OIL CONSUMPTION
Discussion
I have noticed every time i go on a decent run ...say 150 miles or more i need to top the oil up maybe a third of a litre ..Surely my engine should not be burning oil its only done about 9K..Do new engines use oil?.Im stll useing Mineral Volvoline VR1.There is a tiny leak on the sump but no signs of oil on the garage floor.Since the oil change in Spring i have used 4 litres of oil,is this normal.
Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Tuesday 26th July 15:26
Hi Daz,
If like you say your engine is using a third of a litre every 150 miles that equates to almost 2 litres every 1000 miles.
My car consistently uses half a litre every 1000 miles, however I would have no problem with an RV8 that uses a litre every 1000 miles like others have quoted.
I have to say 2 litres every 1000 miles is getting a bit on the high side mate.
A new engine will always use a bit more oil, it's not until things bed in and you get some carbon on the crown of the piston that things settle down.
Thats why its so critical to use a running in oil for the first few hundred miles followed by a basic mineral oil for the next 2000 miles.
Modern oils contain high levels of detergent that can slow the formation of carbon deposits that actually help to seal the rings.
Synthetic or even semi synthetic oils are so good at what they do they can significantly inhibit the bedding in process too, use a high detergent synthetic or semi synthetic oil too early in the life of a new engine at your peril.
I would say at 9,000 miles you needn't worry too much about your highish oil consumption, if the oil consumption hasn't settled down by 20,000 miles then it may warrant further investigation.
Until 20,000 miles my advise would be not to worry about it, just keep checking the oil regularly and top up as necessary.
Lets face it you have had a few track days where you were ragging the thing without mercy, if you checked your oil after one of those sessions and it used a third of a litre I really wouldn't be too surprised or concerned.
The good news is you have chosen not to check your oil consumption like you used to check your fuel consumption.
Running it completely out of fuel is one thing, but oil!!!
Well that would get expensive
If like you say your engine is using a third of a litre every 150 miles that equates to almost 2 litres every 1000 miles.
My car consistently uses half a litre every 1000 miles, however I would have no problem with an RV8 that uses a litre every 1000 miles like others have quoted.
I have to say 2 litres every 1000 miles is getting a bit on the high side mate.
A new engine will always use a bit more oil, it's not until things bed in and you get some carbon on the crown of the piston that things settle down.
Thats why its so critical to use a running in oil for the first few hundred miles followed by a basic mineral oil for the next 2000 miles.
Modern oils contain high levels of detergent that can slow the formation of carbon deposits that actually help to seal the rings.
Synthetic or even semi synthetic oils are so good at what they do they can significantly inhibit the bedding in process too, use a high detergent synthetic or semi synthetic oil too early in the life of a new engine at your peril.
I would say at 9,000 miles you needn't worry too much about your highish oil consumption, if the oil consumption hasn't settled down by 20,000 miles then it may warrant further investigation.
Until 20,000 miles my advise would be not to worry about it, just keep checking the oil regularly and top up as necessary.
Lets face it you have had a few track days where you were ragging the thing without mercy, if you checked your oil after one of those sessions and it used a third of a litre I really wouldn't be too surprised or concerned.
The good news is you have chosen not to check your oil consumption like you used to check your fuel consumption.
Running it completely out of fuel is one thing, but oil!!!
Well that would get expensive
Edited by Chimpafrolic on Tuesday 26th July 20:05
Chimpafrolic said:
Hi Daz,
A new engine will always use a bit more oil, it's not until things bed in and you get some carbon on the crown of the piston that things settle down.
Thats why its so critical to use a running in oil for the first few hundred miles followed by a basic mineral oil for the next 2000 miles.
Modern oils contain high levels of detergent that can slow the formation of carbon deposits that actually help to seal the rings.
Synthetic or even semi synthetic oils are so good at what they do they can significantly inhibit the bedding in process too, use a high detergent synthetic or semi synthetic oil too early in the life of a new engine at your peril.
I would say at 9,000 miles you needn't worry too much about your highish oil consumption, if the oil consumption hasn't settled down by 20,000 miles then it may warrant further investigation.
Until 20,000 miles my advise would be not to worry about it, just keep checking the oil regularly and top up as necessary.
Lets face it you have had a few track days where you were ragging the thing without mercy, if you checked your oil after one of those sessions and it used a third of a litre I really wouldn't be too surprised or concerned.
The good news is you have chosen not to check your oil consumption like you used to check your fuel consumption.
Running it completely out of fuel is one thing, but oil!!!
Well that would get expensive
Very wise words indeed. Some people are totally ignorant about this stuff. Any oil will do and they hope for the best. It's foolish but believe me, it really happens. I'd give an engine a bit of a hard start if it was mine A new engine will always use a bit more oil, it's not until things bed in and you get some carbon on the crown of the piston that things settle down.
Thats why its so critical to use a running in oil for the first few hundred miles followed by a basic mineral oil for the next 2000 miles.
Modern oils contain high levels of detergent that can slow the formation of carbon deposits that actually help to seal the rings.
Synthetic or even semi synthetic oils are so good at what they do they can significantly inhibit the bedding in process too, use a high detergent synthetic or semi synthetic oil too early in the life of a new engine at your peril.
I would say at 9,000 miles you needn't worry too much about your highish oil consumption, if the oil consumption hasn't settled down by 20,000 miles then it may warrant further investigation.
Until 20,000 miles my advise would be not to worry about it, just keep checking the oil regularly and top up as necessary.
Lets face it you have had a few track days where you were ragging the thing without mercy, if you checked your oil after one of those sessions and it used a third of a litre I really wouldn't be too surprised or concerned.
The good news is you have chosen not to check your oil consumption like you used to check your fuel consumption.
Running it completely out of fuel is one thing, but oil!!!
Well that would get expensive
Edited by Chimpafrolic on Tuesday 26th July 20:05
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