I have an 09 V-6 Camry and plan to switch from Pennzoil 5W30 to Mobil 1 at my 10,000 mile checkup at the dealer next week. When you changed to Mobil 1, did you notice any increase in gas mileage or increase in oil consumption? My car uses ZERO oil between changes now.

 

Well you can add another 07 Camry 2.4 l that burns oil between changes. I've got 54,000 miles on vehicle and burn a quart of oil between changes. I thought I bought a lemon but after visiting this board it's clear Toyota has severe quality control issues and shoddy engineering. I faithfully had Toyota service up to about 30,000 miles and stopped going to dealer as they ignore my issues. It's the secondary shops that have made me aware of issues that should of been covered under warranty. I've just been told all 4 struts are leaking oil and need to be replaced...WTF. Struts don't typically go until 90-100,000 miles.

I've also been told that I need a passenger side CV joint. Are you kidding me..another component that shouldn't fail so young in the cars life. I will NEVER purchase another Toyota and would happily cliff dive this car if I knew it was actually worth something. Utterly disgusted and dissapointed with Toyota Service. Oh in closing...the transmission slips in cold weather. Toyota Camrys make up the top 3 most complained about vehicle as of 2007. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna trade in this vehicle for a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. At least with that vehicle I'll be able to safely accelerate...

 

I posted this exact same question to an Edmunds Camry forum in Sept 08 and got no meaningful response. I decided to stick with Pennzoil and have no regrets ... I have been using nothing but Pennzoil 5W30 in all family vehicles for over 20 years.

Now at 28,500 miles, my 09 LE V6 still uses zero oil between changes and gets fantastic gas mileage (I do run premium gas). I checked the oil yesterday morning and with 4000 miles on it ... exactly on the full mark and looks like it was almost just changed. I take my own "yellow bottle" Pennzoil to the dealer to have it changed and watch them like a hawk.

The only reason to use synthetic that I can think of is if you operate in subzero weather, do short trip driving, and go beyond the six month rule for your 5000 mile checkups.

Also, the owner's manual says 6.4 quarts but it only takes 6.0 quarts with filter. The dipstick only gives a correct read when the car sits for several hours. I had my air filter changed changed at 15,000 miles and it could have easily gone to 20,000 ........ but when they checked the cabin filter ....... it was practically clogged with dirt despite the fact that I do not live in dusty climate and nobody ever smoked in the car.

 

To Heisenberg:

Leaking struts is now common on Toyota. There is another longer thread at this site on this subject. Not all leaks require replacing the strut. Toyota has a service bulletin describing what is acceptable and what is not. The link may be in one of the posts on this subject.

Unfortunately struts are a money makers for shops, thus strongly suggest you read up on how much leakage is acceptable before spending the money on new ones.

There is a test for bad struts, get the chassis oscillating the as much as possible then release. The oscillation should stop within 1 1/2 cycles.

For the CV joint, make a few 90 and 180 degree turns at slower speeds. Listen for a clicking or popping noise from the front tire areas. Check for torn or damaged CV boots.

 

OH.that's good.thanks.


Jewellery

 

I need help. I'm new to this forum. I'm reading about all of the problems with the '07 4 cylinder Camry's. I have one, and until recently I had no problem. It was using about a quart between changes, but I took it in at 75,000 a while back for the oil change. I checked it about 1500 miles later and it was 1/2 quart low. They filled it up and I checked it yesterday and it was 1 quart low. It still has about 1500 miles to go to 80,000 miles. So, it will probably be another 1/2 quart low, meaning it will have used 2 quarts between changes. That's not as bad as some people on here, but my question to the guy was "why has it started using oil lately?" I wasn't aware of a problem until today with other people's Camry. I take it to the dealership every 5000 miles. I have the lifetime warranty. What steps do I need to take from here? Oh yeah, my 85 Supra don't use but about 1 quart between changes and it has 290,000 miles on it. Toyota has started to seem like the American manufacturers lately.

 

Might ask these questions at the Toyotanation website. More members whom may have investigated this issue. Might be the piston oil control rings, after so many miles they leak. Just speculation.

Since Toyota has successfully built good engines in the past this is most likely some kind of design flaw. It's not the only major flaw for this engine.

I did read Toyota is now stating in some owners manual that using 1 quart per 600 miles can be considered normal.

Not sure what a life time warranty is for this car.

Toyota's have always had problems, they were never perfect. In the last 5 or so years they decided to become No 1 in car production, this may have lead to a decline in quality. In the past their reputation for quality overcame any problems. Now all their problems has forced the press, potential buyers and owners to start rethinking Toyota quality. It not like these problems happened overnight, they were just overshadowed by Toyota's great rep for quality and perhaps a love affair with the company by car reviewers and customers.

Most car companies from time to time have had major issues with some of its products, Toyota is no different. Toyota's great rep for quality just allowed the spot light to be directed some place else until recently.

 

1 quart every 600 miles may be normal for a Ford Pinto or Chevy Vega back in the old days, but for a car as popular as the Camry it is unacceptable. If that is their take on this problem they will be number 1 for a very short lived time. They need to step up and fix their problem. When I bought mine it had unlimited miles for as long as I am the owner of the car, that is as long as I keep up the service on time as required by their standards. I'll do some looking around and see what I can find out, but I figured that some of the people that had got help already would reply and let me know where they found help.

 

As you imply Toyota seems to have lost touch with reality. A modern, well kept engine should have minimal oil usage until getting up on the miles.

If you find the real cause of this oil consumption issue please post back.

 

Who knows - likely not the 0w-20 or the 5w-20, but both of these are an EPA jamdown to get 1/10th of a mile per gallon more. I double-dog guarantee you that engine durability or longetivity can be found anywhere in the EPA's objectives.

Try some 5w-30. I'll wager the use rate slows considerably if not completely, assuming no intrinsic manufacturing flaw. If the 5w-30 doesn't get it, go with 5w-40.

I don't know the viscosity of water, but it can't be too far from 20W.