Toyota C-HR: 8NR-FTS 1.2T Turbocharged Engine Excessive Oil Consumption

Early-production 1.2-litre turbocharged C-HR models (8NR-FTS engine) exhibit above-normal oil consumption through piston ring wear, typically manifesting within the first 60,000–80,000 km. Toyota issued a service bulletin addressing piston ring tolerances and updated oil specification requirements. Affected vehicles can consume 1 litre of oil per 2,000–3,000 km. Left unmonitored, low-oil operation causes turbocharger bearing failure and bore scoring.

• Oil level dropping noticeably between services
• Blue-tinged smoke on cold start or hard acceleration
• Burning oil smell from engine bay after driving
• Oil fouled spark plugs at service
• Low oil warning light illuminating between services

1. 1

   Pull the oil dipstick and check level and condition.

2. 2

   Inspect spark plugs for oil fouling.

3. 3

   Ask for service history showing oil-top-up frequency.

4. 4

   Test-drive and watch for blue smoke on acceleration.

5. 5

   Check turbocharger inlet for oil residue.

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

$900 to $4,500 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.

• “Have you ever needed to top up oil between services?”
• “Has the dealer or mechanic raised oil consumption concerns?”
• “Has Toyota's piston ring service bulletin been applied?”

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.