> 2002 Toyota Highlander Limited Edition V6, engine and transmission 3.0
> liter 24-valve VVT-i V6 Automatic, bought in December, 2001 and now has
> 127,000 miles.
> After using synthetic motor oil during most of the vehicle's life, today I
> saw the oil warning light blip on for a fraction of a second just before
> arriving at work. After checking oil level, I learned I had NO indication
> on the dipstick! The last oil change had been 7,000 miles earlier with
> Mobil 1 synthetic.
>
> Every time I have changed the oil in the past, it has been very close to
> the original level with nearly zero oil usage. Now out of the blue, there
> is no level and indications of some sludge in the area under the gas cap. >
> No leakage noted on the ground and no leakage evidence near the drain plug
> or oil filter. Oil was changed today and vehicle driven almost 100 miles.
> No problems at all in engine performance and oil level.
>
> Anyone ever experience something like this before where engine oil usage
> is WAY higher than it is normally?
>
> Bud H
>
It took 4,000 miles for level to go from the high to low mark on the dipstick.
A surprise, however. It took TWO quarts of oil to fill from the low to high mark. Something I was not expecting. (All levels taken on level ground first thing in the morning before the vehicle was started.)
So the oil consumption rate is 2,000 miles per quart of oil, not 5,000 miles per quart as I thought previously.
Bud H