Non- Volvo Related -- Camry Woes (Excessive Oil Consumption)

Post by **E Showell** » 13 Mar 2018, 14:31

A buddy has a 2007 Camry. He's been using a lot of oil. Mechanic says he's got a problem with the pistons, but the mechanic isn't more specific than that. Producing black exhaust smoke and using a quart of Mobil 1 to 800 miles of travel. Diminished power is another symptom. Possible he's just dealing with a stuck piston ring and that a can of seafoam in the crankcase might free things up and improve the situation? I'd be interested in the collective wisdom of the forum. Thanks.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Mar 2018, 14:36

Black smoke - excessive fuel. He's got some sort of engine management problem. That will wash the oil of the pistons and cause high consumption. Has to be a CEL on - mixture that messed up will code.
Toyota bottom ends are strong - if he can solve the gas problem engine will be fine

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 13 Mar 2018, 15:14

Does he have 2.4L I4 or the 3.5 L V6?

If he has the 2.4L I would pour Sea Foam directly in the cylinders and let it sit for an extended period.
Stuff rags in the spark plug wells, turn over to push out Sea Foam.
Reinstall plugs.
Fire it up and let it run at high idle until it stops blowing carbon.

The Sea Foam will decompose any carbon sticking a ring.

If he has the V6, you can try the same but the Sea Foam won't flood the entire top of the piston because the piston are at a angle. Might work on the 3.5L might not.

When the carbon is blowing out, the exhaust can get black as night. Don't let it freak you out, don't hit the panic button.

BTY: Blue/Gray exhaust smoke is Oil. Black is incomplete combustion. If the eyes cannot tell the difference, the nose will.

Post by **E Showell** » 13 Mar 2018, 15:30

I'm told black smoke.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 13 Mar 2018, 15:35

I'm told black smoke.

Been at this for 1/2 century, a lot of people call any smoke coming out the tail pipe black, some "mechanics" included.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 13 Mar 2018, 15:54

How many miles? How frequent of oil changes? The 4 banger is known to gum up piston rings. The usual course is to Seafoam, Mystery Oil, *** in the oil with a 500 mile or so first oil change and then increase mileage, but keep cleaner in there. The first round will be very black and dirty.

Other recommendations would also work in conjunction.

My brother did the oil treatment method and saw slow improvement on his Camry.

One other thing - check the PCV system to make sure that is not the cause.

RichCrewe · Post by **RichCrewe** » 18 Mar 2018, 11:16

E Showell wrote: ↑13 Mar 2018, 14:31 A buddy has a 2007 Camry. He's been using a lot of oil. Mechanic says he's got a problem with the pistons, but the mechanic isn't more specific than that. Producing black exhaust smoke and using a quart of Mobil 1 to 800 miles of travel. Diminished power is another symptom. Possible he's just dealing with a stuck piston ring and that a can of seafoam in the crankcase might free things up and improve the situation? I'd be interested in the collective wisdom of the forum. Thanks.

By chance, I saw something about this yesterday. This YouTube video seems mentions a design fault in the pistons that causes insufficient oil to flow into the oil-control rings and leads to fouling. The video also mentions that Toyota extended the warranty period, so it might be worth a call to a Toyota dealer just in case you can get the work done for free.

--
Rich

Post by **E Showell** » 18 Mar 2018, 13:37

Thanks.

Post by **E Showell** » 18 Mar 2018, 13:37

Thanks.

Post by **chrism** » 18 Mar 2018, 14:50

My mom had a four cylinder Camry - around a 1996?? Purchased new, she put about 35,000 on it over the course of 10 years, putting around back and forth to town, rarely above 40 MPH and rarely running it long enough to get it good and warmed up for any period of time. When she could no longer drive, my sister-in-law took ownership and started making longer trips at higher speeds. Almost immediately it started running very poorly. Mechanics looked into it and found at least one cylinder with the walls so scored up it couldn't achieve adequate compression. Their theory was that chunks of carbon had broken away and gotten between piston and cylinder. Who knows? But it goes to show that even a Toyota can fail if not properly maintained.