LS - 4th Gen (2007-2017) Discussion topics related to the current flagship models LS460, LS460L and LS600H

Loosing oil

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Old 07-18-24, 08:22 AM
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Igoboe
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Default Loosing oil

Hi guys,
I am a happy owner of 2014 LS awd with 75000 miles on odo, which I got last fall.
for the past several month I have noticed that I am loosing engine oil, like a quart every month(or six weeks), I park the vehicle in front of my house and never seen any oil leaks on the ground.
Anyone else has this problem ?
Please, let me know what it could be.
Thank you,

IL

Old 07-18-24, 08:41 AM
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Gerf
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What are you oil change intervals?
Old 07-18-24, 11:21 AM
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Boykie
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And brand/viscosity?
Old 07-18-24, 12:04 PM
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Marc780
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If there are no visible oil leaks or even stains, then the oil is being consumed internally i.e. it is being burned in the combustion chamber.
Which of course is not a good thing for your car.
Fastest way to check is to wipe a finger inside the tail-pipe and see what's coming out of the engine. Dark or light grey, good. Oily residue, not so good! If for some reason that doesn't tell you anything, then it's time to remove a spark plug or two and inspect them for evidence of oil burning.
Old 07-19-24, 05:53 AM
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dlbuckls10
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Check the plastic covers underneath the engine compartment to see if oil could be leaking and burning off there.
Old 07-19-24, 01:32 PM
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Do you have a service record for this car? Would be interesting to know how often previous owner was changing oil in it. It is possible that your engine is burning oil due to the extended oil change intervals. Many people "saving money" this way.
Old 08-02-24, 12:52 PM
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Lzam
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Yeah I would change my oil every 5000 regardless.
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Old 08-02-24, 02:55 PM
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If you’re burning oil, a possible culprit is the piston rings. These Toyota/Lexus rings are designed to float in place. Buildup can cause the rings to no longer float. There is a product that mechanics use to dissolve the buildup and restore the rings to floating again. Try this if a shop says you need a major tear down and repair.
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Old 08-02-24, 03:21 PM
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Striker223
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Originally Posted by swfla
If you’re burning oil, a possible culprit is the piston rings. These Toyota/Lexus rings are designed to float in place. Buildup can cause the rings to no longer float. There is a product that mechanics use to dissolve the buildup and restore the rings to floating again. Try this if a shop says you need a major tear down and repair.
This, I've yet to have a 460 not recover from oil burn. Also make sure to drive it hard here and there or it will happen again, only when oil temp is up to spec though never cold...
Old 08-02-24, 05:41 PM
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Hamby86
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Originally Posted by Striker223
This, I've yet to have a 460 not recover from oil burn. Also make sure to drive it hard here and there or it will happen again, only when oil temp is up to spec though never cold...
This is my plan. Before my last oil change I dumped the ATS engine cleaner. Took the LS on a 1200 mile road trip and checked it around 1400 miles since the change and was a quart low. Before I did the ATS it only took 1000 miles and I was a quart low. Plan on doing ATS before every change to see if there is continuous improvement. I'm impressed so far.
Old 08-02-24, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Hamby86
This is my plan. Before my last oil change I dumped the ATS engine cleaner. Took the LS on a 1200 mile road trip and checked it around 1400 miles since the change and was a quart low. Before I did the ATS it only took 1000 miles and I was a quart low. Plan on doing ATS before every change to see if there is continuous improvement. I'm impressed so far.
You need to apply it directly to the rings via the spark plug holes, my personal car went from 1 quart in 400-500 miles to zero over 7500
Old 08-02-24, 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Striker223
You need to apply it directly to the rings via the spark plug holes, my personal car went from 1 quart in 400-500 miles to zero over 7500
So remove the spark plugs and pour it in there?
Old 08-02-24, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Hamby86
So remove the spark plugs and pour it in there?
Yes, let sit for 3 hours then turn the engine 90* and do it again for 4 times total. Then use a fluid extractor to remove everything from the cylinders etc, I would also spray some more cleaner in each one to make sure any loose carbon is removed with the extractor. Drop in a extremely small amount of oil in to each, rotate it 720* and start it, if you don't add oil it may not start that easily since the rings will be washed out from the cleaners.
Old 08-02-24, 10:32 PM
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Marc780
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What everybody else said about removing spark plugs and soaking the rings directly, is not a bad idea if done right. Rather labor intensive of course, but if the piston rings are indeed stuck giving them a soak will probably free them up. If not right away, then they might work themselves loose in several thousand miles.

The V8 engines on our cars, have an extremely well designed fuel injection systems. Instead of using only port injection or only direct injection, Lexus V8's use TWO injectors (i.e. one of each type) per cylinder. So a better engine to make use of chemical cleaners would be hard to find. I've used "Star Brite 095616 Star Tron Ring clean" (for $17) in my LS every couple months. "Yamalube ring free" ($22) claims to do the same thing.
Old 08-02-24, 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Marc780
What everybody else said about removing spark plugs and soaking the rings directly, is not a bad idea if done right. Rather labor intensive of course, but if the piston rings are indeed stuck giving them a soak will probably free them up. If not right away, then they might work themselves loose in several thousand miles.

The V8 engines on our cars, have an extremely well designed fuel injection systems. Instead of using only port injection or only direct injection, Lexus V8's use TWO injectors (i.e. one of each type) per cylinder. So a better engine to make use of chemical cleaners would be hard to find. I've used "Star Brite 095616 Star Tron Ring clean" (for $17) in my LS every couple months. "Yamalube ring free" ($22) claims to do the same thing.
The only thing I can add is that the D4S fuel system injects HEAVY on startup since Lexus doesn't use SAI if you do a lot of short trips it will both put a lot of fuel into the oil and gas into the ringland that can lead to carbon lock issues.
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