Using Oil

[FinallyVXRed]

I'm experiencing what I would call "considerably above average oil use", about a litre a week/300 miles to be precise. I've had it checked out by Gr33n5 (identity disguised to protect and all that) and have been assured that there is nothing amiss, or at least nothing that they can find.

I have to concede that I can't find anything obvious either, there's no trace of oil in the cooling system and I don't see smoke from the rear either (well not the exhaust anyway ) There's no trace of leaks from the engine, the underside of the car or spots on the ground on the drive etc but its bugging me like &$%£. This thing is using more oil than my 10 year old knackered V6 Japanese 125k mile on the clock rattler and that had a very visible leak!

Whats everyone else's oil consumption like and if mine is as I suspect well over the top, what if anything should I be asking to have checked???

Edited by FinallyVXRed on Monday 11th June 23:13

[BigNige]

I just put about 1/4 litre in the car yesterday.
The first top up in about 5000 miles.

[ringram]

Mine eats a little, the LSx is known for drinking a bit through the PCV system, hence catch cans etc.
You will almost certainly see oil inside the intake if you look.
Id say about 1L between oil changes. Which I guess isnt too bad.
Maybe check your pcv valve etc is working properly.

[V8HSV]

Not trying to alarm you but when I had oil useage issues without obvious leaks or burning it was down to a cracked cyclinder liner, lets hope it not the cause of your oil consumption

[FinallyVXRed]

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

@ V8HSV, how would I check this out?

[LathamJohnP]

Interesting generic stuff on here

"If the oil burning is due to worn or broken rings, or wear in the cylinders, the engine will have low compression."

Maybe a compression test?

John

[V8HSV]

FinallyVXRed said:

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

@ V8HSV, how would I check this out?

To be honest I do not know, mine was producing more power in the form of torque from memory until a piston exited rear thgrough the exhaust when a piston touched a newly seated head!

Maybe a chat with Mark Frisby at Rapid GB might enlighten but then you could call Roger at Monkfish or anyone else with experience in this field, sorry I cannot be more helpful

[monkfish1]

Leak down and compression tests would be the place to start. Also check of the breather system. There is a nice little valve on some of them that can stick.

[V-Car]

Im presuming yours isnt an LS1, so shouldnt be having problems, but early engines were renowned for high oil consumption.
GM tried to deny there was a problem, but eventually owned up, and many engines were rebuilt in Australia and the US.
GM's acceptable oil consumtion is no more than 0.946 litre/2000miles.
Search on Google for LS1 oil consumption and piston slap.

[motomk]

V-Car said:

Im presuming yours isnt an LS1, so shouldnt be having problems, but early engines were renowned for high oil consumption.
GM tried to deny there was a problem, but eventually owned up, and many engines were rebuilt in Australia and the US.
GM's acceptable oil consumtion is no more than 0.946 litre/2000miles.
Search on Google for LS1 oil consumption and piston slap.

As V-car has said, A lot of VX to VY's (2000-2003) had their engines rebuilt for excessive oil usage and piston slap. I am only guessing you have a VX from your logon.
The VTII's while they can be noisy tended to be ok for some reason. By the time the VYII (First UK Monaro's) came along they were mainly sorted.
I change my oil every 5000kms, If I go to the drags near the end of that 5000km, I need to top it up with 500mls otherwise the oil light will come on from the acceleration.

motomk

[FinallyVXRed]

Thanks again guys for your ongoing suggestions. It's a 6.0 VXR on a 55 plate with 26k miles on the clock. I'm gonna get back onto Gr33n5 and see what they tested if anything other than a visual inspection.