Advice on High Mileage Oil

[BlueLesPaul2006]

I have a Jeep Wrangler with the 3.8l oil burning engine. Im going to switch to high mileage on the next oil change. I drive 5000 miles between changes even though Jeep says 6K miles. I currently use Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic.

I have narrowed my options down to 3 oils:

1. Pennzoil High Mileage (conventional) Will this oil work at 5000 mile intervals?
2. Mobil 1 High Mileage (full synthetic) More money but it will work for 5000 Miles
3. Valvoline Maxlife HM (Full synthetic type) I have no experience with Valvoline, but it cost less then M1 and is full synthetic

I would like to have an oil that will help with burn, last 5000 miles, and keep the engine clean. I have always used Pennzoil but I am not sure how the conventional will hold up after 5000 miles. Any advice?

 

[Burt]

Any will work if you use a good extended range filter. If you are burning oil, all the more reason to use conventional because of the cost savings and because you are replenishing additives with each fill up.

 

[Astro14]

A couple of thoughts:

1. What is the burn rate? The OEMs don't even consider oil consumption to be excess until it's more than 1Qt/1,000 miles...

2. How many miles on it? Is it burning? Or, is it leaking? Worn rings? Valve guides? PCV plugged or failing? I am not familiar with the 3.8 issues in this vehicle...

3. You've listed 3 good choices. If it's using a lot of oil, then don't worry about the 5 K Change interval...you're adding oil all the time, so the additives are kept fresh and the contaminants og out with the old...conventional will hold up in this application, particularly if you're adding a few quarts...

Personally, I go with what I can get on sale - so I would go with the Valvoline, either Maxlife would work (regular or synthetic).

 

[BlueLesPaul2006]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
A couple of thoughts:

1. What is the burn rate? The OEMs don't even consider oil consumption to be excess until it's more than 1Qt/1,000 miles...

2. How many miles on it? Is it burning? Or, is it leaking? Worn rings? Valve guides? PCV plugged or failing? I am not familiar with the 3.8 issues in this vehicle...

3. You've listed 3 good choices. If it's using a lot of oil, then don't worry about the 5 K Change interval...you're adding oil all the time, so the additives are kept fresh and the contaminants og out with the old...conventional will hold up in this application, particularly if you're adding a few quarts...

Personally, I go with what I can get on sale - so I would go with the Valvoline, either Maxlife would work (regular or synthetic).


The burn rate is about 1qt per 1000-1300 miles depending on the weight and i have 55,000 miles on it. The problem on these engines are the piston rings are not great. I may be trading this jeep in next year but I do want to have some reliability over that time.

I have been using pureone filters and PP oil. I also seafoam the engine fuel with an oil change. I would prefer to use Pennzoil High Mileage or Valvoline HM conventional as it is cheaper, but I would spend more to buy a better product since its better in the long run.

 

[doitmyself]

Conventional Valvolene Maxlife is popular here at BITOG, if only based on anecdotal evidence. People seem to like it's add pack and performance. It is a very stout oil, so I would not be worried about the "better quality" you assume about synthetic oils, especially at 5k OCI's.

I think if I was in your shoes, I would try the conventional and track the results. However, that would change 2 variables (conventional and HM), so you wouldn't be positive which change may have helped.

Please follow up and share your results so we can all learn.

I have PM'd you to learn about your Patriot opinions.

 

[Astro14]

I understand...so, in a 5K oil change, you've added 4 QTs...I would just use conventional...when you change it, the oil has an average of only 2-3,000 miles on it...right? So, why spend the $$ on synthetic? Over that short interval, I don't see a syn advantage in your engine...

Since it's getting by the rings...I would go with the highest viscosity recommended...and within the 5W30s (which I assume this specs) that's the Maxlife IIRC...if the truck allows you to use a 10W40 or a 5W40, I would try that...

 

[yesthatsteve]

Conventional High Mileage oil (Pennzoil or Valvoline) will be fine with a 5k OCI, provided your driving doesn't include tons of one-way trips under 10 miles.

Give it at least 2 or 3 OCIs to determine how a High Mileage oil affects your oil consumption.

 

[Eddie]

In addition to what has been said concerning oils, I would determine WHY the engine with only 55K miles is burning so much oil. Usually the first things to check at the PCV system, valve stem seals or plane old leaking.

 

[wn1998]

I think you could easily go 5k with any conventional oil. Especially if you are adding oil every 1000 miles. I currently use whatever high mileage oil is on sale at Walmart. I have been running Maxlife 5W30 HM for 6-month or 5k OCI's on my 98 grand Cherokee with the 4.0L. I typically have to add about a quart during the OCI.

 

[Brons2]

Castrol's high mileage 5w30 was 12.1 cSt in the SM version, not sure if it's the same for SN, but I would consider that due to it's thickness if so.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Pretty sure he has one of the Jeeps w/ the 3.8 assembled in Mexico with the upside down piston rings installed...

The dealers won't even acknowledge it and fix it until you are in the severe category for burning.

Take it to the dealer, see what they can do, just claim its a quart every 600 miles. The fact that any car burns that much oil at 50k is ridiculous in this day and age, you know when you are burning more oil than my 200k Honda, somethings wrong.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Brenden
Pretty sure he has one of the Jeeps w/ the 3.8 assembled in Mexico with the upside down piston rings installed...

The dealers won't even acknowledge it and fix it until you are in the severe category for burning.


I've never heard of this issue before. Pistons rings installed upside down? I've never heard of this before but I suppose it would explain the massive oil consumption. It's not leaking oil from the Rear Main seal or anything is it? That's rather high oil consumption, especially for such a low mileage vehicle. Personally of the three oils though, I'd go with the Maxlife.

 

[lexus114]

If it was me, I think I would try the MB-1 HM.

 

[volk06]

Valvoline maxlife is a syn-blend, not conventional.

 

[Lead Shoes]

yeah, apparently the plant had a rough month and sent out tons of engines that way, and Jeep is not doing much to make right with the customers because of their error, they lost me as a potential customer there.

I would honestly pour what ever is cheapest and meets the minimum specs laid out by Jeep at that rate of consumption.

 

[Astro14]

Yeah...if the rings were installed wrong at the factory, then nothing can be done about the consumption (short of a rebuild...).

In that case, cheapest conventional - with that rate of burn, and the amount of make-up oil being added, anything will work well, you'll have pretty close to new oil all the time and the engine will stay clean inside. I'd go with the highest viscosity 5W30 just to slow it down, but I would be more influenced by the price than by the brand/type of oil...you're going to be buying a lot of it...

 

[BlueLesPaul2006]

Originally Posted By: Brenden
Pretty sure he has one of the Jeeps w/ the 3.8 assembled in Mexico with the upside down piston rings installed...

The dealers won't even acknowledge it and fix it until you are in the severe category for burning.

Take it to the dealer, see what they can do, just claim its a quart every 600 miles. The fact that any car burns that much oil at 50k is ridiculous in this day and age, you know when you are burning more oil than my 200k Honda, somethings wrong.


100% correct I have a Mexican engine and bad piston rings. the pcv is new with the last oil change I installed it myself. The reason that I am not taking it in to the dealer is simply that I will be trading it in for a 2012 with the new 3.6l engine if the reports come back that they are reliable. I am monitoring reports of the new 2012 engines before I buy. If they are burning I will go back to toyota as I have never had a problem with either toyota truck I owned. If the Jeep 3.6l is good I will wait until the 2013s come out to get a deal on a 2021. I do not want to tip off the dealer that this is an oil burner cause we all know they will try to give me less on the trade so I wont take it in unless there is a major problem. I know that no oil will fix or stop my oil burn since it is mechanical I am just trying to slow it down. I will try the Valvoline or Pennzoil High Mileage next oil change and give an update.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Those Mexican engines aren't doing so well...

I wouldn't take the chance and assume they will get it right the 2nd time.

I would put formula shell in it, great oil at a great 2.50 price point (Menards), that's what I run in my civic it burns 1 every 1-2k, the only reason I tried maxlife was because of the 7 dollar rebate on 5 quarts.

Voa of Formula Shell
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2408828/

 

[ahoier]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
In addition to what has been said concerning oils, I would determine WHY the engine with only 55K miles is burning so much oil. Usually the first things to check at the PCV system, valve stem seals or plane old leaking.
Yea....this would be my #1 too.

Also, take it to the dealer, to get a "paper trail" starter.....that way, if the consumption INCREASES you have a potential warranty claim, even if it were past the warranty deadline...50k miles is wayyy too low of mileage to be worrying about that kind of oil consumption.

I just topped off 1/2 quart on my 88 Dodge Aries 2.2L after 6k with the "Mopar Bulk 5w30" in the crankcase

As far as oil choice....check your manual. If the manual says a 40 weight oil is "OK" for that engine, personally, I'd put it in there.....that or look into the Rotella "Synthethic Blend" 10w30....

Are you sure it's not just oil leaking past the rings or something, due to dirt/carbon/sludge? If so, as a "preventative" I'd try 3k miles with a quart of MMO in the engine, see if that helps any....

Other than that, there's much praise around here for the Valvoline MaxLife....I don't think you can go wrong there....personally, I'm a fan of the "HM" formulas, rather than "going heavier" when it comes to oil burning/leaking....but definitely check out the PCV valve, etc....even if it "looks ok" change it out anyways, it's likely only max, $5 for a decent Purolator PCV valve from AAP/AZ....etc.

 

[mongo161]

Valvoline MaxLife, HM, Red Jug, Synthetic Blend in API-SM, if you can find it, would be your best bet. Check out your local Kmart and see if they have any more Gallon Jugs on clearance for $11. The SM, from what I have seen and read, contains a lot more Moly than the current SN version.

Stock up if you find it at Kmart on clearance.....and sign up for the Engine Guarantee program for a $15 rebate on 12 quarts, if you qualify.

Or you could pick up some Peak Motor oil at Big Lots for $3 a quart. There is a $2 rebate on each quart purchased, up to 5 quarts per household. Good oil for topping off.

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Conventional Valvolene Maxlife is popular here at BITOG, if only based on anecdotal evidence. People seem to like it's add pack and performance. It is a very stout oil, so I would not be worried about the "better quality" you assume about synthetic oils, especially at 5k OCI's.

I think if I was in your shoes, I would try the conventional and track the results. However, that would change 2 variables (conventional and HM), so you wouldn't be positive which change may have helped.

Please follow up and share your results so we can all learn.

I have PM'd you to learn about your Patriot opinions.