Burning oil question...

"FocusedMark" (focusedmark) 01/02/2015 at 13:08 • Filed to: None

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So, my girlfriends 2001 Corolla burnt through all of its oil in 2500 miles,(I put in pennzoil 5-30 with a fram filter in at 122k she is at 124.5k now) she then drove 50 miles without knowing and thinking the oil light was just a door ajar light or something. Anyways! The engine must be ruined right? I put a few quarts of shit oil in it, and next week I'll be putting in a heavier weight oil. The car calls for 5w-30 but I was told I should put 20w-50 to stop it from burning off. Any tips would be appreciated as to if its the right oil to use and any other tidbits.

Edit:

Gonna have her put a piece of cardboard underneath tonight to check for leaks, then when she comes back to my neck of the woods I'll put it on my lift. Until then, I taught her how to check the oil level with the dipstick and told her not to drive around for fun.

As Du Volant > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:10

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If it burned off that much oil that quickly that engine is already on its last legs.

If you refilled it and it's not knocking you might be able to squeeze a little more life out of it. Heavier weight oil does seep a bit less but it's only a stopgap measure.

Bottom line: this car needs engine work or a new engine and you're running on borrowed time no matter what. Her running it out of oil wasn't the cause of this but it definitely didn't lengthen what little time this engine has left.

FocusedMark > As Du Volant 01/02/2015 at 13:12

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she just got it in October which sucks. $2300 then another $200 in parts now she's up the creek without a paddle.

Meatcoma > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:14

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It burned all that oil? does it smoke like crazy when she starts it on a cold morning?

HammerheadFistpunch > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:14

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are you positive its burning? Have you looked for oil cooler line leaks, pan leaks or other major leaks? that much oil in less than 1 oil change is pretty rare unless you know the engine is a pup.

jariten1781 > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:21

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The engine must be ruined right?

Not necessarily, I've seen cars go long times with low oil pressure and keep on moving. Sister-in-laws 88 Civic went a couple thousand miles while dry and after changing the rings it ran for a good 40-50k more.

Running a heavy oil is a band-aid that might work for a short period of time. If you really want to keep this vehicle alive you need to actually go find where the oil is going and fix that. Otherwise just scrap it, it's a time-bomb as is.

As Du Volant > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:23

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I absolutely hate when people make obvious comments in hindsight in a condescending way (If you didn't want the clap you should've worn a condom!) so please don't take this comment as being in that tone because it's not meant to sound that way.

Anyway, this sort of problem is usually something that takes a little while to develop and can have some early warning signs if you inspect it thoroughly, including doing a compression test. I know it's too late now for this car but in future used car purchases, ALWAYS have the car inspected by a mechanic before buying. In October an inspection may have revealed that this car was losing compression in one cylinder and she could've walked away from the purchase.

She's in a pickle, don't get me wrong- but the (relatively) good news is that Corolla engines are plentiful and cheap and Corollas are fairly easy to work on and well-known to most mechanics. It's going to suck to pay for but you can probably replace this engine with a used one and do it at a price where it still makes sense to keep the car.

Better yet- buy a used engine, find some Jalops in your area who are down for a wrenching party, and learn how to replace it yourself!

Takuro Spirit > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:23

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Time for a swap.

As Du Volant > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:24

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Also, what other people said- do in fact make sure it's burning the oil and not leaking, if the engine isn't knocking and you find and fix the leak you could've dodged a bullet.

FocusedMark > HammerheadFistpunch 01/02/2015 at 13:27

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I have a lift in the garage next time she's down I'm going to put it up and take a look underneath.

FocusedMark > As Du Volant 01/02/2015 at 13:29

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thanks for the heads up, it wasn't knocking when we drove it right after putting oil in it, I'll have to take it for a test drive tomorrow and put it up on the lift next time she comes down to my house.

FocusedMark > Meatcoma 01/02/2015 at 13:29

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no smoke when she started it today and it was below freezing

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:37

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Well first you have to confirm that it's burning rather than leaking first. Both are problems but boy you'd prefer it leak.

[Deleted]

As for running your car out of oil: I have admittedly driven 3 cars to where the dipstick was bone dry. Only once did my oil light come on. And at that point I swiftly pulled over and walked a few blocks to he nearest gas station for a quart. To be fair it was a 22R motor, which refused to die.

TLDR; depends how long she actually drove it without oil... You might get lucky. My wife drove a car with no coolant for 2 days. *sigh*

Edit: I guess 13 year old corollas don't go for much money according to KBB, my bad

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:38

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then it's likely a leak

FocusedMark > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/02/2015 at 13:41

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I'm gonna have her throw some cardboard underneath tonight when she gets back from work

Meatcoma > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 13:43

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Like SnapUndersteer said, if it's not billowing smoke out of the tailpipe on a cold day below freezing, it's more than likely a leak. But that's a armchair diagnoses.

FocusedMark > Meatcoma 01/02/2015 at 13:45

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well I appreciate the armchair diagnoses. Any opinion helps and I'm glad I have you guys to ask for help.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Meatcoma 01/02/2015 at 13:57

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My Sentra burned through 2.5 qts of oil in 2K miles and there were no leaks or visible smoke. Thats what got me in trouble was there were no signs of an issue.

Meatcoma > jvirgs drives a Subaru 01/02/2015 at 13:59

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If it's burning it, then there are signs. If you're not looking for them, I can see how you wouldn't see them, but I had a car that when you shut it off oil would seep through the valves and burn out. When I started that thing on a cold morning it would fill my cul-de-sac up with smoke and it didn't burn 2.5 qts in 2k miles.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Meatcoma 01/02/2015 at 14:03

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Always checked for leaks and none were noted by myself or the mechanic, never produced any smoke other than the normal exhaust when cold.

Meatcoma > jvirgs drives a Subaru 01/02/2015 at 14:08

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I'm not saying you're wrong but you're wrong. Nah JK. I believe you, it's just not the norm. Stranger shit has happened.

miadaman? yes please > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 14:23

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2000-01 corollas seem to have oil burning problem due to bad o-ring and piston rings (source: the internet ). Like some others said, there's probably an oil leak somewhere if no visible smoke.

thejustache > FocusedMark 01/02/2015 at 16:58

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My friend's sister did the exact same thing with a similar vintage corolla, only she actually drove it until it approached the seizing point. Her dad (who actually is an accomplished mechanic for not doing it professionally) simply let it cool off and filled the oil back up and it kept going. That was probably 4 years ago and last I saw it a couple months ago it was still running... I think those things must be like cockroaches or something.

That said, it sounds like a leak to me, and a pretty good one.... my Subaru visibly leaks oil and it's nowhere near that fast. Are you sure the filter and drain plug gaskets sealed right last time you did the oil?

brianbrannon > FocusedMark 01/03/2015 at 12:14

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Catalytic convertor will prevent any visible smoke. It's worth a try to put Kreen or something directly in the cylinder to try and free up those stuck piston rings.