Can someone please help me understand why my meticulously maintained 2008 3GS with 125,000 mostly highway miles is suddenly losing a full quart of oil every 5000 miles? No leaks, garage floor is spotless. Did some reading and suspected the PCV valve, replaced it with an OEM valve and no change… All recall work has been done. My 2008 RX w/ 186,000 doesn’t lose a drop with a very similar engine. Looking for answers before I take it to the dealer…

 

Unfortunately, You are not alone on this matter. There are quite a few 350's now experiencing the same oil consumption issue as the 300's did. I myself am having a oil consumption test done on my 09 that just turned a 120k. I am awaiting to see the results as we speak and what the possible answer may be. At this time all I can suggest is to keep a eye on your oil level. It sucks knowing that you may own a car you have to drive around with a case of oil in the trunk.

 

Sorry about your misfortune, I've read many a post similar to yours. Though the GS350 seems like a hit or miss on this issue. Some people ran theirs 200K-300K miles with out this issue but some went 60-70K and saw this oil consumption. It boggles my mind because I would like to have a GS350 but is it luck of the draw getting one without problems or is it something that can be remedy so this doesn't happen. I don't have answer for you but I would like to know also why does this occur especially on a well-maintained car as yours..

 

Could be the 3.5 V6 is also starting to suffer carbon buildup due to the direct injection. I know you also have port injection that should help prevent this, but it is a problem the plagued the GS 300.

 

Its coming out from somewhere! I would put it up on a rack and inspect better with a flash light. If you do not find anything you can run a compression check on all the cylinders. This will tell you if your piston rings and or head gasket are in spec.

 

It's these garbage *** rings that they are putting on the pistons...low friction and they don't seem to last...
...many manufactures are experiencing this...I'd try some rislone...just to make sure you don't have a stuck ring...

 

I've heard someone mention that before but wasn't sure if it was true or not.. And IF manufacturers know about it, why do they keep everyone in the dark.. making people do oil consumption test and such like they don't know, making you jump thru a bunch of hoops..

If they know about it, why don't they use better rings.. I just don't understand the Rationale., you pay $50K + for a car and you get cheap rings that should have been in a Nissan.. like really Lexus?

Thanks for the confirmation of the Rings.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. This oil consumption issue came on really suddenly. I change my own oil and check it often. Have always used best Pennzoil synthetic (Platinum or Ultra Platinum, they keep changing the name) I was shocked when I noticed the level dropping like a rock! It would make sense that a ring is stuck. I'd like to explore this route, which Rislone product are you referring to Gotcha350? And thanks for the advice.

 

Honestly I wouldnt add any kind of additives unless you know what the problem is. Like I said check for leaks first then compression test those two you should pin point the issue.

 

Yeah, my '07 GS350 AWD is experiencing this too... low-engine oil message popped up after 5000KM and I had to top it off with about 2L of oil.

 

Don't tell Gotcha350, he'll never believe it's true..

 

My 2007 currently with 140k started doing this around a while ago. It burns around 1 qt every 4000 miles or so.
Lexus said its normal

 

My 2007 GSAWD started oil consumption around 64K after having the valve spring recall done.
At 112K the consumption rate is still about the same, 1 QT every 2000 miles.
The car has an oil change at 5K miles or sooner. I don't floor the engine.

You are lucky. It's only 1 QT/ 4k miles. Just keep an eye on it to see the consumption rate goes up.

My service advisor said he sees 3GSs consumes oil. It's expected.
I don't know about that.
I have owned several cars. None of them started burning oil after 200K miles.

 

I'm now glad to have the 3GR-FSE with it's now "downgraded" high tension piston rings thanks to that big service campaign.

 

Does anyone know if this oil consumption problem exists in the 4GS? I have been thinking about moving up to a '13 or '14 GS, but don't want to do so and then have an engine with the exact same oil loss problem.