I have a 2011 with almost the exact same miles. I have zero oil consumption, so I can't speak to your issue on this car, expect to say that it is definitely not normal. I have had this issue on other older cars, especially some old trucks. It is caused by the seals inside the engine failing causing oil to be burned along with the gasoline. There are some products that claim to help slow this down or stop it by "conditioning" seals, like Seafoam or high mileage oil. Generally mixed success rate and they are generally considered a short term fix. The only real fix is to replace those seals which requires taking apart the engine and rebuilding it. Not cheap.
2012 CT200h Excessive Oil Consumption
Hi all,
This is my first post here and I look forward to being a part of the group. I purchased a used 2012 Lexus CT200h in June of this year and have loved the car so far! Purchased with 94K miles and the car currently has 112K. I drive a lot for work and am really enjoying the fuel milage plus the style and upgraded interior/sound system over my previous ride. The only issue I am having is the car seems to be using what I think to be excessive oil between oil changes. During a span of 10K miles between changes, I estimate that I have had to add AT LEAST 3 quarts of oil (next oil change I will keep a log of oil added). I am using Mobil 1 High Milage 0W-20 oil and I perform the oil & filter change myself. I had the car inspected by a local Toyota Dealer prior to purchase but I doubt they could have diagnosed this issue during a routine pre-purchase inspection that I only paid $125 for. The car is parked in a garage in the same spot every day and there is no oil on the concrete so I must assume it is getting burned in the engine during use. I also searched the forum but i've seen that most say the CT200h has NO oil use issues so I wanted to see if any others have had my experience by chance..
Has anyone else had this oil usage experience and found resolution?
Is anyone running thicker oil than the factory recommendation?
Thanks for any help! I plan to take to talk to Lexus but wanted to check everyone's experience here first.
This is my first post here and I look forward to being a part of the group. I purchased a used 2012 Lexus CT200h in June of this year and have loved the car so far! Purchased with 94K miles and the car currently has 112K. I drive a lot for work and am really enjoying the fuel milage plus the style and upgraded interior/sound system over my previous ride. The only issue I am having is the car seems to be using what I think to be excessive oil between oil changes. During a span of 10K miles between changes, I estimate that I have had to add AT LEAST 3 quarts of oil (next oil change I will keep a log of oil added). I am using Mobil 1 High Milage 0W-20 oil and I perform the oil & filter change myself. I had the car inspected by a local Toyota Dealer prior to purchase but I doubt they could have diagnosed this issue during a routine pre-purchase inspection that I only paid $125 for. The car is parked in a garage in the same spot every day and there is no oil on the concrete so I must assume it is getting burned in the engine during use. I also searched the forum but i've seen that most say the CT200h has NO oil use issues so I wanted to see if any others have had my experience by chance..
Has anyone else had this oil usage experience and found resolution?
Is anyone running thicker oil than the factory recommendation?
Thanks for any help! I plan to take to talk to Lexus but wanted to check everyone's experience here first.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Thanks for the reply! I'll update this post as I get more information on the condition..
On my CT when the Maint. Req. warning comes on I'm usually down a quart. That's at about 5,000 miles and I change every 10K. My CT has 110K on it.
There are many people who have this issue, including me. Mine goes through 5 quarts between changes, and I’m on my second engine. 260k total miles on vehicle. People out there and Lexus themselves will tell you that this is rare and all that, but what they won’t tell you is that there is a Service Bulletin and that this is a well known issue in engine 2ZR-FXE (T-SB-0168-16). They downplay it because this they have already been forced to repair under warranty enhancements engine 2AZ-FE for, you guessed it, excessive oil consumption. This engine was in camrys, corollas, rav4, and some scions. This engine is extremely similar. They won’t acknowledge it. Please file this issue and any other issue that you experience with your vehicle on NHTSA.gov it is the only way to get them to act.
I just noticed this issue with my 2013 w/83,000 miles on it. I've used Lexus service for all maintenance since I bought it with 30k miles. The disturbing thing was that I drove from Chicago to Denver and during a drive our of the mountains, I noticed the oil lamp flash. I pulled over to check it and it wasn't even registering on the dipstick. I added two quarts, but it was still low. It took just over 3 quarts to get it up to the proper level. This sucks.
Add us to 2012 ct200h (110k miles) owners with excessive oil consumption. No oil on the dipstick yesterday and it took almost two quarts to get it up to where it should be! Parking space is clean, did some engine cleaning and found no evidence of oil leaks. This car is scheduled for an oil change tomorrow so we'll get the mechanic's (independent Lexus certified) take on this. We've mostly owned Hondas and Subarus and can not recall ever having to add oil between changes. We didn't even have any at home. Shouldn't this car have failed recent California emissions testing if it was burning excessive oil?
I have 209k miles and the oil consumption rate has remained fairly constant at 0.5 qt per 5k mi oil change, since maybe 150k or so. Prior to that, it didn’t consume any noticeable amount between oil changes.
Your experience is almost identical to mine. I'm on my way to an auto parts store to purchase more oil since the dipstick shows I'm a quart low again after I've already added 2 qts since the last oil change. I had traded in a CRV that had almost 200,000 miles on it and I never had to add oil to it. The CT200h drives great and I'm getting almost 40 mpg but the oil consumption concerns me.Hi all,
This is my first post here and I look forward to being a part of the group. I purchased a used 2012 Lexus CT200h in June of this year and have loved the car so far! Purchased with 94K miles and the car currently has 112K. I drive a lot for work and am really enjoying the fuel milage plus the style and upgraded interior/sound system over my previous ride. The only issue I am having is the car seems to be using what I think to be excessive oil between oil changes. During a span of 10K miles between changes, I estimate that I have had to add AT LEAST 3 quarts of oil (next oil change I will keep a log of oil added). I am using Mobil 1 High Milage 0W-20 oil and I perform the oil & filter change myself. I had the car inspected by a local Toyota Dealer prior to purchase but I doubt they could have diagnosed this issue during a routine pre-purchase inspection that I only paid $125 for. The car is parked in a garage in the same spot every day and there is no oil on the concrete so I must assume it is getting burned in the engine during use. I also searched the forum but i've seen that most say the CT200h has NO oil use issues so I wanted to see if any others have had my experience by chance..
Has anyone else had this oil usage experience and found resolution?
Is anyone running thicker oil than the factory recommendation?
Thanks for any help! I plan to take to talk to Lexus but wanted to check everyone's experience here first.
I also have a 2012 CT200H and it is burning oil like crazy! I literally just took it to a Valvoline Quick Oil Change station because the oil light came on and there was no oil in the engine. He filled it as it was not due for a change yet. We then drove it for about 1500 miles and it is empty again. It has 137,000 miles on it. No leaks, it is just burning oil. This makes no sense to me. Anyone have an idea as to why this could be happening?
I have the same issue with the 2012 ct200h which I just got it on Oct.2021. Had it oil changed on Dec. 11, 2021 and Mar. 14,2022. On May 23, on my way to work I heard a loud knock so I stopped by a shop to have it checked. There was no oil on dipstick so, I just got it towed back to the dealership. Technician report stated Engine to be knocking, no oil on dipstick due to oil consumption.I also have a 2012 CT200H and it is burning oil like crazy! I literally just took it to a Valvoline Quick Oil Change station because the oil light came on and there was no oil in the engine. He filled it as it was not due for a change yet. We then drove it for about 1500 miles and it is empty again. It has 137,000 miles on it. No leaks, it is just burning oil. This makes no sense to me. Anyone have an idea as to why this could be happening?
Did you get a resolution? Recommendation from the dealership as well as service provider is replacement which will cost me more than $8,000. Please reply for any resolution other than replacement.
I took my vehicle to Sewell Lexus in Dallas and left it at the service department overnight. Their assessment resulted in a recommendation that the engine be replaced. I was quoted a price that almost as much as what I paid for mu car! I mentioned that I was on a forum online in which other owners of ct200h vehicles also reported excessive oil consumption. Surprisingly, Lexus for some reason isn't standing behind this vehicle. I'm very disappointed. My car was due for an oil change a few weeks ago. I had added 3 qts of oil since the previous oil change and my car had 116K miles on it. The mechanic took a look at my engine and saw that oil was leaking from the piston rings. Rather than change the oil, the mechanic encouraged me to get rid of my car. So I sold it (I made sure there was plenty of oil visible on the dip stick) and purchased an Infiniti hybrid. I'm probably one of very few people who is (was) a dissatisfied Lexus owner. I really believe this issue deserves to be treated as a factory recall, but Lexus doesn't see it that way. Very disappointing.I have the same issue with the 2012 ct200h which I just got it on Oct.2021. Had it oil changed on Dec. 11, 2021 and Mar. 14,2022. On May 23, on my way to work I heard a loud knock so I stopped by a shop to have it checked. There was no oil on dipstick so, I just got it towed back to the dealership. Technician report stated Engine to be knocking, no oil on dipstick due to oil consumption.
Did you get a resolution? Recommendation from the dealership as well as service provider is replacement which will cost me more than $8,000. Please reply for any resolution other than replacement.
If there are misfiring cylinders, maybe it's related to EGR valve. Car Care Nut on YouTube had talked about it in one of his videos.I have the same issue with the 2012 ct200h which I just got it on Oct.2021. Had it oil changed on Dec. 11, 2021 and Mar. 14,2022. On May 23, on my way to work I heard a loud knock so I stopped by a shop to have it checked. There was no oil on dipstick so, I just got it towed back to the dealership. Technician report stated Engine to be knocking, no oil on dipstick due to oil consumption.
Did you get a resolution? Recommendation from the dealership as well as service provider is replacement which will cost me more than $8,000. Please reply for any resolution other than replacement.
If it's head gasket issue, replacement with a good engine could be your best bet. $8,000 is too much. Maybe scrap yards or shops sell certified ones cheaper. Maybe getting a 4th gen Prius engine and doing some adjustments/retrofitting into your CT could be better as those are likely designed better. Shops specializing in Pruis hybrid or CT will be your best bet. Dealerships will likely charge much more.
You are not alone. I posted my experience.
If the loud braking noise has the number one spot on this list, then the very high oil consumption of the 2011 – 2013 model has to be in second place. The problem here is the design of the 2ZR-FXE engine. This is the same engine used in some generations of the 2010 – 2014 Prius.
Owners report that they have to add 5 quarts of oil between oil changes. This also results in owners running out of engine oil on longer trips, resulting in overheating of the engine and severe engine damage.
Owners of the CT200h have reportedly been told by Lexus dealers that this is regular oil consumption. However, Toyota did issue a technical service bulletin for these engines. However, they only did so for the ones installed in the Prius and had the same problem.
Overall, CT200h owners were left hanging with an engine that uses an incredible amount of oil. The only solution here is to keep refilling the oil whenever you’re running on empty. Furthermore, this high oil consumption will result in more increased wear and tear, which means you’ll have to replace the engine at some point.
I have to replace my engine. The oil light did not come on. I do oil changes regularly
Owners report that they have to add 5 quarts of oil between oil changes. This also results in owners running out of engine oil on longer trips, resulting in overheating of the engine and severe engine damage.
Owners of the CT200h have reportedly been told by Lexus dealers that this is regular oil consumption. However, Toyota did issue a technical service bulletin for these engines. However, they only did so for the ones installed in the Prius and had the same problem.
Overall, CT200h owners were left hanging with an engine that uses an incredible amount of oil. The only solution here is to keep refilling the oil whenever you’re running on empty. Furthermore, this high oil consumption will result in more increased wear and tear, which means you’ll have to replace the engine at some point.
I have to replace my engine. The oil light did not come on. I do oil changes regularly
I have owned my 2013 CT200 since it was 9,000 miles old. I absolutely love this vehicle. A creaking moonroof which was easily silenced with foam was the only problem I've had. Once I hit 150,000 miles on the engine I began to hear a rattle upon starting the engine, which would fade once I started driving. Lexus said nothing was wrong. I continued driving. On sharp curves I would see the oil light flash on my dash and promptly turn off. I began checking the oil level as soon as I heard the rattle and you guessed it...no oil! After tracking over the past 40,000 miles, my solution is continuing with the regular oil changes and topping off with 3-5 qts after 1500 miles driven in between oil changes.Keep in mind that the oil light does not come on until the oil reservoir is bone dry. Do not rely on it for oil level. Lexus service rep says that the engine is getting old and oil consumption at this rate is normal. Only option is an engine replacement. This vehicle has given me 180,000 hard miles and it being a little thirsty after 1500 miles driven is not a huge inconvenience for my little road warrior. The oil costs eat into my fuel cost savings nowadays but I'm still saving a ton in comparison to my prior SUV fuel costs.I just keep a 5 qt oil container on hand and plan to do so until the engine throws up the white flag. Also, I just replaced my battery for the first time since owning this vehicle. Factory battery got the vehicle to 189,500 miles. Not bad!
I took my vehicle to Sewell Lexus in Dallas and left it at the service department overnight. Their assessment resulted in a recommendation that the engine be replaced. I was quoted a price that almost as much as what I paid for mu car! I mentioned that I was on a forum online in which other owners of ct200h vehicles also reported excessive oil consumption. Surprisingly, Lexus for some reason isn't standing behind this vehicle. I'm very disappointed. My car was due for an oil change a few weeks ago. I had added 3 qts of oil since the previous oil change and my car had 116K miles on it. The mechanic took a look at my engine and saw that oil was leaking from the piston rings. Rather than change the oil, the mechanic encouraged me to get rid of my car. So I sold it (I made sure there was plenty of oil visible on the dip stick) and purchased an Infiniti hybrid. I'm probably one of very few people who is (was) a dissatisfied Lexus owner. I really believe this issue deserves to be treated as a factory recall, but Lexus doesn't see it that way. Very disappointing.
I contacted
Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA
File a complaint with NHTSA if you experienced a vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment safety problem that could be a safety defect.
Fill out the form under engine and explain the issue. Since Lexus is not taking full responsibility on this, we do have a voice.
The more of us that do this, the greater the chance of fixing this.
There are many people who have this issue, including me. Mine goes through 5 quarts between changes, and I’m on my second engine. 260k total miles on vehicle. People out there and Lexus themselves will tell you that this is rare and all that, but what they won’t tell you is that there is a Service Bulletin and that this is a well known issue in engine 2ZR-FXE (T-SB-0168-16). They downplay it because this they have already been forced to repair under warranty enhancements engine 2AZ-FE for, you guessed it, excessive oil consumption. This engine was in camrys, corollas, rav4, and some scions. This engine is extremely similar. They won’t acknowledge it. Please file this issue and any other issue that you experience with your vehicle on NHTSA.gov it is the only way to get them to act.
Thanks for the tip. I did submit a complaint. Below is the email response. I wanted to share with the group.
This email is to confirm we received your vehicle complaint submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Thank you for this public service as it is through actions like yours that together we can save lives on America's roadways.
Your tracking number assigned by NHTSA for this issue is ( private). Please keep this number for your records and for future reference. Once your complaint has been processed, you will be able to view it online and find any related documents. Please allow two business days for NHTSA to review your complaint.
What happens next?
Your complaint will be reviewed by NHTSA technical staff and entered into our database. If any additional information is needed, a NHTSA investigator will contact you.
Every complaint is taken seriously, reviewed in detail and analyzed for defects trends. Your complaint is important because it helps to inform NHTSA, other vehicle owners and manufacturers about potential safety concerns. Such information helps save lives, and we encourage you to share the resources available at NHTSA.gov with your family, friends and others in your community.
Will my vehicle be recalled?
When a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a car or item of motor vehicle equipment creates an unreasonable risk to safety or fails to meet minimum safety standards, the manufacturer is required to fix that car or equipment. That can be done by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund (for equipment) or, in rare cases, repurchasing the car.
If your vehicle is included in a recall, the manufacturer will contact you. Sign up to receive recall email alerts from NHTSA if there's ever a recall involving your vehicle, tire or child seat.
If you have any other questions regarding your complaint, please contact NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation:
- Phone: 888-327-4236, Monday-Friday, 8:00AM to 8:00PM EST(Spanish-speaking representatives available)
TTY: 888-424-9153
(Please have your ODI number referenced above available.)
- Email: https://www.nhtsa.gov/about-nhtsa/contact-us
(Please indicate your ODI Number referenced above in the contact form.)
Thank you for contacting us and playing a critical role in helping to keep our roads safe.
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