sounds dumb, but they have to verify your claim. Once they do that, it's documented. Even if your vehicle is out of warranty, there is hope IF enough people complain, they might do an out-of-warranty repair.
My local Toyota Lexus Specialist shops recommends an oil treatment additive ran through the engine which they feel will help reduce the consumption but not limiting it. At this point, the engine is FU*@'D so I should do whatever I can to reduce the oil consumption.