Low (burning?) oil after recent oil change

I have a 2006 Tacoma, 2.7 engine with almost 220,000 miles and I have a concern with the low oil levels.

About a year ago I started doing my oil change every 3,000 miles instead of the factory 5,000 because the 'check engine' light turned on. The first thing I did was check the dipstick and noticed the oil was very low. Only the tip had (black) oil on it, way below the lowest dot or hole.

I did my last oil change at 217k in October of 2021, and the 'check engine' light turned on again today (January 3rd 2022). I checked the dipstick and again it only shows a dip of dark oil on the tip of the dipstick (below the low dot). I did not drive my truck for a week (holidays) but the oil shouldn't be that low after only 1,000 miles or two months of doing the last oil change.

I changed the spark plugs in June 2020 at 200k. I haven't checked them because they should be good but I've read something about excess carbon. I have never put any additives to clean fuel injectors, etc.

I don't notice any oil leaks or excessive smoke from the exhaust. Any thoughts of why this could be happening? Any ideas on how to fix this issue?

Thanks.

 

Check PCV valve. That would definitely suck up a lot of oil. Another possibility with those miles is bad valve stem seals.

 

Check your timing cover and your radiator.

 

Read the codes, otherwise it'll be a crap shoot.

 

Not sure why your first instinct is to check the oil when the light comes on... Is there more info that you're leaving out?
Checking the oil when the check engine light comes on is not how that process should go...

Are you sure you aren't talking about the "maint req'd" light?

Get the codes read if it really is the check engine light...then report back. Without the codes, we literally have zero idea why the light could be triggering, unless you're leaving out info that would help in diagnosing the issue. But again, codes are the #1 way to start this process.

Low engine oil isn't necessarily a bad thing automatically. The manual even tells you that the engine will consume oil over time. It's normal to be 'somewhat' low by the time the next oil change is due. But it's also smart to check your oil periodically between oil changes. Not only does the manual state that, but it's also just smart to do, and engine upkeep 101.

I tend to check mine at least every two weeks at a minimum. Top up as necessary. I would only get worried if the consumption was so bad that the engine was smoking, fouling plugs, and\or the consumption was hard to keep up with (adding half a quart or more every two weeks or less).

 

Check engine light indicates something triggered the ecu to store an error code. Get it read, write it down, erase it, see if it comes back.

I’ve found usually the space between the top line or dot to the bottom one is one quart. Losing a little more than a quart in that short of time is unusual. Is it leaking bad enough to leave oil on the ground? Do you rev the crap out of it, bounce off the rev limiter, and fail to upshift early enough? I do, lol.

If your valve seals are leaking, you’d likely see smoke when you start it which gradually fades as it runs.

 

Hello all thanks for your all your feedback.

@Murd3rd : My first instinct was that because someone told me to check the oil dipstick and it turned out to be true. It is not the "maintenance required light", that light comes out at around 5k after last oil change (it's factory). It never comes out because I change my oil every 3k.
It is the "check engine" light that comes out. After I dump the oil and add new oil it disappears. The problem is that I recently changed my oil (3 months ago, ~2k miles driven) and my dipstick showed I had no oil.

@ Waasheem : It is not leaking any oil, it's dry down there. I don't drive it like a maniac lol, it's a standard 2.7L so I only use it to drive to work (high way) no offroad and stuff like that. No smoke either, as far as I'm concerned the truck sounds and drives smoothly, it just that the oil disappears after 3 months ?

 

If you replace the PCV valve....get an OEM. They’re only about $10

 

@Plain Jane Taco : hello, yes after doing some research I am hopeful that is the problem. I don't think the PCV valve has ever been replaced and I've had this truck for 9 years. It seems easy enough and cheap to do it. Hopefully that little sucker is the one sucking up all my oil!

 

FWIW, YOU need to check the error codes that are triggering the "Check Engine" light.

Begin checking oil level every time you fill the fuel tank, more frequently than every 3K miles. I suspect the "Check Engine" light is being triggered due to low oil.

If the engine isn't leaking oil, then its burning the oil.

If you are consuming 2-3 quarts in 3K miles without leaks, then you are fumigating for mosquitoes, (burning the oil). This could be valve seals or piston rings or faulty PCV.