2000 Corolla P1346 1349 and oil loss

In January, the check engine light came on at about 255,000 miles on my 2000 Corolla. The garage I use said it was the head gasket. They changed the head gasket and opted to change timing chain, gears and tensioner because of mileage. Less than two months later, the check engine light came on with P1349, the VVT sensor was replaced. The garage called me and said the car was 3 1/2 quarts low on oil. The car never used oil before, no leaks, no smoke out of exhaust. Picked up car and kept eye on oil. Checked oil Monday Morning before leaving oil was full. Monday afternoon, check engine light came on with P1346, checked oil and was quart low. Drove to top of driveway, (less than a block), for tow truck to take back to garage. Checked oil again and dipstick registered more oil loss... about another 1/2 quart.

It must be dripping somewhere. If you idle in Park, where does the oil puddle form? Or does it only leak above idle?

There is no leak. We have let it idle, drove it checked all through the engine and there is no evidence of oil. By we, I mean myself, my husband and the mechanic who has worked on the car. There was no oil loss until the VVT system error code. It is my understanding, the VVT regulates the valve timing and oil flow. This may sound silly, but can the oil be getting stuck in the engine/timing case?

How about the radiator? Have you checked the appearance of your coolant to make sure that is not where the oil has gone?

Anything in the timing case would have been noticed upon changing the timing belt, etc.