Hello all! Relatively new to the forum and first thread here. However, this seems to be the appropriate area to ask this question: I'm going to be 48 at the end of the month. At the risk of sounding "Well, sonny, I remember when I was your age...", is it me or is something different with newer car engines (say last 15-20 years)? I seem to recall engines when I was a kid only buring significant amounts of oil in between oil changes if there was a problem (hence why so many could go forever without getting their oil change and turning their oil into sludge in the engine). Now I'm told that burning 1-2 quarts of oil between changes is normal. What did I miss?

Thanks for any insight.

 

You must have a lemon.. even my Caddy doesn't use any oil.

 

Every manufacturer sets a standard for oil consumption, for each particular engine. This is the standard used to decide if an engine should be repaired under warranty. I've seen oil consumption standards range between one quart in 750 miles and one quart in 1000 miles.

When oil changes were recommended at 3000 miles, consumption was seldom an issue. Some late model cars have oil change intervals of 7500 miles. This is far enough for the engine to run low on oil, with only moderate oil consumption. This is why late model engines have "low oil" indicator systems. In the 21st century, it's very common to have to add oil between oil changes. If an engine is using 1/2 quart per 1000 miles, at 6000 miles, it's 3 quarts low.

Oil consumption will vary depending on driving habits. Oil consumption is very high when the engine is cold. A person who drives only a mile to work and then a mile back home, will have very high consumption per mile. A person who drives at high rpm's for extended times will have high consumption.

 

Unless you have bad rings, blown gasket or oil leek you shouldn't need to add oil.

 

Here is an explanation of what is "normal" oil consumption. https://www.cars.com/articles/how-much-oil-consumption-is-normal-1420682864535/

It seems that my experience of no significant oil use, is really the norm.

 

Maybe the place that changes your oil is shorting you? If you bring it in of course.

 

Modern engines should not be using oil.
All of the 50 and 60 era used cars shooter had while he was in school and college used a lot of oil.
The joke used to be, check the gas and fill up the oil........

His first new car was a 1973 Opel GT and it and all cars he has had since have never needed oil between changes.

 

Right. Cars back in the day would always seem to use a little oil. The cars and trucks we've had the last 20 years or so don't burn any oil between changes. I don't think burning 1-2 quarts in between oil changes is normal.

 

Anyone who thinks their engine is burning too much oil is more than welcome to take it apart and put it back together better than it was before. I've performed plenty of oil consumption tests over the past 40 years. About 1 in 5 was actually consuming as much oil as the owner estimated. I can't count how many times I've been told, "You can't tell me that's normal!"

Some people act as if oil consumption was a reflection on their personal hygiene.

 

There's so many variables , from driving styles and conditions , to from one engine to the next , and depending on how they've been driven and treated since new , and so on.

Also , how it has been started and run cold.
You over rev an engine badly enough just once very cold , and you may have done a lot of damage in that one instant , especially if it has not run for a while (has a dry bore)

Also , some engines will use more if it is kept topped right up.
That is , they use a little more while they're at the full level , and less as it drops.
I've had engines that use the first pint or so off the top relatively quickly ,
then slow to using very little from then on , until you top it up.

Another thing to think about;
If an engine is/was using absolutely none , what is lubricating the bore ?

Remember the pistons are going up n down them hundreds of times every second , every time they are running , for as many years as they last.
A little more oil than needed , is a lot cheaper than a little less.

 

Well I have a guy for this kind of thing and he tells me to to do what I always do and that is to put gas in it and run the snot out of it like I always do.

 

Same here

Ride like you stoldit have a ball

 

My father God Bless Him And his Cars and trucks .
He only buys for Ford Cars and trucks , he is 80 years old still drives. Has never ever changed the oil in any vehicle he has ever owned lol no shit.
The oil it came with new will be the oil that's in it when he trades it in lol. Once in awhile he will ad some . Crazy bastard I love him

 

Scotty Kilmer did an episode about newer engines and their burning oil.

Long story short they do it because car makers today do not give a damn about building a quality part anymore.

 

Buy a Toyota

 

If you would like to cut down on your engine's oil consumption next time you change oil buy a 5-quart jug of Mobile One Synthetic Oil for high mileage cars. Our Subaru goes 5,000 miles without burning hardly any oil, maybe a half quart.

 

What do you mean changing the oil in a car? Mine runs on gasoline.

 

Now here's an interesting story related to oil usage in modern cars;

Care to guess what an oil change costs for a Bugatti Veyron?
For those not in the know, a Bugatti Veyron is the fasted street legal production car in the world. It has a 16 cylinder, quad turbo charged monster that develops 1,200 horsepower, and since the entire car only weighs 4,400 Lbs. it's easy to see that indeed this little street rocket will go over 250 MPH.
Before you run out and buy one, make sure you have $1.7 Million handy. These things ain't cheap.


So anyway, how much does an oil change cost for one of these things?
Ready?
$21,000.
Really. Twenty one Thousand fucking dollars.
Why you ask?
Well, for starters, changing the oil isn't as simple as pulling a plug to drain the oil. anyway, if you really want to know, the link has a video that explains it all.............
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/bugatti-veyron-oil-change/

 

How much is an oil change?

Nevermind. If one has to ask......

 

The last vehicle I had that burned oil had a slant six in it and three on the tree. It was a check the gas and fill the oil sort of deal.