Interesting GC consumption

[JHZR2]

Used GC in my wife's 08 rabbit 2.5 this time because I didnt like the TBN retention of the 504/507 M1 oil. We are about 2500 miles into this OCI. Halfway. On Schaeffer's 9000, M1 ESP 504/507 5w30, Factory fill, etc. the car never usd a drop.

On GC, the car is a half quart down halfway through the OCI.

The same GC, currently in my saab, has zero consumption at roughly 6000 miles.

Dont think Ill use GC in the rabbit again...

 

[d00df00d]

Interesting indeed, especially on the 2.5...

 

[hate2work]

I have seen several posts that mentioned the first run of a different oil caused consumption, but then the second run it calmed down. I have never seen an explanation as to why that is, just that it happens.

 

[buster]

Yup it's called seating. Give it some time first.

 

[JAG]

I've had GC cause increased oil consumption in a different engine and continue for over 15k miles, at which point I gave up on hoping it would decrease. Various oils used afterward all had less oil consumption.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I never really had a consumption issue w/Green GC, running it longer than any other oils. I think I did 6 months, about 12k, using about 1.5q in my 1999 Audi V6.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: buster
Yup it's called seating. Give it some time first.


What is seating? No consumption on other oils, or on first gc use in the saab.

I find that it is not the right oil for this application.

 

[cryption]

I had more consumption with GC in my Jetta 2.5 as well.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
On GC, the car is a half quart down halfway through the OCI.


I had basically the same experience with my 1991 Audi 200 Turbo. The first OCI and the first half of the second OCI on GC were marked by such consumption - perhaps even a little more than you experienced. Now, on the second half of the second OCI, things seem to have stabilized.

Now, assuming that things in the engine remain stable, all I have to contend with is the yo-yo pricing of GC in Canada.

 

[rpn453]

Using GC, I'm seeing higher oil consumption than with conventional 5W oils and synthetic 0W oils in both my Mazda3 and my mother's Sunfire. Probably 50% higher.

 

[JHZR2]

very interesting... Im 50/50, but it seems we may have a trend of sorts...

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
very interesting... Im 50/50, but it seems we may have a trend of sorts...


Okay, after my last post, I checked my oil to ensure I was providing you with reliable data. The oil hasn't moved on the dipstick in the last fifteen hundred or so kilometres. I added about half a litre before that, and that was over about say two thousand kilometres.

Since I changed the valve cover gasket some time ago, there are no leaks whatsoever, so monitoring is much easier. I had no consumption with Delvac 1300 and PYB, both of which I used after the gasket change. Before the gasket change (when my data was obviously not as reliable), it didn't "seem" to burn anything, from Delvac 1300, Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40, RP 0w-40, vanilla M1 5w30, and so forth. Leaking with the synthetics was worse, to the point it would pool on the turbocharger housing.

So, things seem to have stabilized. I want to try sticking with GC over our brutal winter and see how it goes. I'll probably be doing an oil change in a month or so, and will post how the GC consumption goes, before and after. After sitting many hours outside in -27 C, it turned over quite well, and certainly far better than I expected.

 

[rainman49]

Mystery, indeed! I checked the oil level on my wife's 530i and it is still sitting at the MAX line after 5K miles. I do 7K OCIs with GC. I bought a case of the Mini 5w30 oil from stuntboy, but the GC is performing so well I'm hesitant to change. I may just use the Mini oil in my daughters' cars (Volvo S70 and Lexus ES300) this winter.

 

[gdawga4]

It is interesting how switching oil brands can cause consumption. While you think it shouldn't make a difference, I sometimes come across posts like this. I'm wondering if this may be the case for my '06 S4 4.2. I bought it used with 68k miles and looked at the service history before hand. The PO had no complaints of oil consumption and always had been serviced at the dealer. I changed out the oil right away after taking delivery and used M1 5w40 TDT. Since then it has been consuming oil, 1qt/500 mi (can fluctuate up and down a hundred miles or so)

Knowing the local Audi dealers here use Castrol Syntec 5w40, it is always in the back of my mind that the engine simply is use to Syntec 5w40. Funny though, I have not done a oil change with Syntec 5w40 yet to confirm my suspicion. I've been through the Auto-Rx, piston soak, etc. Nothing has really helped thus far and I've put 12k miles on her so far. Been through M1 5w40 TDT, PYB 10w40 through the ARX cycles, and now onto Rotella T6 (900 mi so far). I'm tempted to try Syntec 5w-40 next oil change and see if it consumes oil. I've read a few posts here that people have switched back to Syntec 5w40 and their consumption decreased by a significant amount.

Thoughts? Maybe I'm going crazy after having spent lots on trying to figure out this oil issue.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Used GC in my wife's 08 rabbit 2.5 this time because I didnt like the TBN retention of the 504/507 M1 oil. We are about 2500 miles into this OCI. Halfway. On Schaeffer's 9000, M1 ESP 504/507 5w30, Factory fill, etc. the car never usd a drop.

On GC, the car is a half quart down halfway through the OCI.

The same GC, currently in my saab, has zero consumption at roughly 6000 miles.

Dont think Ill use GC in the rabbit again...


I don't understand. With a 5k mile OCI it doesn't matter what the starting TBN is.

IMO you would need atleast 2 more oil changes with the GC to determine any sort of trend.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Been using GC in my 530i for about the past 40K miles... initially, it was not using any oil. Now, during the last OCI it used about a quart every 6k miles.

 

[j_mac]

In my vehicles I've notice significantly less oil consumption with German Castrol.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Used GC in my wife's 08 rabbit 2.5 this time because I didnt like the TBN retention of the 504/507 M1 oil. We are about 2500 miles into this OCI. Halfway. On Schaeffer's 9000, M1 ESP 504/507 5w30, Factory fill, etc. the car never usd a drop.

On GC, the car is a half quart down halfway through the OCI.

The same GC, currently in my saab, has zero consumption at roughly 6000 miles.

Dont think Ill use GC in the rabbit again...


I don't understand. With a 5k mile OCI it doesn't matter what the starting TBN is.

IMO you would need atleast 2 more oil changes with the GC to determine any sort of trend.


Starting TBN never really matters. It is all about retention of TBN. I am not comfortable having a low 1.x TBN after just 5k miles.

And, anybody that has ever done a titration should know that there is a mass transport and kinetic aspect to having buffer. Think about a titration with a color change indicator... At first there is so much mass of the "buffering" (opposite pH) solution that what goes in is instantly neutralized. As you get closer to the equivalence point, you start to see a bit of color where the one liquid hits the other... Add some more and the color stays a bit longer. After a while the color might remain unless you stop adding the titrating fluid. At some point, equivalence is reached and the color is permanent.

The equivalence point is equal to TBN of 0. The point where the titrating fluid causes the color to appear and remain so long as it is being added is TBN 1, when the color slowly goes away it is TBN 2, when it goes away fast, TBN 3, you dont see it at all, TBN 4, let's say...

So I wouldnt want acids lingering, even if they are still getting neutralized...

Now, as far as a trend, yes, there is no trend. There would not be until at minimum I changed the oil back to M1 ESP and saw no consumption again.

It is still interesting all the same that Ive seen consumption for the first time...

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I find that it is not the right oil for this application.


I think you haven't given the oil enough time to make that determination.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Gdawg, I don't think switching oil in itself accounts for the level of consumption you are experiencing. To say it another way, switching oils to find one that will reduce consumption in itself won't cause consumption.

imo, you could still explore 15w40 and 50 weights, like Valvoline VR-1 20w-50, SynPower 20w-50 and even Mobil 1 15w-50.

Syntec 5w-40 is running nicer than I expected, but I don't expect anything exceptional from it.