JDMs and engine failure

[uncle_asa]

The US models with the 3.5L seem to have somewhat of a problem with mystery oil consumption that if not managed leads to catastrophic engine failure. Given most of JDMs are 3.2L is there any history of the same thing?? Could the 3.2L be plugged in after a 3.5L failed??

Just interested as someone who has a post-factory 3.5L fitted, thinking what might happen if it died (I would go back to the factory 3.2 I think, and wonder how hard that would be).

Keen to hear anyone's thoughts....

R.

As I live in country where both JDM and US VXes are met, the truth is that both 3.2 and 3.5 could consume oil (actually, there's not much difference between them). We have approximately same number of engine rebuilds from both clans.

[TheGanzman]

Let me echo Joe's comments. My '01 VX uses ZERO oil - NONE! Hell, it even seems to MAKE oil - I always check it in the same place (my level garage) at the same time, cold - right before taking it for refueling. I swear, the level on the dipstick seems to be going UP...

We live in our own little "vacuum" here, and like Chicken Little, we love to perpetuate the "sky is falling" rumor! For fun, pick THE most reliable (in YOUR mind) car you know of - then find a Forum for that car. You won't BELIEVE the "gloom & doom" you'll read about THAT model on THAT forum! Example: My wife has an '04 Lexus SC430 that we bought new. Has 52K ABSOLUTE trouble-free miles on it so far. She's prolly put the top up and down more than ANYONE short of the Lexus engineering staff - virtually twice/day since she bought it (we live in SoCal). Yet, if you spent enough time on the SC430 Forums reading about a FEW people that have had problems with their retractable hardtop mechanisms, you wouldn't buy an SC430! Granted, I've only had my VX for a few months, but I've had ZERO issues with it; bought it from the original owner who had ZERO issues - NO check engine light(s), NO ABS lights, NO failed CD player, NO oil consumption. I DID have to adjust the driver's side window when I got it to fix the "tilting problem" (A half hour and ZERO materials cost); that's been IT!

Do your "due diligence", find a good one (the majority of them ARE) that hasn't been flogged like a circus donkey, and then enjoy!