Since its launch and assembling in Japan in the early 2000s, the Toyota 2AZ-FE has been phenomenal. The AZ family (2000-2009) is undoubtedly a high-performance engine. It boasts incredible displacement, reliability, extended lifespan, and high power output range.
As an injector-based engine, the 2AZ-FE can be a nightmare when it comes to oil consumption. When your 2AZ-FE starts to use more oil than usual, what must you do?
I’ve got an answer for you. In this article, you’ll have a detailed explanation of how to fix 2AZ-FE engine oil burning.
Features of Toyota 2AZ-FE Engine and Why it Consumes Oil
The 2AZ-FE engine is infamous for burning a lot of oil and gas after 100,000 miles. But aren’t piston rings designed to last longer than that? There are issues with the increased oil burning off the 2.4 inline-4 2AZ engine.
It features a whopping 2362cc of displacement and 350,000 km of mileage. The engine’s power output range is 145-170 horsepower. The 2AZ-FE, no doubt, is a power in the Toyota family.
One major reason the Toyota 2AZ-FE consumes so much oil is the design of the piston rings. The engine’s injection system means that fuel delivers under extremely high pressures.
Technically, an injection engine has an enormous vacuum. This reinforces the flow of excess oil past the piston rings. This way, the excess oil will burn off in the combustion chamber.
It seems that the problem of oil consumption in 2AZ-FE has to do more with its design flaw. The question is, ‘can you fix the 2AZ-FE engine oil burning issue?’
Yes, it’s possible to fix it. Yet, there are no fast and hard rules about it. Yes, you can significantly slow excessive oil use in an engine. Yet, replacing the piston rings won’t solve the problem. Here are a few things you can do to fix oil consumption in 2AZ-FE.
How to Fix Toyota 2AZ-FE Engine Oil Consumption
Use Oil with Heavier weights
Increasing the weight of your engine oil also ensures a reduction in the amount of oil your 2AZ-FE uses. SAE 40 engine oils generally perform better in colder conditions. Naturally, they’re thicker and heavier than SAE 30 oils.
On the flip side, SAE 5W-30 is thinner and delivers better in hotter situations. But the 2AZ-FE engines are hardly vulnerable to heat conditions. Hence, using heavier oil will help reduce the rate of oil burning.
Besides, SAE 5W-30 engine oil is perfect for the 2AZ-FE engine as it doesn’t easily get past piston rings. The more the metallic piston rings heat, the heavier the oil expands. Remember that a cold engine consumes lower oil than when the engine warms up.
This is because the vacuum in the piston rings expands when the engine is cold and closes when it warms up. The result is that heavy oils don’t burn away in the combustion chamber hassle-free, unlike lightweight oils.
Using multi-grade engine oil will be the best idea. This is because its viscosity can withstand both cold and hot situations. Also, multi-grade oil can resist deformation at hot temperatures. They also flow at cold temperatures without issues.
Reduce motor Oil change intervals
The number one fix I will recommend is to shorten the interval of an oil change. By standard, you should change car engine oil every 12 months, 4,500 km, or 3,000 miles, depending on which comes first.
However, severe conditions with the 2AZ-FE engine need to cut the oil change interval by half. By implication, the 2AZ-FE will need new oil every 1,500 miles, 2, 250 km, or 6 months, whichever comes first.
If you stick to a different oil change interval pattern, you’ll be enhancing the quality of the oil. Plus, you’ll be improving the vitality and health of the engine. Hence, you can rest assured the level of oil consumption will significantly slow down.
Apply Motor Oil Additives
Another helpful fix is adding additives to the 2AZ-FE engine oil. Let me stress that this method has a probable fix. Sometimes, additives come in handy to reduce oil burning; at other times, they may not. But the solution you get can depend on the type of additive you use.
Go for additives with quality resistance to temperature and friction. Make sure you buy oil additives that are properly packaged and come in lidded containers. Ask if the additive will reduce or prevent harmful exhaust gasses.
Avoid excess Idling
Excessive idling increases the rate of oil burns in any car engine. Especially, when the engine is cold, high idle times can be detrimental to your car engine. It decreases fuel economy. Plus, excessive idling can lower oil viscosity, leading to incomplete oil combustion. All these issues cause increased oil consumption and risk of wear and tear in the engine.
Does oil Consumption Weaken my 2AZ-FE Engine?
Excessive oil consumption doesn’t have a long-term impact on the engine’s performance. It also doesn’t affect the engine’s longevity and reliability in the long run. Nonetheless, this isn’t an issue you want to allow to linger in your engine.
So, you’ll need to keep tabs on the engine by ensuring routine checks and maintenance schedules. Besides, don’t allow too much stress on your engine by avoiding running on low or excess oil.
Final Thoughts
Whether it is the 2AZ-FE family or any engine, no engine is perfect. Each has its strong and weak points. However, excessive oil burning in any vehicle is an issue you need to pay attention to.
But do you have to panic? I don’t think so. Yet, your response to unusual engine oil use has to be prompt and effective. This way, you avoid severe damage to the car engine. I hope this article helps find a lasting solution to the excess oil use in your 2AZ-FE engine.
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