quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Wow. Look at that crap. Is that the result of using cheap oil, or just not changing it at the required interval?

Some Toyota engines (like the late 90s/early 2000s V6 in those pictures) are known for developing sludge like this, even if (supposedly) changed at the spec'd intervals. I say "supposedly" because nobody is going to cop to never changing their oil, so the accounts may not be reliable. However, Toyota has warranted a number of those engines. A really bad one is the Chrysler 2.7 V6.

Our daughter has a 2014 Subaru Outback that drinks oil.

She has taken it back to the dealer several times and they tell her "That's normal".

My wifes 2009 Corolla does the same thing though not as bad as yours. It consumes about 1.5 quarts per 3K miles and I can't figure out where it goes. No smoke from tail pipe,nothing on garage floor and we don't smell any burnt oil. The dealer tells me that is normal consumption but I've never had a car eat that much oil before. Even my rattle trap Jeep with 200K never required a drop of oil between changes.

My youngest daughter drives a '95 Toyota Avalon than only has 69k on the odometer, but it goes through oil like crazy. It leaks plus smokes on start up. Pretty obvious the car sat unused at some point and the seals dried up, but we got it on the cheap. It's her first car and she's already been in a couple of fender benders so I buy oil by the gallon and have her park on the street.