lajkowicz

Regarding your question about oil consumption, I have a 2004 Corolla and the owner's manual says basically the same thing on p 179 (I think that's the page.). I was talking to the service manager at my Toyota dealer about my high idle question and mentioned the oil consumption note to him. He said that if he had an engine with that oil consumption he would consider the engine shot. It would be replaced under waranty by Toyota if still within the waranty period. The oil consumption note, I think, (and the service manager agreed) refers only to oil consumption in the first 600 to 1000 miles (the break-in period). But even then, it would be very unusual for this amount of oil consumption to occur. If it did, you should check the engine and watch continued oil consumption. The note is very poorly worded and could be interpreted as normal acceptable oil consumption on first reading. You may want to check with your service manager to get the dealer's interpretation of the manual.

The only "automatic choke" on this car is the Idle Control Valve which is controlled by the computer. Yes older cars had automatic chokes which were controlled by a thermostat which opened the choke when the engine warmed. I think that 1800 to 2000 RPM is too fast to run an engine expecially for the first few seconds when there is no oil in the engine. It does take time for oil pressure to build to the correct value and for the oil pump to fill the engine. I also think I am wasting gas at this RPM. Can you tell me what your cold idle RPMs are and whether you have a manual or automatic transmission?

When my 2004 Corolla starts the engine, revs to about 2000 RPMs. If still cold, the idle drops to about 1800 and stays there until the engine starts to warm. IF the engine is warm the idle drops to a normal 700 RPM. I have been told by the dealer that this is the correct operation for the engine. Emails, which I have received from the Toyota web site, say the it is "not unusual for Corollas to run with high cold RPM". This statement implies is that not all Corollas idle at high RPMs. My problem is that, just at start up, there is no oil pressure and the oil has drained from the engine. It takes a few seconds for the engine oil to circulate. I think that running at 1800 to 2000 RPMs is racing the engine and that the engine is being damaged. In the first few seconds of running, the bearings are running without an adequate supply of oil or oil pressure. Is anyone else having this experience? What do other owners on this forum see as cold idle RPMs? Thanks