Burning oil with Ultra

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Since new, I used MC semi Syn 5-20w for first 40k miles with 5k OCI. Truck never burned oil. Switched to PU 5-20w and truck started to burn oil. It burns about 1qt. every 3500 miles. I am now on my third OCI with PU and it still is burning oil. It’s not a big deal, but I’d like to hear you thoughts on why this might be happening and what I should do. I have a stash of PU still to use up but I guess I could go back to MC. Truck now has 61k miles on it.
 
It's got to be the intrinsically high NOACK value of PU!
But seriously I don't think it is related to the oil.
You could go back to MC for an oil change and see if you're oil consumption improves and report back.
 
See what happens when you go back to MC for a couple of changes. Ultra's NOACK loss is 6.6%, which is the lowest loss of the major brands. I would be hard pressed to believe it is the oil, something else sounds a miss.
 
I changed my mom's MKZ away from MC 5w20 semi to M1 5w20 full syn for 10k OCI's. Same thing happened! waited another OCI, then went back, consumption went away. 50k later all is good, burns no oil all the way to its 5k change. Its boring but mc semi, mc filter is the perfect match for that car. Lesson learned, I leave it alone.
 
Originally Posted By: TheBig2003
See what happens when you go back to MC for a couple of changes. Ultra's NOACK loss is 6.6%, which is the lowest loss of the major brands. I would be hard pressed to believe it is the oil, something else sounds a miss.


He is using 5W-20. The NOACK% for this oil is 5%.

OP, are you positive it is burning oil and there isn't some seepage somewhere? I have had seepages before that were about the same rate as you are experiencing but it wasn't enough to produce an oil puddle so I was not aware it was a leak. I had also assumed I was burning oil until my mechanic said he wanted to replace some seals/gaskets due to seeping. The "consumption" instantly stopped.
 
Intriguing - I have done the exactly same swap on my Focus at a similar mileage (70,000 miles). I'll be sure to update if I see any consumption of the new PU.
 
Might just be your vehicle doesn't like PU.

I was very disappointed that my Civic didn't like PYB. It is loaded with moly and is just a well built oil from all the specs available. But in my vehicle, it is rattling, clicking and makes all sorts of noise with this oil.

Both are excellent products but they just don't like each other.
 
Last year I switch the Forester from GTX 5w-30 to PP 5w-30 and started having to add a quart every 3k. Turned out the PCV valve was gummed up. Just a coincidence that it was when I changed to synthetic.
 
Originally Posted By: 05LGTLtd
Last year I switch the Forester from GTX 5w-30 to PP 5w-30 and started having to add a quart every 3k. Turned out the PCV valve was gummed up. Just a coincidence that it was when I changed to synthetic.

How long were you using Castrol GTX?
 
The PCV valve on the Forester sits on the block, not up on the intake. I don't like the design choice but I am stuck with it. I don't think the GTX was to blame in this case. Subaru PCV valves are 40-50k replacement parts, I just didn't think to check it since the car is so new. I need to change the one in my LGT again probably the end of the year or early next year.
 
UPDATE :

I am at 4k for my first OCI back using MC 5/20w. At 4k miles the truck dip stick is at 3/4 full. So I'm not burning MC at the rate the truck burned PU. I was burning a quart of PU at 2.5k miles. I've done nothing else to the truck but switched back to MC. I have no idea why this is happening.
 
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Sometimes awitching from dino to syn you will see more consumption at first and then it tapers off as things clean up. Dino is usually a little thicker at cold temps so it wont blow by the rings as much.
At the mileage you have there shouldn't be any consumption! Something aint right. Maybe its just dirty ring packs or maybe its a mechanical failure.
you might try a piston soak and see if things improve.
 
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