2010 oil leak ...

[cabinfevrr]

Originally Posted by Hershey

could starting both cars out with synthetic motor oil at 1,500 miles be the culprit ? . Just seems odd that both have the same leak and are a few years apart . Can't think of any other reason .

^^ this.

A couple years ago, I decided I didn't want to be a car salesman anymore, and I quit my Job at Toyota. We always told people to NOT use synthetic oil until after your first maintenance service (your 4th scheduled oil change) - the engine has to be broken in on conventional oil. I'm not a scientist, or an engineer, but that is what we were instructed to tell people, when delivering the vehicle...any toyota vehicle for that matter. I have seen warranties ripped up because people put synthetic oil in after 5000.

the thing with breaking in on synthetic, is that we know the clearances that can be achieved with synthetics are closer than available with conventional oil. we told people that if you used synthetic oil too soon, your metal/metal areas would wear more than with convetional as conventional is more restrictive. i wouldn't be surprised if you start burning oil too.

for what it's worth, I have a 2008 Yaris RS model 5 door liftback (salesman had to have the most expensive yaris (: ), and after 70,000 kilometers, i have no oil leak where you indicated. I've stayed with conventional oil since day one, and although may be proven to be more restrictive, I change my oil every 8000 kilometers, I have no leaks.

You obviously bought your car new, did your salesman not mention synthetics when your vehicle was delivered? Regardless, it's in your owners' manual.

bottom line, after talking with a lot of toyota mechanics over the years, your car is designed to run on conventional oil. sure, it may work with synthetic, but you could probably also use auto transmission fluid or power steering fluid as oil too.