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IS350 (2006) consuming oil

15K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Kevin923 
#1 ·
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.

*****************

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.
 

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#4 ·
Wow sorry to hear your problem with the IS350. My Integra LS has some oil leak as well so I add some nice synthetic oil every 2 or 3k miles.. Try using full synthetic Mobile 1 or Mobile 1 Extended performance. It will help keep the engine lubricated as these molecules stick to the metal better. Btw the pic of your '06 IS350 looks awesome!! Looks like mint condition. You must've taken good care of your car. Are you planning to sell it? I'm on the market for buying one. Did you lower this car? It looks good.


cheez
 
#5 ·
Ya this is common issue for Toyota Lexus Engine, true nothing they will do if our car out of warranty, it sounds like your piston ring is cracked in there it burns oil not leaks, when our car out of wack we on our own, couple things you should consider.

1, Use slick50 engine treatment
2, Use only Mobile 1 Synthetic engine oil (replace oil every 3000 miles or 5000 kms)
3, make sure your engine head and seal gasket not leak
4, Replace PCV Valve Cost 10$ at Lexus Dealership (USE ONLY OEM PCV its cheap and it works) you can replace by yourself it's easy.

I'm sure your piston rings are wacked that's why they recommend replacing the whole Engine, cheap fix is baby your Engine, refill oil every 2000 miles until you change, thats an option A ,Option B is buy a JDM used Engine online or check your local Shop i think it costs around 1000$ or less including labor.

Dealership wants 7000$ ? LOL WTF hahahahaha
 
#7 ·
Glad I stumbled across this thread...2011 IS 350 F Sport with 10,800 miles, bought new in March 2012 (stole it from the dealership for $37,000), as a leftover in the Northeast (all the dummies want AWD which is not necessary). I changed the oil at 1,000 miles and yearly every since with Mobil 1 0W-40 European Formula (use this oil and grade in every car/gas combustion engine I own including Snowblower, lawn tractor, generator, 2010 Corvette Z06) regardless of the manufacturer specified oil and weight. This grade of Mobil 1 is the ONLY one sold in the US that is a true group IV synthetic and the only one approved by BMW, AUDI, Mercedes, Porsche, VW etc since they require a true group IV synthetic for their engines....all the other Mobil 1's sold in the US ONLY are just highly refined dino oil allowed to be called synthetic in the USA only...they are NOT synthetics! My daughters 2001 Pontiac Grand prix 3.1 V6 just hit 200,000 miles and my Chrysler 300 3.5L V6 just hit 150,000 miles and both use Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro Formula....zero oil consumption and specified to use 10W-30 oil. I change the oil and filter in all my cars used regularly at 5,000 miles..
 
#9 ·
I have heard different things but from what I understand the Mobil 1 you buy in Walmart does not meet the requirements of European Car makers. you have to make sure the oil you buy is certify for use in European Cars like BMW, Mercedes , etc.

AMSOIL was the first synthetic oil manufacturer. Their Signature Series has always been a Group 4 base. In my opinion it is absolutely the best motor oil you can use. It's additive pack is the finest in the industry and that is what sets it apart from others, hence the added cost typically.

I just got a BlackStone Report back on a 7500k Oil change using AMSOIL 5W30 Signature series and they said they find more metal in Virgin Stock oil than they did in my used oil. They also said it's viscosity was unchanged and that they found no real solubles to speak of in it due to the superb filtration I must be using (Mobil 1 Filter).

They recommended that I run it another 2500k (7500k + 2500k) between changes and test again since there was little indication that it was degraded. I ran Amsoil in a 2002 Toyota Avalon for approx 400k. The car was sold to a acquaintance in 2012 and from what I understand it is still running.
 
#8 ·
Seems like very few mechanically inclined folks own Lexus. My IS350 2006, is going through a liter every 2000km. That's 5 liters between oil changes. Planning to do a leak down test too, but assumption is that rings need to be done.

The car is barely worth anything now with 240,000km on the clock. The proper way to do it would be to tear the engine down, bore it out, replace pistons, bearings, rings, gaskets, etc. But has anybody just tried pulling the heads and oil pan, take the rod caps off, and push the pistons out just far enough to replace with new rings, then shove them back in and put it all back together?? It's a bit of labour, but a heck of a lot cheaper than rebuilding the engine. If I get another 100,000km or so out of it I'm happy.
 
#10 ·
All Mobil 1 synthetic oil sold at Walmart OR any other outlet is exactly the same oil...go to Mobil's website and you can confirm. Please again read my statement above...Mobil 1 0W-40 EUROPEAN Formula ONLY is what I recommended. This grade of Mobil 1 Only in the US is a true synthetic Group 4. The other grades of Mobil 1 synthetic in the USA only are highly refined dino oil. Mobil 1 0W-40 European Formula is and I quote from the container "Approved for most Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, and Porsche" The approval specs are on the back of the container as well. Amsoil is probably a better synthetic but for the money Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro Formula is hard to beat for valve....
 
#11 ·
IS350 using oil

My car is using all the oil. Dealer just did oil change and I'm to take back after driving 1000. They think I need an engine rebuild but it only has 114,000 miles on it and it's a 2007 Lexus IS350. This should not be, right? I have always taken care of my car and love it. I planned to drive it at least another 100,000 miles if not more. I'm not sure how to handle this. Any suggestions?
 
#12 ·
either have the engine rebuilt/replaced or follow what other owners with the problem recommend. change pcv, use high mileage oil, check your oil and refill it when low, etc. You can get many more years out of the engine as long as you make sure you don't run the engine dry of oil. Back in the early 2000s I had a brand new nissan maxima that burned oil from day one. That car still made it up 180k with no problems just by making sure it had oil. Car was later sold and probably still on the road.
 
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