2003 4.7 V8 oil consumption

[jeffjeeptj]

I bought our Sequoia new in 2003. It has has fairly regular maintenance using 5-30 Mobil 1. It now has 135,000 on the clock. It never used any noticeable amount of engine oil until now. I have used it to tow a collection of trailers (25' RV, 12' high roof cargo, flat bed with Jeep LJ. Rubicon, we are now towing a 26' RV and are about 500 under GCWR. Driving habits are unchanged. Tires have cocsistently been BFG AT 265/70-17 since 18K miles.
When I search online I can not find much on the subjectof oil consumption. I am now using about 1 quart every 1500 miles. Went from no consumption to this use rate. A search of Toyota and BITOG forums, and Mr. Google has turned up not much.
I do not need to know what happens if I use 5-30 vs. 10-30, or dino vs. synthetic. Sorry for being snarky.

I have not performed any testing, as I have a family reunion coming up in 10 days and DW has forbidden any action that could render Sequoia unable to tow RV trailer, even changing spark plugs.
Any ideas / experience of maybe something simple like PCV? After reunion, i will go down the change to dino to watch start-up and long decels, compression, and leak-down tests, just not right now.
Thanks in advance.

 

[4runnerteq]

Change the PCV just for giggles. Probably wont help. Toyota, as well as any other manufacturer Im aware of allows for 1 quart every 1000 miles. Don't say I agree with it, but that's how it is. That being said, the 4.7 is usually pretty bullet proof.

 

[jeffjeeptj]

the 4.7 is usually pretty bullet proof.

I know. Have not seen/read about any consumption issues with 4.7. Mine went from none to a medium amount. Interestingly, I just saw a CL ad for a complete 2005 4.7 locally. Ad states ran fine but had bearing noise. Swapped engines. $300.
I wonder what it would take to change ECU and associated stuff, keeping the 4 speed trans. Probably more difficult tha it should be.

 

[jeffjeeptj]

I met a lady today who bought a used 2001 Sequoia 5 years ago. She tells me she “abuses” it and treats it “rough”. She and her husband keep it at their cabin and use it as a camp vehicle. It has about 250K miles and is stated to not use any oil. They drove it about 10K a year.

Kind of makes me angry that mine seems to be the sole user of oil. I will start diagnostics in a week, but, I can find few entries on the internet, youtube, where oil consumption in a 4.7is discussed. there was one video of a guy rebuilding his engine, due to a multi-piece connecting rod.
This post has had over 200 views and not one speculation as to a reason for usage. There are no obvious leaks, and the PCV valve was very clean. It flowed easily in one direction using mouth pressure. There was some oil covering the front of the intake under the decorative 4.7 cover. That has been washed off to see if it comes back.

 

[wiggilez]

if your planning an engine swap you'll want an 04 or down.

 

[FirstGenTundra]

This is the first time I've ever seen a report of the 4.7L drinking oil. Sorry to hear it's happening to you. After 16 years it's a good idea to replace the PCV anyways but I doubt it will have any impact. Keep us posted please.

 

[jeffjeeptj]

Thanks, wiggilez. I temporarily thought a newer vvti swap, but, with a small bit of research decided locating all the pieces would be much more difficult than just buying a good condition 05 to 07.