How Much Oil Should I Be Using?

[debanks]

Have recently noticed that my S-Type R is using more oil than I am used to.

Previous cars have not used more than 1L - 2L between services, the R is currently using around 1l every 1,000 - 1,500 miles.

Please put my mind at rest and let me know that this is normal.

Thanks

Darren

p.s. If it makes any difference I always let the car warm up before giving it full throttle but have been known to 'drive it like I stole it'

[triple7]

Trouble me thinks, both my XKR's only used a smidge of oil between services.

Two thoughts, 'Houston , you got a major problem!' or you are running a too thin oil. A friend used Redline in his and that was way to thin. Yopu got smike out the zorsts???

G

[laurieb]

Hi Debanks,

Yep had exactly the same problem with my S-Type R running the standard Jaguar dealer oil (Mobil FE Super). Sounds like my driving pattern was similar too - ie carefull warm up then on occasion known to use it's full potential .... After hard use on standard oil you could smell a waft of burning oil in the engine bay and there was a smoky exhaust too.

I switched to Silkolene S 5W40 and no problems since. Does use a very small amount towards the end of the service interval (10k) - like about 300-500 ml, so I usually change the oil at 5k intervals. You can get Silkolene from Opieoilman who posts on PH.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

LB

[debanks]

Laurieb / Triple7,

Thanks a lot for the info, I have asked Opieoilman (Guy) who has suggested keeping with a 5W30 but i think it may be wise to change to 5W40 with this level of consumption.

The car has no obvious signs of oil from the exhaust and defo no leaks but I do have a smell of burning oil when I have been on a run.

Cheers

Darren

p.s. How much oil will I need? Manual says 6.8L assume I will buy 2 x 4L

[RedOctober]

As a rough rule, higher mileage engines benefit from thicker oils as they have greater clearances between the components then newer engines, so a 10W/40 in your case may be a better bet than 10W/30.

Here's another thing about oil viscosity. The viscosity grade on the oil can is the viscosity when first poured out of the can into our engines.

After a good thrashing, the long chain oil molecules get 'chopped up' by the constant mechanical thrashing, and the oil viscosity drops as the oil ages, particularly with hard use and high revs/engine bearing loads etc.

Your 15W/40 that you just put in your engine could quite easily become a 10W/30 after a couple of thousand miles of hard driving, such as you'd do in a Jag XJR, giving increased oil consumption as you near the time for a service/oil change.

The cheaper mineral oils are worst for this, with the long chain molecules getting chopped up in very short order.

By far the best oils are quality full synthetics, as these resist 'thinning out' much better.

All the same, I'd certainly try a thicker oil such as 10W/40 quality brand synthetic, and see how this copes.

Might be worth checking it's nothing obvious like a good old-fashioned oil leak as well!!!

Alex

[NormanD]

debanks said:

Have recently noticed that my S-Type R is using more oil than I am used to. Previous cars have not used more than 1L - 2L between services, the R is currently using around 1l every 1,000 - 1,500 miles.

I'm a bit late on this thread, but I think that thicker oil will not make much difference if you are loosing oil at that rate.

Sounds as if you your engine has a major problem if you are not seeing any oil leeks.