Are all 2.4L Matrix engines oil burners?

Hey everyone! I’m looking to buy a 2010 Toyota Matrix XR with 144,000 km and could use some advice. My mechanic said it looks solid and well-maintained, but he did mention the 2.4L engines are known for burning oil. I’ve looked into it more, and it seems like a common issue. The Carfax is clean, but it doesn’t show any engine repairs after Toyota’s recall.

So my main question: Should I go for this car or stick with the 1.8L engine instead? Does anyone here have a 2.4L Matrix that doesn’t burn oil? The current owner says they haven’t had to add oil between changes and just did an oil change recently. The car’s great otherwise, but I’m getting second thoughts—I really don’t want to worry about oil consumption all the time.

Thanks for any help!

It was definitely a common issue, but not all 2.4L engines had it. I had an ‘09 XR, and mine didn’t burn any oil. A quick way to check is to watch the exhaust for smoke on a cold start. You could also have a friend drive behind you to see if there’s smoke at different speeds and during acceleration.

You can also check the VIN against the TSB chart on page 2 here to see if it falls under the recall.

Honestly, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. My coworker has a Matrix with the 2.4L, and he’s driven it so much he’s replaced the gauge cluster twice because it maxed out at 299,999 km!

ToyotaGuru said:
Honestly, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. My coworker has a Matrix with the 2.4L, and he’s driven it so much he’s replaced the gauge cluster twice because it maxed out at 299,999 km!

I thought only the first-gen Matrix had the odometer issue that maxed out. Didn’t know it happened with later models, but I could be wrong!

Burning oil is pretty common with those engines, but it doesn’t mean every single one does it. It’s just the main issue they tend to have. Manufacturers also say some oil burn between changes is normal.

Try Berryman’s treatment. Mine used to burn a quart every fill-up, but after two treatments, it barely uses any oil at all. The dipstick is still full after two fill-ups.