Dealing with oil consumption in a vehicle, especially a reliable model like the Toyota Camry, can be concerning. If you’re experiencing oil burning issues with your 2011 Toyota Camry, you’re not alone. Many owners of high-mileage vehicles face similar challenges. Let’s delve into one owner’s experience and the steps taken to address oil burning in their 2011 Toyota Camry LE.
Initially, this 2011 Toyota Camry LE, with 209,000 miles on the odometer, was consuming a significant amount of oil – about 1 quart every 600 miles. The first oil change after purchasing the car was done at Valvoline, using their 0W20 MaxLife Synthetic Blend. However, the oil consumption issue persisted.
To tackle this, the owner decided to take a more hands-on approach. For the next oil change, they opted for the same Valvoline MaxLife brand but increased the viscosity to 5W30. This change yielded a slight improvement, but the oil burning was still not satisfactory. Seeking further solutions, the owner replaced the PCV valve and the valve cover gasket, suspecting these components might be contributing to the problem. A thorough check for external leaks was also conducted, but none were found.
After these replacements, the frequency of topping off the oil decreased. For the subsequent oil change, a switch to Mobile-1 5W30 full synthetic oil was made. This change resulted in a noticeable reduction in oil consumption, bringing it closer to a more acceptable level. To further enhance the oil’s performance, Lucas Pure Synthetic Oil Stabilizer was added during top-offs. This addition seemed to make a positive difference, reducing oil consumption to approximately 1 quart every 2,000 miles.
In an attempt to clean the engine internally, Seafoam treatment was used, along with several gas treatments. While these treatments didn’t drastically reduce oil burning, they were considered preventative measures with no apparent downsides.
It’s important to consider driving habits as a factor in oil consumption. Frequent highway driving at higher speeds, such as 80 mph, and extensive city driving, like that of an Uber Eats driver, can contribute to increased oil burning.
While not a definitive expert, this Toyota Camry owner’s journey highlights practical steps that can be taken to mitigate oil burning in a 2011 Toyota Camry. Addressing potential issues like PCV valve and valve cover gaskets, experimenting with different oil viscosities and brands, and considering oil stabilizers are all viable strategies to explore. For those facing similar oil consumption issues in their 2011 Toyota Camry, these experiences offer valuable insights and potential solutions.
