Using lots of oil

[Anonymous]

Hi - I bought a 2002 MR2 last month in a private sale.  The man I bought it from said he had had the engine replaced last October.  When I asked why he had replaced it he said his now ex-wife had forgotten to fill it with oil and it had blown up.  

Was driving it home on Sunday night and the oil light flashed on and off a couple of times which prompted me to check the oil and there was hardly any.  Bought oil and it took 4 litres to fill it up to the proper level.  

Looked on your webiste and have learnt lots about oval bore. Am guessing that must have been the real reason that the engine was replaced last year. As the engine has only just been replaced - he gave me the receipt and it was £900 ish last October - do you think it could be happening again?  Do not know if anything was done about the pre-cats - have texted the previous owner this morning and he has not replied.  Only filled up the oil last night so don't know if it's going to go down fast again but thought I would just ask for some opinions and some suggestions on what to do.

Thanks

[markiii]

did he change teh main cat?

did he decat or replace teh manifold?

[uktotty]

My guess would be no to both questions.
How often do you check your dipstick?

[WillsSayers]

Think it'd also be worth saying you should not be using your car at all at the moment, until we can diagnose the issue to the best of our abilities at least. Sounds like it could be potentially quite bad, and we wouldn't want you doing anything to push the car over the edge  s:) s:)

[Anonymous]

Private sale or not, take it back and demand a full refund.
Nothing to lose by trying.

[mrzwei]

Whatever route you choose to take over the issue, if you need to keep driving then just check the oil on a daily basis.
The official figure for excessive oil consumption used by Toyota was I think a litre of oil in less than 1000 miles. I may be corrected on that because it's from memory.

[Tadlad]

Hi I hate to be the bearer of bad news but my car was losing loads of oil (4 litres in 350 miles) and  I am now in the process of replacing the engine.  The 1zz engine apparently is known for this and I have been agonising over which engine to put into it.  I have been offered engines from £600 to £1620 and everything in between.  I am sure I will fit the expensive one as it is totally remanufactured by a competent firm.  Anyway have you checked whether your engine had a warranty?  Please see my post called going through oil and you will see my sad car awaiting its new engine.  The others have mentioned issues with the CAT and if it is worse case you will possibly also need a new main CAT and the precats removed.  I have bought a new manifold which basically does away with the precats.  The bad news is it all adds up!  When finished I would have paid as much as I did for the car repairing it!!!  Have you checked for oil leaks?

[frogger]

The above post hit's on a good point - Warranty with the engine?? It's still within 6 months... just.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all this although it makes depressing reading !!  Do not know about the CATs or manifold but guessing not replaced as receipt was for under £1000.  Stupidly was first time I checked the oil - had golf before this and only needed to look every few months - a litre of oil in less than 1000 miles seems quite a lot so will change my ways from now on. Put the oil in on Monday night so don't really know how quickly it is being used - have not used car today as am a bit nervous but need to use it on Thursday.  Seller did not answer my text so hope he is not avoiding me. Will ring the garage number on the receipt tomorrow and ask them about the warranty- maybe they can check exactly what work they carried out.

Can anyone tell me if there are any tests or checks a garage can do to find out if I have big problems or not?  Would this happen so quickly to a new engine?  Do new engines use more oil?  Sorry to sound so ignorant but can't do any of these things myself. I have wanted an MR2 for so long and now seems I may have to become a mechanic to cope with one -can only check oil (badly obviously) and change a tyre.

[Toplesscouple]

Unfortunately although the engine was new to your car, it would not have been a  brand new engine. The engine might have been sourced from a breaker or engine exchange specialist. If it was a breaker than the engine could well be one fom a Pre facelift car and therefore liable to the symptoms you have. If it was an engine replacement specialist, then some of us suspect they do little more than jetwash and paint an engine and punt it straight out. 900 quid doesn't buy very much when it comes to MR2 engines. As a rule anyway. However the garage may be reputable, and offer to at least look at the engine for you. Good luck. Oh, and welcome to the site.

[uktotty]

Is there any way to look at the prefacelift and facelift engines and physically see a difference?

[Anonymous]

So here's what I have done so far -

Spoken to the garage who fitted the engine in October.  It is under warranty until 26 April so still have some time.  All they did was fit a new engine and new brake pads - did not look at CATs - pre or otherwise and they had not heard of the problem so did not know to check them. Thanks for suggestion but don't think there is any chance of comparing the engines.  If the engine needs replacing agan (and they hopefully they will agree to do it under warranty if it does) will I need to specify which type or can they put in or can I have any suitable one if I have any remaining bits of pre-cats removed?  

Am going to an exhaust place tomorrow to find out condition of CAT and pre CATs.  They say they can remove or replace anything that needs doing.

No reply from previous owner - have not received registration docs yet  either and rang DVLA who have not received anything from him.  I do have the new owners slip so can complete a V62 to get the log book.  Not much point in asking him for a refund on the car then as it seems from this that he may be bit dodgy.  Do have his address and tel number though so may send the boys round !!

Anything else I can do?  Are there any checks I can have done to tell if the new engine is knackered as I live quite a way from the garage that did the engine and no point in going if all is well.  Will have to drive the car tomorrow to take it to exhaust people so will make sure it has proper amount of oil.  

Love this car so much and want to get it sorted out.  Really appreciate everyone's advice and time on this.

[uktotty]

All good stuff Deb, seems you have done the right thing.
Get the exhuast guys to check for any debris and give us some feedback.
I am only 20 miles away if you need a hand.

[Anonymous]

Have been to exhaust place but was a bit of a waste of time. I definitely still have pre-cats but he said it would take him 4 hours to take off/out the manifold to check the state of them.  If he did that and they were broken up he did not have a de-CATed manifold that he could replace it with so there was not much point as I don't want him to put back the original even if the pre-CATs are intact. If I source a de-CATed manifold he will fit it.  

He did have a good listen to my engine - no knocking - and he did say that there were no blue gasses (?) coming out when he took the dip wire out when the engine was running.  Good things also apparently.  Checked for oil leaks and couldn't see any.

Made contact  with the seller who said he had no oil problems and topped it up every 2 months - used about 5 litres a year.  So where has it all gone in the last month since I've had it?  

I think I need to find a garage in the Reading area that will remove the pre-cats and check the engine before the warranty runs out.  Sadly all the ones on this web-site seem to be up North.  Either that or take a quick mechanics course

[Wabbitkilla]

Really if he removed the manifold and removed the pre-cats from it then he would be reinstalling a de-precatted manifold then?
Or am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

That's what I said but he said that that would not be possible and that I would need to order a new one - go figure !!  

Not sure he really wanted the job as he kept stressing how high the labour charges would be.  Would be much happier finding a garage that has done this before

[Wabbitkilla]

It does sound like he was fobbing you off with b-s.

Really to de-precat the manifold all you need are a few toos, plenty of Plusgas and new gaskets.
A friendly member nearby might volunteer to help, or maybe organise a de-precat day   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

[markiii]

to be fair if he removes teh manifold and decats it and then replaces it, he has interfered with the emissions kit, some garages are very funny about that in teh beleif that they can get prosecuted.

oddly just changing teh manifold for one that has no cats is not the same thing

[Anonymous]

Would be grateful for name of garage, friendly member or visit from the de-cat fairy if she exists.  Have to get something sorted out before the warranty on the engine runs out at the end of next month in case I have to get it replaced although am sure they won't do it without an argurment.

[Anonymous]

I would be exploring the warranty option first, get it fixed then replace main cat and gut pre cats.

[Wabbitkilla]

I would be exploring the warranty option first, get it fixed then replace main cat and gut pre cats.

True enough, using oil is showing the engine has failed warranty anyway.
Get the precats and cat sorted same time or just after.

[Anonymous]

Drat - car been to local garage today.  Garage man said - quote - "your piston rings are knackered love".  Called the garage who put in new engine last October and they have agreed to honour the warranty so it goes in on Saturday.  Is a recon engine and removing the pre-cats as good as a new engine?  Garage man says £1500 to £2000 for new one so would just have to pay the extra over the cost of the recon.

[K T M Rider]

Called the garage who put in new engine last October and they have agreed to honour the warrant

what are the warranty terms ?

If parts and labour then surely the car should be fixed at no cost to you.

If parts only, then you want another recon motor fitted (also with 6 month warranty) and you should only have to pay around £250 for labour.

Is a recon engine and removing the pre-cats as good as a new engine?  

recon engines vary widely, few are likely to be as good as a new one, although some might even be better than a pre -facelift new one (if the 2003 redesigned pistons and piston rings are fitted)

Garage man says £1500 to £2000 for new one so would just have to pay the extra over the cost of the recon.

sounds a bit dubious to me, unless you can be absolutely sure of what you are getting - who will build this 'new' motor and what parts will be 'new' ?  There may be no difference between the 'new' motor and the recon you've just had.

Recon motors can be had for a grand - say you pay garage man two grand (less the grand for the recon) you've still paid a grand - which would have bought you a recon anyway, in which case you have basically gained nothing by having your warranty honoured.

[Wabbitkilla]

Don't forget to get the main cat replaced too or it's likely to happen again.

[Anonymous]

They say they will replace the whole engine.  Asked the man at my garage to put some tippex in a few out of the way places so I will know for sure that they have done what they say.  Labour charge is covered. Think I will just go for the recon option as am going to have to spend money getting the rest of the cat stuff sorted.

Thanks again for all your help   It's been a steep learning curve but  have actually been able to have a conversation about cars and have a some idea what I am talking about.  Cars and garages are still a bit of a man's world and really nice not to be looked at with pity.