Graphic Effects | Dee Pat's Awsomotive

Why Does My Toyota Burn So Much Oil in Suffolk County?

Excessive oil consumption in Toyotas is usually caused by worn or clogged piston rings, which allow oil to seep past the piston and burn inside the combustion chamber.  This is a well-known issue on specific Toyota engines, particularly the 2AZ-FE in the 2006 – 2011 Camry, RAV4, and Highlander. Newer cars with the updated 2AR-FE engine may also share the problem, usually in the same models produced from 2011 – 2019.


Toyota is America’s top-selling car brand and is known for overengineering and bulletproof reliability, but even the most reliable manufacturer has a few problems. If you are regularly topping off the oil in your car, you can visit an independent Toyota mechanic in Suffolk County for a complete diagnosis and lasting repair.

Graphic Effects | Dee Pat's Awsomotive

Excessive Oil Consumption in Toyota Engines

Occasional oil use is normal in any engine. Excessive oil consumption is when you need to add more than a quart (around 1 liter) at least every 1,200 miles.  If you’re topping off more than that, and much more frequently, you should have the engine inspected rather than adding oil and waiting for the problem to stabilize.

Make an Appointment
Graphic Effects | Dee Pat's Awsomotive

The Signs of Excessive Oil Consumption

You can look for telltale signs that your car is burning oil when you drive:


  • Have you seen blue-tinted smoke from the exhaust, especially when you start the car or accelerate? Blue smoke is a telltale sign of burning engine oil.
  • Have you noticed a “Low Oil”   warning light on your dashboard? This either means that the oil level is falling, or there’s a sensor problem.
  • Does your engine make knocking sounds or idle unevenly? These are classic symptoms of an engine that’s already running low on lubricant.

Oil doesn’t just lubricate the moving parts in your engine. It also helps the components to cool. Ignoring the problem for too long can cause significant internal damage. If the problem gets worse and you end up driving without enough oil, there’s a high risk of a sudden and catastrophic engine failure or complete seizure.


Graphic Effects | Dee Pat's Awsomotive

Get an Inspection with an Independent Auto Mechanic in Suffolk County


You can bring your car to a Toyota mechanic near you in Suffolk County for an oil consumption test. 


  1. We will inspect your engine for external signs of leaks and seepage.  If there are obvious signs that a repair is immediately necessary, we will pinpoint the problem and provide a quote for the repair.
  2. If there are no obvious leaks, we will perform a full oil and filter change, and record the amount of oil used. We record the odometer reading to start the test.
  3. The next part of the test is done on the road. You take the car home with fresh oil and drive it as normal. Over the next few weeks, when you hit 1,000 miles, you can bring the car back to the shop, and we will check the amount of oil left in the engine to see how much has been lost. During this time, you must not add any oil.
  4. If a significant amount of oil has been lost, it will suggest an internal problem. On models like the Highlander, Rav 4, and Camry, the culprit is usually carbon buildup on the piston rings. Depending on the extent of carbon buildup or scoring, there are various solutions, like a top-down solvent soak, manual blasting to remove carbon deposits, or a complete piston ring replacement. If the rings are worn and not just stuck from carbon buildup, a replacement is always necessary.

Our experienced team has the training to service Toyota models from any year. If you have an oil consumption problem, we will find out why, and get things back to how they were when the car rolled off the factory line.




Book an Appointment at Dee Pat’s Awsomotive Today


Many drivers simply top up the oil in their Toyotas while underlying issues worsen and become more complex and expensive to fix. If your car is consuming oil, bring it to us for a professional assessment. Early action could reduce your repair costs later.


Dee Pat’s Awsomotive is based in Selden, NY, making it the perfect central Auto Shop if you’re around the corner, or nearby in areas like Stony Brook or Mt. Sinai. You can book a Toyota service appointment online, or reach out to us at (631) 698-1058.


Graphic Effects | Dee Pat's Awsomotive

Areas We Serve

Visit our shop at  900 Middle Country Rd, Selden, NY 11784  or call us at (631) 698-1058 for expert Suspension Repair you can trust

  • Coram
  • Centereach
  • Farmingville
  • Terryville
  • Patchogue
  • Smithtown
  • Holtsville
  • Medford
  • Lake Grove
  • Holbrook
  • Nesconset
  • Middle Island
  • Blue Point
  • Ronkonkoma
  • Mount Sinai
  • East Setauket
  • Setauket
  • Stony Brook
  • Bohemia
  • South Setauket