I've just purchased a 1998 Toyota Corolla LE. The car has 77k, is in great shape, and was elderly owned for over 20 years.
I've read that one of the few issues with this make and model is a potential for excessive oil consumption after 100k due to poorly designed piston rings.
I love this car and want to baby it all I can. Are there any preventative measures I can take to avoid this issue down the road?
Thanks.
How is the progress? What's been done and how are things?
I don't think 1998s had the issues that the early 2000s had. You probably have the 5A-FE engine and the "ZZ" models were the ones that had all sorts of lovely things go wrong. Especially if oil changes weren't at 6-month/5000-mile intervals.
PCV is a must, if that fails, it can cause other problems. $7 part should be a 5-minute job.
I would be careful to NOT FLUSH anything. Drain and filling should be OK.
I would
*Check for rat/mouse infestation and if any wires were compromised.
*Flush the brakes using the 1-person bottle method. I'd really overdo the flush.
*Carefully remove spark plugs and check. Maybe they weren't platinum or iridium and would age poorly even without use.
*Drain/replace power steering fluid
*Drain the coolant and replace with the same kind. I'd consider a new thermostat if the coolant is discolored. Check coolant lines (they could dry out)
*Check for any signs of oil sludge and might use a lower dosage of Hot Shot's Secret Stiction Remover. I'd also upgrade to full synthetic (Costco/Kirkland is solid and inexpensive) and do a quick oil change (1,500 miles) if you use any Stiction remover. 3,000 miles if no additives are used. Get a good filter too, none of that $2 stuff. New oils have detergents, so you're likely to have more crud on the first couple of oil changes until it gets a few miles and some heat build up under its tires.
*Drain a quart or two of transmission fluid and replace to get new additives in the system.
*REPLACE TIMING BELT ASAP if it hasn't been done. I think they say 7 years or 100,000 miles... They are rubber. Don't risk it.
*Any oil or transmission leaks from the changes? Add AT-205 to re-polymerize the seals.
Be careful of higher pressures (overfilling the oil, flushing any fluids other than brakes) because it may cause leaks or failures.
Looks like it's a 1ZZ-FE.
Do this... Go to this website and type in the VIN. Sign up for the owner's group and you might see service records. There's a chance some of them might be up there.
https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification
Then, take the motor information and go to this website:
https://www.motorreviewer.com/ (not the end-all of information, just helpful)
I should probably add... If it is the 1ZZ-FE engine, it is a timing chain. There is an oil leak problem at the chain tensioner, I believe. That is a DIY repair. The Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel shows the job and gives tips on it.
I hope you had your mechanic check the car before purchase. If the engine piston rings are fine, just keep up with oil changes (with correct viscosity) and oil filter every 5k miles (or once a year) religiously.
Don't forget to change out the PCV valve too.
If it is the 1ZZ-FE, regular oil changes are a MUST.
https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=160