Break in oil consumption?

[92saturnsl2]

I own a 2007 Suzuki SX4 with approx 2800mi. My initial oil change was at approx 1100mi, at which time I filled with Chevron Supreme 5w30 (5qt), and an AC-Delco filter.

I checked the oil yesterday and surprisingly enough it was low over half a quart. How can I explain this, I've never had a car burn oil before when new. I promptly drained the oil and refilled with Castrol Syntec, 4 qts 5w30 and 1qt 5w-20, hoping the synthetic would ward off some of the consumption, and also to see if the previous oil burn off was due to break in.

Any ideas why this new engine would be burning oil. Is oil consumption during break in a common thing? Thanks.

 

[buster]

Yes it's normal but you should really start to do several WOT runs as often as possible to help seat the rings. Drive it hard.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Many ist time oil changes are done with the incorrect amount of oil replaced. Did you check the dipstick level after driving it for a short spell - within a 100 miles of your first oil change?

 

[TurboTravis]

Quote:

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I own a 2007 Suzuki SX4 with approx 2800mi. My initial oil change was at approx 1100mi, at which time I filled with Chevron Supreme 5w30 (5qt), and an AC-Delco filter.

I checked the oil yesterday and surprisingly enough it was low over half a quart. How can I explain this, I've never had a car burn oil before when new. I promptly drained the oil and refilled with Castrol Syntec, 4 qts 5w30 and 1qt 5w-20, hoping the synthetic would ward off some of the consumption, and also to see if the previous oil burn off was due to break in.

Any ideas why this new engine would be burning oil. Is oil consumption during break in a common thing? Thanks.

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I've never heard of anyone changing the oil because the level was low. You've also changed the oil twice before it was due once..

T

 

[mechtech2]

Cars burn less oil on break in than they used to.
Some is because of much smaller engines, and also better sealing and factory bore and valve finishing. But break in usage is normal, and is stated so in most manuals.
Like mentioned above, give full throttle in different gears at mid RPMs. It will help seat the rings faster.
There is probably nothing wrong, but you may need a bit more time and throttle.

 

[92saturnsl2]

I changed the oil early on with the presumption that the largest amount of break-in metals would be removed after 500mi, which is a common practice around here. The second change would have been done around 3k for my initial switch to synthetic (plus winter is hitting around here), so I was only a couple hundred miles off what I'd planned. Now I plan on 5k OCI.

My break-in up to 1000mi was done pretty gingerly, lots of mid-range RPM usage but no full throttle. I'm sure there were plenty of full-throttle runs in it's first 40 or so miles as this car has been on the lot for over a year (09/06 manufacture date) before I took possession at ~40mi.

After around 1k I started driving the car as I would normally, with semi-frequent full throttle runs to redline. I will keep paying attention to oil consumption.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I would start the car rolling once you are at about 20 miles per hour floor it up to about 50-60mph then engine brake back down to 20 and repeat about 8 times then drive like you normaly would. Leave the engine alone and let it settle in. I would give it to 3000-500 miles to settle down. My Camry burnt a 1/4 of a quart the first time I ran Redline Synthetic in it and I think that was around 2000-3000 miles on the engine. It does not burn any oil now. The only time it has ever done that was on the first run of any high ester content oil after running low ester content oil's. So it went 40,000 miles of not burning any oil then the first time I ran VP raceing 5W30 it again used a 1/4. Once I toped it up it never burnt anymore oil again. The only oil's it has down that with is Redline adn VP. All the over the counter oils synthetic and conventional have never had any consuption issues at all. So seeing how it is only with ester based oil's I contribute it to cleaning. Something to bear in mind in the feature. In your case you either have a ring seatingissue or valve seal and guide issues. So I would just check your oil when you get gas and keep it toped up. Once you have 5000 miles onit if itis still doing this take to the dealership for an oil consuption check!

 

[another Todd]

Our new 2005 Trailblazer burned about 2 quarts in the first 3000 miles, about a quart the next 3000 miles, half quart the next 3000, and now with 27,000 miles doesn't seem to use any at all.