Didn't you always wonder how them big ol grasshoppers got in there? I think them critters were drawn to oil....
Anybody miss 'topping up'?
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Didn't you always wonder how them big ol grasshoppers got in there? I think them critters were drawn to oil....
The only car I've ever had that used any oil at all was my 78 Chevy Monza with the 2.5 iron duke, and it was never enough to worry about....about 1/2 quart every 3000. It had around 86,000 miles on it when I sold it, which always made me curious why Pontiac was having such trouble with much newer 2.5 Fieros running completely out of oil during their warranty period. Were these engines extremely sensitive to neglect, or oil type?
Adding oil? What does that mean?
I've been lucky I guess to never have a vehicle that burned a drop, not even my atv. I think its been about ten years since I heard a gas station attendant ask to check the oil.
I had a 2001 PT Cruiser that required a quart every 1000 miles since new. Before I got rid of it, it sometimes used a quart in as little as 200 miles, but it would fluctuate, and sometimes go back to the quart every 1000 miles. Changing the pcv valve did not help. Wished I had known that someone would have liked to have the car so that they could experience the 'pleasure' of topping it off!
my car never uses a drop of oil in 5k oci but i still check it every week. the only time it used any oil is when i got lazy in winter and went to a NTB to get the oil changed and they put the drain plug hand tight and it leaked a few drips a min when hot. now i try time my oci's to avoid the coldest parts of winter
I have to say that I kind of like only having to open the oil cap every 6,000 miles or so.
The one time I had to top off my truck was when I first switched to synthetic at 75,000 miles. I had to add a quart at around 3,000 miles.
The one time I had to top off my truck was when I first switched to synthetic at 75,000 miles. I had to add a quart at around 3,000 miles.
My first vehicle was a 1980 mazda b2000 truck that my dad bought for me while I was attending university, the first time away from home. I was living in Edmonton (very cold climate).
This truck used a fair amount of oil, but I always checked every second fuel fill or so. Mostly this vehicle was used for trips of 1 mile or less at -30, for months at a time.
Anyhow, the trip from edmonton to home at christmas time was 5 hours. I checked the oil before I left edmonton, and it was maybe down 1/2 quart. Being young and stupid, I didn't add any. When I got home, my dad checked the oil (maybe within hours of my pulling up). It was off the dipstick, and took 2 quarts to fill. When deciding whether he wanted to skin me alive, I swore I checked the oil before I left town 5 hours ago.
He figured out that there was likely so much fuel dilution/condensation etc in the oil from multiple 1 mile trips at -30 that the actual oil blowby had been masked by fuel/water in the oil. I had often wondered how the little mazda managed to crank over at -35 with the 20w-50 that was in the sump. Anyhow, it seems like the 5 hours at full operating temp was enough to burn off all the liquid in the sump that wasn't engine oil. The result was that after 300 miles at 60 mph, there was only 1/2 of a sump worth of oil in the engine. (That was the theory that saved me from a blasting from dear old dad...a maintenance fanatic).
In more recent years, I am able to buy newer vehicles that are in good operating condition. On average, each one of our 3 daily drivers uses about 1/4 quart in around 5k miles. We could really get by without topping up between oil changes. However, I love taking the time to check the oil while filling the gas tank. The car I have in mind to replace my two door car has no dipstick, but instead you have to access the oil level through the dash computer.....I really hate the thought of this feature!
This truck used a fair amount of oil, but I always checked every second fuel fill or so. Mostly this vehicle was used for trips of 1 mile or less at -30, for months at a time.
Anyhow, the trip from edmonton to home at christmas time was 5 hours. I checked the oil before I left edmonton, and it was maybe down 1/2 quart. Being young and stupid, I didn't add any. When I got home, my dad checked the oil (maybe within hours of my pulling up). It was off the dipstick, and took 2 quarts to fill. When deciding whether he wanted to skin me alive, I swore I checked the oil before I left town 5 hours ago.
He figured out that there was likely so much fuel dilution/condensation etc in the oil from multiple 1 mile trips at -30 that the actual oil blowby had been masked by fuel/water in the oil. I had often wondered how the little mazda managed to crank over at -35 with the 20w-50 that was in the sump. Anyhow, it seems like the 5 hours at full operating temp was enough to burn off all the liquid in the sump that wasn't engine oil. The result was that after 300 miles at 60 mph, there was only 1/2 of a sump worth of oil in the engine. (That was the theory that saved me from a blasting from dear old dad...a maintenance fanatic).
In more recent years, I am able to buy newer vehicles that are in good operating condition. On average, each one of our 3 daily drivers uses about 1/4 quart in around 5k miles. We could really get by without topping up between oil changes. However, I love taking the time to check the oil while filling the gas tank. The car I have in mind to replace my two door car has no dipstick, but instead you have to access the oil level through the dash computer.....I really hate the thought of this feature!
I'm really suprised by the negative reaction this topic is getting by some people! C'mon, on this site we talk about hunting down rare oils, looking forward to changing oil, changing oil early b/c we can't wait, sometimes even sniffing oil! I thought most responses to this topic would be 'Yeah, I do miss an excuse to pop open a nice fresh quart of oil and add it to my car..' Sorry to bring up so many bad memories!!!
Hyundai must do a pretty good job with oil control, at least in their 1.6's. My last one (92 Elantra) at 288K on the bottom end, 200K on the top end would use barely a half quart over 4 or 5 thousand miles.
This 1.6, in an AccentGT uses no oil over 6-8K OCI.
This 1.6, in an AccentGT uses no oil over 6-8K OCI.
I wish I had an oil burner. My car doesn't burn ANY oil - though I check the oil level at least once every few days. On my 5,000 mile OCIs my engine doesn't burn a drop. Sometimes when I change oil I fill it close to the top so I can add oil later on. Just gives ya a good feeling adding that oil. Love to take off the oil cap every now and then and give the oil a good sniff... I believe I can tell how "used" my oil is that way.
I have a Saturn, it uses ~1/2 qt per 5000k miles, if I decide to push the engine on my trip between Sac. and LA it consumes even more. Now that I live around Sac. and walk to work I do miss topping my car off!
I hate when I look at someone's dipstick and it's 2q low. Oil burning can create real problems in some cars when there is no attention to this. I tell my friend's and family, tires loose air and engines burn oil. Rarely do they attend to this themselves. My female cousins could not pop the hood if they had to. Their Dad had a leased company car with a gas card and was one who let the gas station attendant add oil. One that service stopped, he likely never looked at the thing again and definately did not instill that cool-girl car ability into his daughters. I remember the girls fighting over the brown 1972 Pinto. lol. Anyway, when looking at a used car, it's a great quetion to ask the owner- how much oil does it use? If they look at you all stupid, likely the car could have been driven 2q low. Admittedly, some cars burn zero, like my Hondas, but some cars definately do. I never buy used cars off a lot. I much prefer to see what the owner is like. The last nice used car I bought, I took a q of oil with me to delivery, a 1999 Audi V6....it was low.
Good one, look at you all stupid. Funnny..........
NOT! (in his best Borat voice)
Its the lack of topping up that has led to the venerable oil stash we have... We don't end up using it, so it just accumulates. =-)
Alex.
Alex.
my oil life is pretty boring too. no consumption and extended oci's... *yawn*
The best way to get your car to lose oil is to buy a chrome plated oil pan for it. The gaskets will never stick. Oh, you mean I'm supposed to file off the chrome before I install the gaskets?
I think there is an easier way. Original equipment oil pans have a problem of retaining too much oil. An easy way to cure it is to drill a very tiny hole, about 1/64th diameter, approximately 3 inches above the bottom of the sump. This will relieve excess oil from the pan and allow you to do some topping up.
Just drive with the oil fill cap removed.
Its sad that many vehicles need topping off. I just find owners are more negligent then they want to admit.
Sure, my top off amount might only be measured in ounces total, throughout the OCI. But, I still make an effort to keep an eye on all levels whether top off is needed or not.
Its sad that many vehicles need topping off. I just find owners are more negligent then they want to admit.
Sure, my top off amount might only be measured in ounces total, throughout the OCI. But, I still make an effort to keep an eye on all levels whether top off is needed or not.
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