Lexus IS: Excessive Engine Oil Consumption (2AR-FSE / 8AR-FTS)

Both the 2AR-FSE four-cylinder and the 8AR-FTS turbocharged engines have documented histories of excessive oil consumption attributed to piston ring designs that allow oil to pass the rings into the combustion chamber under certain load conditions. Consumption rates of one litre per 2,000–3,000km are regularly reported in owner communities and NHTSA complaints — well above Toyota's stated acceptable limit of one litre per 5,000km. Sustained consumption fouls the catalytic converter, causes blue smoke at startup and on overrun, and risks engine damage if the owner does not check the level frequently.

• Oil dipstick reading consistently low between service intervals
• Blue or grey smoke from the exhaust on cold start or during deceleration
• Oily film or residue visible inside the exhaust tailpipe
• Catalytic converter efficiency fault codes P0420 or P0421
• Smell of burning oil from the engine bay after sustained highway driving

1. 1

   Check the oil dipstick level and compare it against the seller's stated last service date — if it is noticeably low with fewer than 5,000km since the last oil change, consumption is occurring.

2. 2

   Ask for oil top-up receipts.

3. 3

   Inspect the tailpipe interior for a wet, oily residue and watch for blue-grey smoke on a cold start or when lifting off at speed.

4. 4

   Request an OBD-II scan for P0420 or P0421 catalytic efficiency codes which indicate oil fouling of the cat.

Parts involved: Catalytic converter.

$300 to $7,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “How often do you top up the engine oil between scheduled services?”
• “Has the vehicle ever needed oil added more than once between service intervals?”
• “Has the catalytic converter or any emissions component been replaced due to oil fouling?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.