- Joined
- Nov 21, 2020
- Messages
- 140
I have owned my 2018 Kia Rio since 2019. I purchased the car preowned with 32k miles on the odo. I am currently sitting at 69k+ mi. I do mixed driving with alot of high speed interstate and freeway, and avoid stop and go scenarios whenever possible. I do 5k mile OCI with synthetic. I started with 5-20 but have since switched to 5-30 around the 55k mark. I noticed that around 40k miles the engine began to consume about a 1/2 quart right at the 3k mile marker into the OC. I have tried different oils and all seemed to begin to burn off right at 3k. I top off, and would be good until i changed it at 5k. I was curious if switching to 5-30 would make a difference and it did not. This engine has always darkened the oil quickly. Right around 3k mi it is diesel engine dark. I had accepted the burning and just figured it is what it is….until i tried valvoline ep 5-30 with a fram ultra on my last change. I have used the ultra filters before, but had never tried valvoline ep in the past mainly due to cost when performing “short” OCI’s. I did my routine level check at 3k and for the first time the oil level still sat at the full mark on the dip stick. I also noticed that the oil had retained its amber color with only a slight change in the hue. I am now about 800 miles away from a change and checked the level again, and i am still on the full mark, or maybe even a little bit higher, though it may be from checking the level in a gravel driveway. The rise in level is around a mm so i am not sure if fuel dilution is an accurate assumption.. I have never noticed fuel dilution through a raising of the level on the dip stick, but with it burning off on oci’s prior there is no way i would have known. I have never done an analysis on the used engine oil. What could be going on here? Is it possible that valvoline ep formulation just dosent burn off in this car, and why is the oil retaining its color? I have noticed a dip in fuel mileage over the last 10k -15k miles, and i feel like i need to check my intake valves for carbon deposits, but that is something i will do in the fall or winter. I am probably going to stick with valvoline ep in the future and see how it goes. I have tried all other big store brand name synthetics and all resulted in burning. Thank you for any and all input. I came back to edit and add that the dip in fuel mileage occurred around the same time that i switched from 5-20 to 5-30. I have read many scenarios on this forum with people stating that a change in weight did not effect their MPG so im not sure if there is a correlation there or not. I have taken a 5-8 mpg hit. I also noticed the car did not “feel” as peppy with the heavier weight oil…. Once agin i have read on here that it would be impossible to perceive a difference but i “feel” like there was. Please dont butcher me over the last 2 statements Thanks
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