What Oil?

[BZG Wagon]

I just got a 96 Corolla Wagon - 4AGE AE101 140kms (Black Top), and its blowing a bit of black smoke at high rev's (Hard acceleration, above 4000rpm). I figured its just the mixture, but its also burning a bit of oil. The service record said 10W 40 has been used & im topping it up with 15W 40.

Anyone have similar probs? What type of oil should I use?

I have also heard heaps about the 4AGE - are they really as great/strong as everyone goes on and on about? It seems a bit over-rated.

Oh yea - the engine idles @ 900 - 1000 RPM when warm - seems a bit high to me? (Cold is 1500RPM - I think thats sweet?)

[Bling]

I've used both 10-40 and 15-40 (seperatly) in the past with no issues.

the engines will blow black smoke if u push them hard enough, a common thing, in fact i think they all do it......

same with oil usage, if you push it hard, it will use oil too I go through QUITE a bit of oil, maybe i just need to wear lighter shoes....

my idle is around the 1000 mark, so i guess theres no problems there

[Twolitre]

Sounds like your engines done a few K's now so it might be a good time to do a tune up if it hasn't already been done yet and that includes leads, cap, rotor, spark plugs and fuel filter, also check your timing and make sure your air filter is clean.
I also own a high revving daily driver with 130K on the clock and I use Valvoline semi synthetic 15-40 and it doesn't blow any smoke of any colour.

[aesc]

I use Valvoline semi synthetic 15-40

I didnt know Valvoline made a semi synthetic 15W40, might have to try it out

[Snoozin]

I just got a 96 Corolla Wagon - 4AGE AE101 140kms (Black Top), and its blowing a bit of black smoke at high rev's (Hard acceleration, above 4000rpm). I figured its just the mixture, but its also burning a bit of oil. The service record said 10W 40 has been used & im topping it up with 15W 40.

Anyone have similar probs? What type of oil should I use?

I have also heard heaps about the 4AGE - are they really as great/strong as everyone goes on and on about? It seems a bit over-rated.

Oh yea - the engine idles @ 900 - 1000 RPM when warm - seems a bit high to me? (Cold is 1500RPM - I think thats sweet?)

Generally black smoke tends to indicate the car is running rich, it's not usually an oil-related issue, if it's blowing oil out the exhaust you'll likely see blue smoke. This is normally caused by blow-by from worn rings, more likely at high revs, or if it's blowing blue smoke when you decelerate, thats an indication of worn valve guides.

Do what Twolitre said, might also pay to bung some injector cleaner in the tank while ya at it.

I'm using a 15W40 Pennzoil Semi-Synthetic and I've had brilliant results from it so far.... also in an engine of similar k's.

[Twolitre]

I didnt know Valvoline made a semi synthetic 15W40, might have to try it out

Yeah it's the XLD engine armour stuff, nothing special though (10W-40 is better) but it comes in 5L which I need as my engine takes 4.5l per oil change, another good oil I like is the Penrite semi synthetic 10W-50 or even their 15W-60

[BZG Wagon]

Thanks guys. I think I will try some injector stuff as well as giving it new plugs/leads/oil etc & I will take it somewhere for a tune after I finish exams.

Is the AE101 4AGE VVTi?

[CozmoNz]

neh, just vvt.

just means its either on or off, no *lets just advace the valves slightly to give better fuel consumption* bs.

wasnt vvt in the ae101's and 111s for power, back in the 90's?

and in the 2zz its for just power, got lift like vtec. thats not for fuel consumption (well, when its on its not lol)

[Graphite]

I've had no problems with oil consumption, I brought car at 99,000K, have now done 113,000, changed oil once, never seems to need topup, is still on full mark on dipstick from when i changed it at 107,000K.
I drive the car quite hard, and often rev to redline.
I have noticed a bit of black smoke when flooring it in 2nd or 3rd gear., but this is normal really.

[event2]

when i first bought my it had 155 kms and shell helux yellow oil in it it would use a bit of oil. then i tryed gtx protect and it didnt use any at all but started to get a we bit noisie. so now im on to the valvoline dural blend 15-40 hasnt used ne at all and seems nice and quiet smooth. and my car has about 168 kms on it now but its not a 20valve its super chaged and gets a work out every now and then but i duno they mayb bult stronger than 2o-valves stronger rings mayb i duno

[ROBODISCO_20v]

I was looking in the latest castrol and vallvoline oil catalogues at work and they recomend 15w40 in 4AGE's. It should take 3.5L according to them.
I think the best 15w40 is ELF, but i use valvoline engine armour(15w40) as i get i cheap thru work. I do my oil change every 5000km so i dont have any problems with it using oil as its not in there long enough to go anywhere. I presonally think 10,000km is to longer service intervile especially if you drive your car hard as i guess most people here do.

As for Valvoline making semi snythetic 15w40, they don't. The engine armour has synthetic forterfyers, what ever that means? but its classed as a mineral oil. I'm pretty sure all 15w40 oils are mineral. You have to go to 15w50 or 10w40 to get semi synthetic.
Valvoline do a fully synthetic 5w40 and mobil do a 0w40 which you could try in a 4AG if you wanted to go all the way.

[EssDub]

Im running my car on Valvoline 20W50 at the moment, and it runs really smooth, but it eats the oil at high-ish rpm (like 5000+) Im just wondering if there are any treatments you can do for this?

It doesn't smoke at all, under any load, and behaves all the time under any conditions, so im kinda baffled as to why it uses so much. Design of the engine perhaps?

[BZG Wagon]

I have heard treatments do nothing. The last owner of my car does a change every 7000kms - he has all the records to prove it. I think I might follow suit. He reckons its been going through a small bit of oil as long as he has had it - since 80000kms.