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Toyota Kluger: 2GR-FE V6 Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

2GR-FE V6 Excessive Engine Oil Consumption is a common engine fault on the Toyota Kluger on the 2007–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Toyota Kluger.

Vehicle
Toyota Kluger
Engine
2GR-FE
Years
2007–2013
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Toyota Kluger as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Kluger faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Catalytic converter yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 is documented to consume engine oil at rates exceeding 1 litre per 1,000–1,500km in affected units due to low-tension piston rings and worn valve stem seals. The low-tension ring design, intended to reduce friction, allows oil to pass into the combustion chamber where it is burned. Toyota acknowledged the issue and in confirmed cases authorised replacement of the piston and piston ring set under powertrain warranty. Sustained high oil consumption leads to catalytic converter contamination and eventual converter failure.

What you would notice

  • Blue smoke from exhaust on cold startup or engine overrun
  • Oil consumption exceeding 1 litre per 1,500km
  • Fouled or oil-coated spark plugs on affected cylinders
  • Catalytic converter rattling or failure from oil contamination

How to check it

Where to look. Engine piston rings and valve stem seals

Check dipstick for low oil level relative to last service date; ask seller how frequently oil is topped up between services; inspect exhaust during a cold start and then during overrun for blue smoke; scan for fault codes including P0420 catalyst efficiency codes; request any Toyota dealer oil consumption test documentation.

Parts involved: Catalytic converter.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $6,000 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.

Ask the seller

  • “How often do you need to top up the engine oil between services?”
  • “Has Toyota ever performed a formal oil consumption test on this vehicle?”
  • “Have the piston rings or valve stem seals been replaced under warranty?”

Now check the Toyota Kluger you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

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.

Toyota Kluger buyer questions

Is 2gr-fe v6 excessive engine oil consumption serious on a Toyota Kluger?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Kluger. The 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 is documented to consume engine oil at rates exceeding 1 litre per 1,000–1,500km in affected units due to low-tension piston rings and worn valve stem seals. The low-tension ring design, intended to reduce friction, allows oil to pass into the combustion chamber where it is burned. Toyota acknowledged the issue and in confirmed cases authorised replacement of the piston and piston ring set under powertrain warranty. Sustained high oil consumption leads to catalytic converter contamination and eventual converter failure.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Kluger?

$2,500 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Kluger years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2013 Toyota Kluger. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check dipstick for low oil level relative to last service date; ask seller how frequently oil is topped up between services; inspect exhaust during a cold start and then during overrun for blue smoke; scan for fault codes including P0420 catalyst efficiency codes; request any Toyota dealer oil consumption test documentation. Look here: Engine piston rings and valve stem seals