My wife's 2005 Chrysler Pacifica, 3.5L V-6 started to use oil over the past year. It's at 309,000 km (193,000 miles). It developed a valve tick a few months before the oil consumption increased. Car was bought new and is still in good shape overall, it runs well, blows no blue smoke, no rising coolant levels, no oil leaks. I hope to keep it a few more years. The Mrs drives about 24,000 km (15,000 miles) a year now. The engine previously consumed only 2 qts per year in make up oil but now uses about 1 qt per 2000 km (1250 miles). I changed the PCV valve, ran Rislone engine treatment and used Wynn's engine flush but nothing changed.
The owners manual recommends 3 month/3000 mile (4800 km) oil changes when in severe service, 6 month OCI's for normal service, 10W-30 preferred, 5W-30 recommended for below freezing. Our local temps vary from -30°C to +30°C. When new I ran 3 month conventional oil changes until about 16,000 km (10,000 miles), then switched to Amsoil SS 0W-30 and EaO synthetic oil-filters with an annual OCI each fall. I want to reduce oil consumption and decrease my costs. I don't want to tear into the engine. I'm thinking that increasing the grade of oil and keeping a low NOAC should help. I'd prefer to keep using synthetic oil in winter for the ease of starting.
Sorry for the long preamble but I wanted to give everyone as much information as I could. Here's what I've come up with so far:
1. Amsoil SS 5W-30 for the fall oil change, Amsoil SS 10W-30 for make up oil starting in the spring, and just suck up the cost. Annual OCI with EaO filter.
2. Amsoil SS 10W-30 year round, annual OCI, suck up the cost.
3. Amsoil SS 5W-30 in winter, start adding Amsoil XL 10W-30 in the spring for make up oil. Annual OCI.
4. Amsoil XL 5W-30 in winter, Amsoil XL 10W-30 in summer, 6 month OCI.
5. Amsoil XL 10W-30 year round, 6 month OCI.
6. Amsoil SS 5W-30 winter, conventional 10W-30 starting in the spring for make up oil. Annual OCI.
7. Amsoil XL 5W-30 winter, 10W-30 conventional oil/filter in spring, 6 month OCI.
8. HDEO 5W-40 year round, 6 month OCI.
9. Conventional oil 5W-30 winter/10W-30 summer, 6 month OCI.
I'm not wedded to Amsoil but do like the convenience of online ordering and I get dealer prices. I have an independent distributor within driving distance who sells many other brands. Amsoil SS 5W-30 has a CCS of 3954 at -30°C, Amsoil XL 5W-30 is 5524 at -30°C, SS 0W-30 is 5219 at -35°C.
I'm sure I haven't thought of all the permutations and combinations but your advice as to what I should do is much appreciated, oh august BITOG colleagues.
My head is spinning with options!
The owners manual recommends 3 month/3000 mile (4800 km) oil changes when in severe service, 6 month OCI's for normal service, 10W-30 preferred, 5W-30 recommended for below freezing. Our local temps vary from -30°C to +30°C. When new I ran 3 month conventional oil changes until about 16,000 km (10,000 miles), then switched to Amsoil SS 0W-30 and EaO synthetic oil-filters with an annual OCI each fall. I want to reduce oil consumption and decrease my costs. I don't want to tear into the engine. I'm thinking that increasing the grade of oil and keeping a low NOAC should help. I'd prefer to keep using synthetic oil in winter for the ease of starting.
Sorry for the long preamble but I wanted to give everyone as much information as I could. Here's what I've come up with so far:
1. Amsoil SS 5W-30 for the fall oil change, Amsoil SS 10W-30 for make up oil starting in the spring, and just suck up the cost. Annual OCI with EaO filter.
2. Amsoil SS 10W-30 year round, annual OCI, suck up the cost.
3. Amsoil SS 5W-30 in winter, start adding Amsoil XL 10W-30 in the spring for make up oil. Annual OCI.
4. Amsoil XL 5W-30 in winter, Amsoil XL 10W-30 in summer, 6 month OCI.
5. Amsoil XL 10W-30 year round, 6 month OCI.
6. Amsoil SS 5W-30 winter, conventional 10W-30 starting in the spring for make up oil. Annual OCI.
7. Amsoil XL 5W-30 winter, 10W-30 conventional oil/filter in spring, 6 month OCI.
8. HDEO 5W-40 year round, 6 month OCI.
9. Conventional oil 5W-30 winter/10W-30 summer, 6 month OCI.
I'm not wedded to Amsoil but do like the convenience of online ordering and I get dealer prices. I have an independent distributor within driving distance who sells many other brands. Amsoil SS 5W-30 has a CCS of 3954 at -30°C, Amsoil XL 5W-30 is 5524 at -30°C, SS 0W-30 is 5219 at -35°C.
I'm sure I haven't thought of all the permutations and combinations but your advice as to what I should do is much appreciated, oh august BITOG colleagues.