Disappearing oil?

Hey guys, I have a 2008 4 cyl 4x4, approx. 134k. First off I take pretty darn good care for my truck, no crazy off roading, no over normal high reving.
Recently it's been burning oil, I assume. Has nothing to do with how I changed my oil or maybe I messed up. It just out of nowhere was low when I checked the dipstick, at only 1500 miles from last change. Topped off 1 quart and by 3000 it was low again. Changed to synthetic with exact same oil consumption, if not a little more.
Does anyone know what might cause this? I hate taking my truck to Toyota without knowing beforehand what the problem probably is, as they enjoy D-ing you around. Plus if it's something easy enough I would fix myself.
Thanks

 

A quart consumed per 1000 miles is considered normal by most manufacturers standards. I know the Lexus is250 had issues with oil consumption caused by bad piston rings.

 

My 2008 Honda Accord started doing the same thing around the same mileage. There were issues due to ethanol and the piston rings with the Honda. I sent it down the road. Possibly seized rings. No smoke, no drip, less oil.

 

I understand they say that is standard, but why out of the blue when it never lost more than 1 quart in 5000? Yes I read about quite a few Toyota 4 cyl that had bad piston rings but Tacoma wasn't on the list.
I'll keep that as a possibility though, thanks
forgot to mention, I don't notice any change in the exhaust nor is there any drips.

 

I'm not a big believer in snake oil, but maybe seafoam or Mystery marvel oil? The carbon built up around the rings (hypothetically of course) the seafoam may dissolve it. Don't start it with fluid on top of the piston, you'd have to soak it and turn it over with the plugs out. Someone more qualified than me will hopefully chime in.

 

Maybe switch to a high mileage oil. My old 99 had 600k miles on it and I used Kendall high mileage oil and that thing never burned a drop of oil.

 

I would start out by thoroughly cleaning areas of the engine where oil leakage is prone to occur. Monitor appearance. This might help with an external issue.

Assuming you know what your spark plugs looked like when swapped out BEFORE the consumption started, pull out the plugs you have in it now and take a look at them. Do they look oil sooted? Post pics of the plugs in the engine now and let the membership here give you their opinion or find someone skilled in reading plugs.

A compression test might help as well.

I've never owned an Asian car that used oil, regardless of mileage.

 

A can of seafoam wouldn't hurt

That's about it for any cheap fixes. If it's not leaking anywhere external then you're basically looking at an engine rebuild

 

Install an oil catch can. Keep an eye on if it fills up quick or not.

 

Which weight oil do you use?

 

I agree with others here- my 2002 with over 200k miles was never low like that when I changed oil every 3000 miles. Is there oil smoke residue in the tailpipe and in the back of the truck?

Have someone else drive it and follow to see if there’s any blue smoke comming out of the pipe or from underneath during accelerating and deceleration in gear. If so, there is a good chance you have valve seal or ring issues.

As for oil, I used 10-40wt Castrol its entire 275k miles before I sold it.

 

I will perform a compression test as soon as I get a chance, hopefully this weekend.
Oil I use: full synth 0w-20 manufacture rec

 

That 20 weight is why it is burning off so quickly. It is too thin and can't handle the heat. Plain and simple. You should see the lawsuits other manufacturers are dealing with, due to engines being destroyed by oil loss.

The recommended oil change interval is longer than the oil will last. BMW and Audi are both dealing those lawsuits.

 

Categorically false

20 weight not handling the heat...riiiggghhttt

 

You joking or being serious?

 

Synthetic 20w is the equivalent of 30w dyno oil, or I am wrong. I've been wrong before!

 

Weight is weight, whether Dino or synthetic. Going to a slightly heavier oil couldn't hurt though. 5w-30 high mileage might stick around longer.

 

I would change your pcv valve. A clogged valve can cause oil consumption. Cheap and easy to do and if it doesn’t fix your problem, you’ve at least ruled out a possible reason.

 

Aside from manufacturing differences, 20 weight alone is used solely for fuel economy. Nothing more. I know of tests where it was burning off and liquifying at just cruising rpms. Not high load or high rpm. Couldn't handle the heat. 20 weight needs a lot of capacity to be able to, and or additions of oil coolers. Still run into it vaporizing more quickly than a heavier weight. Vaporizing and then getting sucked through the PCV system. @chilidogrc mentioned the easiest way to test. Use a catch can.

 

The BMW and AUDI excessive oil complaints ( mini coopers are lame! so I cant comment) are due to engine defects/design ( Audi turbo issues), not the type of oil used. These lawsuits dont have anything to do with the type of oil used though.