I've been reading about the oil usage of these engines and some failures for 7.5 years now at various Isuzu boards. There's little doubt that there was a design or assembly problem that leads to the oil usage issue, probably involving the piston rings. However, I don't believe that alone is the cause of failures. The main problem seems to be people not checking their oil often enough, even after reading about this issue many times. I never thought my engine was affected either, until about the mid-60K's when I noticed it was suddenly using more oil than it should. If I had not been on top of this, I could have lost my engine to low oil like many others have. Since then I check my oil as much as four times a week, even after a 50 mile run, and add small amounts as needed. 100,000 miles later my engine runs absolutely fantastic at 165K, even while adding more oil than an engine should need over that whole time.
All engines can fail at any time. I know that all the failures have not been from low oil and some are lost to legit bearing problems or other problems that any engine can experience. Sometimes people may not like to admit that their VX just plain ran out of oil, and blame it on a failed bearing. Afterall, this is the internet where anything goes. Some have explained that they heard bad noises and then checked the oil to find none on the dipstick. One member described hearing bad sounds and stopping at their mechanic to have a listen, and after popping the hood and high revving the engine, decided to check the oil level and.... well, you know what happens next. A bright, shiny new engine goes in which possibly could have been avoided.
I love my engine, even with the oil usage, and won't be surprised if it runs great for 300,000 miles or more. Change the oil at least every 3K miles and check the oil every other day or more. Don't drive it like ya stole it and maybe you'll enjoy your oil-burning engine for twenty years without a failure. It's the same deal with the tranny which some claim is weak. Mine works like new and has never skipped a beat. I've had the fluid changed four times and I don't abuse it. That puppy might out live my engine.
Don't worry, be happy.
Apparently, these engines did get modified/updated at some point. It looks like all the Vehicri got the old, affected engines.
Mark Griffin (a VX lifer)
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