Hello
I listen to your vids most days while Im driving my courier route
Thanks for all your info. You remind me of how my dad taught me about cars.
I drive a 2013 Scion Xb 2.4 liter automatic about 1800 miles a week. It has 400053 miles on it. I have put all but 58000 of those miles on it. Always kept the oil changed (0w20 full synthetic) every 7000 miles at most.
It is now necessary to check the oil every other day when I fuel up. . Most times it needs 1/2 qt.
Is there an additive you could recommend to reduce oil burning (not leaking)?
I have tried STP high milage oil treatment, Rislone oi cleaner, fuel injector cleaner with no real impact. She still get 24-29 mpg consistently.
Also, this summer the a/c started working part time. No rhyme or reason. Just comes and goes. The freon was topped off last spring and no leaks. What can I do to fix this?
Thanks in advance!
Laury Wagoner in Ohio {black}:lovekiss:
I think thickening additives will just wear the engine out quicker and lead to more oil burning.
The engine parts are just plum wore out, which is to be expected after 400k miles of punishing stop and go driving.
Change out the PCV valve if you haven't already. A top end rebuild could help a bit with the oil burning, but it may not be worth it for you. An engine almost definitely isn't. So live with it, or replace the car. It sounds like you got your value out of it.
When you say AC "comes and goes" can be more specific? The air velocity changes, or the temperature does?
The a/c temp and humidity level change
ok AC needs maintenance not just topping off
A clogged or malfunctioning PCV valve will increase oil consumption. All the rest, I agree with MMJoe. His advice is usually GOLD.
oh stop!
About 12 quarts between oil changes (7000 mi)
If my math is correct, you're spending approximately $1,000 per year just on oil.
I just keep dumping oil in it. About 12 quarts between oil changes (7000 mi).
I have run 2-stroke engines that used less oil than that. It's hard to believe that thing is still running with that much internal wear. The oil control rings must be near nonexistent. Time for a replacement vehicle.
Replace the engine with a good used engine from a junkyard.
Is there an additive you could recommend to reduce oil burning (not leaking)?
No oil additive will be able to repair worn-out piston rings,
But I'd try replacing the PCV if it's inexpensive and accessible.
I know that Hyundai-Kia tries to perform cylinder cleaning using a solvent in the case of high oil consumption, but I'm unsure if that's effective
(From NHTSA.com : https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10189272-0001.pdf)
If it begins to burn too much oil, I'd try swapping in a cheap junkyard unit.
I just keep dumping oil in it. About 12 quarts between oil changes (7000 mi). It’s a good thing that I found the 12 quart bulk oil box of mobile one can be bought from Walmart but it’s getting hard to find these days. The last time I found it I bought three boxes. Thanks for your answers.
that's a lot of oil. You can expect to see catalytic converter failure in the near future.
So if I do the math you drive 128 miles to work and then another 128 miles to get home 7 days a week. You got the car with 342 thousand miles on it and when you first got it it did not burn oil , it's just lately. You burn a quart every 100 miles or 2 and 1/2 quarts every day. Assuming average fuel tank of 14.5 gallons and 28 mpg. That's a tank of gas every two days. I think you just plain wore that poor car out. I am surprised your only problem is oil and AC. A junkyard engine sound like good advice except at this rate you will wear that one out in no time. Forget STP. It's like putting maple syrup in your crankcase. Sure it won't burn oil but you will have no lubrication and the engine will seize or blow up. You might get the AC checked out before you sink any money into an engine. It might not be worth it.
Good Luck with it. I like Kia's and Hyundai's. I have been driving them for years but even i know enough to trade them in at 100K. I pushed a Veracruze once to 250K but it started to fall apart and I got nothing for it when I did finally trade it in. You got your moneys worth at over 400k miles. That car owes you nothing.
Did you ever consider mass transit or moving closer to work?
courier by mass transit would be pretty entertaining 😆