Oil issues..
26 March 2001, 11:32 PM
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HELP! 
Been running tests on my car for the oil consumption, as it seemed to be drinking 3-4 litres between services
However, it appears its used none in the last 1K miles, so why all of a sudden has it stopped!? Going to check it in another 1K miles, see what happens..
Anybody got any ideas, things I should look for to see where the oil might of been going??
Cheers, Alex
Ps. cars on 19K now, so 22.5K will be due in 5/6 weeks.
Been running tests on my car for the oil consumption, as it seemed to be drinking 3-4 litres between services
However, it appears its used none in the last 1K miles, so why all of a sudden has it stopped!? Going to check it in another 1K miles, see what happens..
Anybody got any ideas, things I should look for to see where the oil might of been going??
Cheers, Alex
Ps. cars on 19K now, so 22.5K will be due in 5/6 weeks.
26 March 2001, 11:35 PM
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PS. it went on a rolling road at SAS in Aldershot a few weeks back and got 261BHP/219lbs torque, but been advised that the roading road at this place isnt that reliable..
26 March 2001, 11:55 PM
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Alex
Hi mate
It's quite normal for some cars to have excessive oil consumption at first then it settles down after everything has bedded in. You aren't by any chance using Mobil 1 are you??
Hi mate
It's quite normal for some cars to have excessive oil consumption at first then it settles down after everything has bedded in. You aren't by any chance using Mobil 1 are you??
27 March 2001, 12:29 PM
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Alex,
Agree with Dave T-S here.
Modern engines use much harder cylinder bore materials / liners and oil control rings than in the past.
This means that they can have a tendency to glaze and not seal properly. This sometimes happens if the running in mileage is done at constant speed on a motorway, or you haven't loaded the engine enough to generate decent side thrust between the piston / rings and the bore.
If your oil consuption has dropped to zero this means that the rings and cylinder bores are finally sealing properly, so you should be ok from now on.
VWs are known for this, as are some BMW models. It really isn't a problem provided that you keep an eye on sump levels.
My own oil consumption has gone from zero to about 0.3l/1000 miles, and now back to zero again since I started to use Mobil 1 5W/40.
Cheers,
Alex
Agree with Dave T-S here.
Modern engines use much harder cylinder bore materials / liners and oil control rings than in the past.
This means that they can have a tendency to glaze and not seal properly. This sometimes happens if the running in mileage is done at constant speed on a motorway, or you haven't loaded the engine enough to generate decent side thrust between the piston / rings and the bore.
If your oil consuption has dropped to zero this means that the rings and cylinder bores are finally sealing properly, so you should be ok from now on.
VWs are known for this, as are some BMW models. It really isn't a problem provided that you keep an eye on sump levels.
My own oil consumption has gone from zero to about 0.3l/1000 miles, and now back to zero again since I started to use Mobil 1 5W/40.
Cheers,
Alex
27 March 2001, 01:47 PM
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Cheers guys,
The car started to really hammer Shell Helix between the 7.5K service and 15K. Started using Mobil 1 5/40 at about 13K miles, seemed to be burn less... then took it in at 17.5K and it had burnt a 1.5/2 ltrs.. since then (19K miles now) it doesnt seem to have done much, if any.
Hope its as AlexM says
otherwise
Thanks again, Alex
[This message has been edited by DrEvil (edited 27 March 2001).]
The car started to really hammer Shell Helix between the 7.5K service and 15K. Started using Mobil 1 5/40 at about 13K miles, seemed to be burn less... then took it in at 17.5K and it had burnt a 1.5/2 ltrs.. since then (19K miles now) it doesnt seem to have done much, if any.
Hope its as AlexM says
otherwise Thanks again, Alex
[This message has been edited by DrEvil (edited 27 March 2001).]
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27 March 2001, 01:56 PM
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Alex
Mobil 1 is known for squirting out the back end, particularly in the lower viscosities and early in a car's life - it prolongs the bedding in process.
If it has now settled down, you are probably OK, better that OK oil consumption has changed to little from a lot rather than the other way round.
BTW, be very careful your oil level is not OVERfilled at services or in between. Don't want to alarm you, but there was a recent case of a P1 engine that let go big time, reckoned to be because it was overfilled with oil, contaminated the MAF sensor, DET = BANG! Can't tell you the source of this info, but it was someone well respected that knows what he is talking about....
Cheers
Dave
Mobil 1 is known for squirting out the back end, particularly in the lower viscosities and early in a car's life - it prolongs the bedding in process.
If it has now settled down, you are probably OK, better that OK oil consumption has changed to little from a lot rather than the other way round.
BTW, be very careful your oil level is not OVERfilled at services or in between. Don't want to alarm you, but there was a recent case of a P1 engine that let go big time, reckoned to be because it was overfilled with oil, contaminated the MAF sensor, DET = BANG! Can't tell you the source of this info, but it was someone well respected that knows what he is talking about....
Cheers
Dave
27 March 2001, 02:17 PM
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Dr.
I've had these terrible lumps come up on..... oh sorry wrong doctor.
Ah yes I remember now:
I've found that as I get closer to a service interval I suddenly start to lose oil.
First off, nothing for 6000ish miles and then suddenly topping up every couple of weeks.
I have an oil change and the cycle repeats itself again!
I guess that as the oil starts to break down at the end of it's life it passes in the bores a bit easier?
IUncidentally, I try to do an mid term change of oil these days just to be sure.
Neil.
I've had these terrible lumps come up on..... oh sorry wrong doctor.
Ah yes I remember now:
I've found that as I get closer to a service interval I suddenly start to lose oil.
First off, nothing for 6000ish miles and then suddenly topping up every couple of weeks.
I have an oil change and the cycle repeats itself again!
I guess that as the oil starts to break down at the end of it's life it passes in the bores a bit easier?
IUncidentally, I try to do an mid term change of oil these days just to be sure.
Neil.
27 March 2001, 02:33 PM
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Cheers again... think I'll just monitor it for another 1K miles, see if it has stopped.
at 13K (well probably 12K) miles the car had a full oil change, going from Shell Helix Plus to Mobil 1 5/40. It will be having another full change in a week or so, as I opted for oil changes every 3750 miles (or there abouts).
Thanks again, Alex
at 13K (well probably 12K) miles the car had a full oil change, going from Shell Helix Plus to Mobil 1 5/40. It will be having another full change in a week or so, as I opted for oil changes every 3750 miles (or there abouts).
Thanks again, Alex
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