EGR Valve?
I wasn’t aware of that one.
PCV valve yes I can understand especially if the hose or vacuum Port is clogged up it would cause the oil to be possibly blown out at the gaskets.
I will have to read up on that.
That’s not the way I interpret the OP’s description.
Seems like she ran low on oil, then it ran low again shortly after.
No period of functioning normally.
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Too funny…
I read it like this: She says she checks her oil every weekend. It was fine until it wasn’t, then it was 3 quarts low. That happened in November of last year. She added oil and continued to check it every weekend, and about 3000 miles ago had the oil changed. And again it was fine until it wasn’t, just recently when it was down again. However, I can see where this may have simply been the second time after an oil change but if she’s checking her oil every week that’s about every 500 miles, which means something has gone seriously wrong.
I bought a used 1971 Ford Maverick in 1973 that used a quart of oil every 300.miles. I had the valve stem seals replaced and the consumption dropped to a quart every 1250 miles. I could live with anything better than a quart in 1000 miles.
The valve stem seals on my Maverick were replaced without removing the cylinder head. The mechanic injected air into the cylinder with an adapter that fit the spark plug hole and connected an air hose from the shop’s compressor. This kept the valve from dropping into the block while the seal was replaced.
I don’t know if this method could be used on the RAV4 engine or not.
However, the fact that the vehicle has become sluggish suggests it may be worn piston rings. Usually piston ring wear comes on slowly in an engine. I have one lawnmower that I bought in 1992. It really began to use a lot of oil. I did buy three seasons of use by using synthetic oil but finally last year the oil consumption shot up again. What I didn’t realize is how much power the engine had lost. I have another mower I bought in 1988 that we didn’t use as much because it has a smaller deck. When I got that mower out, I couldn’t believe how much more power it had than the other mower. The wear on the rings in the mower I bought in 1992 came on so gradually that I didn’t realize how much power it had lost. My guess in the OP’s RAV4 that the piston ring wear has come on so gradually that it wasn’t noticeable at first. As I think about it, at 180,000 miles, the piston rings are the more likely culprit in the oil consumption.
I did a full valve job on my '71 Maverick in '73 with something like 30K miles on it. My biggest issue prior to the repair was fouled spark plugs. I don’t remember how much oil it was using. They don’t build 'em like that anymore, and that’s a very good thing.
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Circuitsmith, entirely right. The situation is this. I had an oil change done in October 2020. The usual 4500 - 5000 mi. factory suggested time for oil changes. Every oil change I have ever had done, I have them go through a full inspection of hoses, fluids, brakes, rotate tires, etc. I have NEVER had the oil light come on EVER during the entire time I have owned the car … since 2014. I have always checked the “dip stick” to see where the oil line is… It has NEVER been under a quart low. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED the first time the light starting flickering at me. I thought I just had the oil replaced and changed … what is this? I checked under hood and it was low … NOT 3 QTS LOW… maybe about a quart. I called where I had it done and they said “DON’T WORRY BRING IT IN AND WE WILL TOP IT OFF.” Had they said add oil immediately, I would have. Then … just recently the second time around … they oil blinking light came on again and I thought, are you kidding me? I just dealt with this. So then it’s 3 qts. low. Something, seriously is wrong. I add the oil, do my own check as to hoses … nothing… so hence, my questions, on this website. Obviously, with all the hard miles I have put on it, etc. the car needs special care… I get it. But I am not going to continue to throw money into a situation when I don’t intend to keep the car at this point. Yes, fix what I can till I trade it in.
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@PamelaShockley I don’t doubt what you say and I have heard of a similar situation that goes back some years. We had a neighbor who had a 1949 Studebaker. He was mechanically inclined and did regular oil checks. He had done an oil change and 300 miles later, the oil pressure gauge indicated a pressure drop. He checked the oil and it was down more than 2 quarts. He had never had this problem before. He brought the oil up to the proper level and 300 miles later the same thing happened. He traded the Studebaker in for a newer car.
My dad had a 1949 Dodge that did use some oil. We left on a vacation trip with the oil level on the full mark on the dipstick. About 200 miles into the trip, I noticed the oil pressure gauge was fluctuating from 0 to 40 psi. I was riding in the back seat behind the driver. I brought it to my dad’s attention and he immediately pulled off the highway. The oil was more than two quarts low. Dad and I hiked up to a service station about half mile away and he bought two quarts of oil. We filled the crankcase and continued on the trip. I was in 6th grade at the time and was paid 50¢ a week for doing chores around the house. For saving the engine, I got 75¢ that week.
My Dad made the comment that he was going to have new piston rings installed in the car. My mother said she thought we had better get a newer car. Our family got a newer car.
I think it’s time your RAV4 gets a new home.
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Ah, the light dawns. The oil was low right after an oil change and you had it corrected. Everything was fine for a while (and you know this because you check the oil every week) but then suddenly it was 3 quarts low so something happened quickly. But when you say the oil was maybe 1 quart low the first time are you thinking in terms of the “add” mark on the dipstick? As @oldtimer-11 pointed out “add” means 1 1/2 quarts low. My 2009 Corolla, which has a different engine, is the same way. For whatever reason, that was “a thing” with some Toyota engines at one time. I have no idea if it still is but you could have easily been 2 quarts low and it would still just show a bit below “add.” I wouldn’t expect the oil light to come on even at 1 1/2 quarts low.
Anyway, either your engine has relatively suddenly started consuming a lot of oil due to internal wear or failure or there’s a leak someone hasn’t found. If the oil was significantly down right after an oil change that doesn’t inspire confidence in your local Firestone. Find another shop and get a second opinion.
Yes … I am looking at websites now… still want an SUV because right size for me … but so many choices… probably another Toyota …
Yes … I agree. Thx.
I think you are doing the right thing in your circumstances. You depend on your vehicle. I don’t mind having to add oil to a vehicle if it is no more than a quart every thousand miles, but when it consumes more oil than that, I start looking for another vehicle.
My daughter just got a new Acura MDX. One of the best SUVs i’ve ever been in.
Thank you for the tip. It’s daunting to look at the websites.
My daughter turned it into a massive project, sending me large spreadsheets on google docs to review and edit. Good luck. Try to enlist help with the grunt work.
FWIW, my wife loves her Hyundai Tucson.
Yes … Thank you! I like them too. I am contemplating, a Tucson, or a CR-V … Going to test drive them this weekend to see which fits.
You might also give a Mazda CX-5 a test drive. A friend has one that has proven extremely reliable and is comfortable.
Of course only you can make a choice of vehicles . But if it were me and I drove as much as you seem to I would be looking for the lowest price high miles per gallon new vehicle that would meet my needs .
What is bad about ANOTHER RAV4?
These cars are damn reliable if taken care of and not driven with low oil pressure indicator flashing… but hey… no car would survive that either.
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