Interesting GC consumption

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Right, what I meant to say was maybe the Syntec did not consume at the levels it is now. Likely there was consumption but not excessive, which would be fine by me.

It definitely doesn't like the T6 right now IMO. In 900 mi, I've added about 2.25 quarts. I don't remember any of the previous oils I've used during the ARX cycle consuming this much in such a short period. I have some Maxlife 10w40 stashed away, tempted to try that now and see if it makes a difference.
 
Here is an alternative theory.
This is simply a fluke event unrelated to the use of GC.
Have you ever had an OCI where consumption was inexplicably higher than what you had seen in the past, with consumption then returning to normal?
Could the car have seen some unique combination of temperature and useage that caused higher consumption?
I would try another run of GC.
If consumption returns to normal, all is well.
If not, then this oil really doesn't suit this engine.
Also, it will be interesting to see whether consumption remains linear out to 6K.
If it declines, then I may be right, or those saying that the engine has to "get used to" the oil may be right.
 
Originally Posted By: 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.


I dont think that matters. Heck, if the Mobil 1 ESP didnt have such poor TBN retention, since it gave good wear numbers and all, We'd just be running it and have zero consumption - thinking all is well.

Put in something else and get consumption, what other chance do I really need to give to the oil? I can put something else in that likely will not be consumed. If that new thing is, then it is back to square one. If not, then it is GC. I have enough zero consumption cars to be able to be a picky consumer and expect higher than half a quart on first use...
 
MaxLife 10w-40 seems good for winter. Likely less consumption than Rotella!

I followed-up on TEB's thread on B5, fyi. 20w-50 may be the final solution, 15w40 or 10w-40 High Mileage in winter.
 
Had the same issue with GC in my Mazdaspeed 3. Mobil 1 15w50 did this in my car too. I think Redline 10w40 used some too but not much. Regular 5w30 otc synthetics don't use a drop, so it may just be a case by case basis. I've heard every car is different and probably has something to do with how each of us drive it too.
 
Originally Posted By: shpankey
Had the same issue with GC in my Mazdaspeed 3. Mobil 1 15w50 did this in my car too.


Thanks for that piece of info. Last week, I had to add a little more GC as a top up, finally wiping out my stock completely. The consumption is leveling off, but has clearly not stopped.

For whatever reason, I saw less consumption with Delvac 1300 15w40, Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40, RP 0w-40, Mobil 1 5w30, and Pennzoil Conventional 10w30. I don't have any answers, or even theories, aside from keep going with GC and see what happens. As you see, I've tried all kinds of different oils, conventional and synthetic, thick and thin, without consumption issues.

The problem with carrying on with GC is that our local retailers have put the price of GC through the roof, and I'm not prepared to spend $10 a litre on it, particularly if it's consuming it. RP is currently cheaper and had no consumption. Go figure.
 
Just as an update, I decided to abort the GC experiment, unfortunately. Consumption seems to have slowed towards the end; I haven't topped up or noticed consumption since the above post.

However, also since the above post, there are no sales anywhere here on GC. I'm not paying $10 a litre for GC when I can get QS for $2 a litre, particularly since I'm not going to make the OCI five times longer on GC.

Price aside, it would be an ideal year round oil for me. It's certainly thick enough for summer usage and it treated me well when we dipped below -30 C here.
 
Can Tire has GC on sale about 4 times per year for $5.95 per liter. Employees can look at their system and tell the pattern of previous sales to see when it is next on sale. It will be on sale again in 2 weeks. I always stock up when my favourite oil goes on sale, so I don't have to pay the crazy CT reg price. They rotate all of their oils on slae over the year
 
Well, I just now did a GC fill so we'll see how it does this go around. It consumed some last time. Once I went back to other 5w30's it stopped altogether and I've ran them for awhile now so this new run will be a good test. I'll report back if it consumes any this time. Maybe last time was just a freak occurrence.
 
I used GC for the last oil change on my 06 Saab 9-3 2.0T (at ~70k miles). With about 8k miles on the oil, the check oil level message came up on the SID yesterday. Went home and checked the dipstick and oil level was under the "fill now" line. Took about 3/4 of a quart to get the oil up above the line. Up to this point I've only used Mobil 1 0W-40 every 10k miles and have never had the check oil level message show... Looks like I'll be switching back to Mobil 1.
 
Originally Posted By: f2racer
I used GC for the last oil change on my 06 Saab 9-3 2.0T (at ~70k miles). With about 8k miles on the oil, the check oil level message came up on the SID yesterday. Went home and checked the dipstick and oil level was under the "fill now" line. Took about 3/4 of a quart to get the oil up above the line. Up to this point I've only used Mobil 1 0W-40 every 10k miles and have never had the check oil level message show... Looks like I'll be switching back to Mobil 1.


Is this your first interval with GC? Sometimes changing oils can cause increased consumption during that 'transition' period.
 
For my Audi, it seems that it does consume all xx-30 grades, with GC and Mobil 1 5w30 leading the pack in consumption. In all fairness, I didn't get to try GC for a sufficient number of OCs, considering the price went through the roof here (it's back now, too late for my experiment of course). I sure would like to try GC again, but I have more than enough other oil to go through first.

For 40 weights, I've tried RP 0w-40, Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40, and Delvac 1300 15w40, with no measurable consumption of any of them. The 30 weights have, as I mentioned, been different.

I don't know what your guys' thoughts are, but perhaps my driving habits have something to do with it. I don't do many little short drives, where the oil stays cool and a thinner oil would be more advantageous. Almost every time I get in the vehicle, the oil does get up to operating temperatures. Further, the manual places a heavy preference on 40 and 50 weight oils, even in temperatures below freezing.

Any comments are welcome.
 
Originally Posted By: BobFout

Is this your first interval with GC? Sometimes changing oils can cause increased consumption during that 'transition' period.


Yes first time with GC. I've also noticed that the engine has run "rougher" for the last 2-3k miles (or since about 5k on the oil). Maybe M1 works better with these extended OCI...
 
Originally Posted By: f2racer
I used GC for the last oil change on my 06 Saab 9-3 2.0T (at ~70k miles). With about 8k miles on the oil, the check oil level message came up on the SID yesterday. Went home and checked the dipstick and oil level was under the "fill now" line. Took about 3/4 of a quart to get the oil up above the line. Up to this point I've only used Mobil 1 0W-40 every 10k miles and have never had the check oil level message show... Looks like I'll be switching back to Mobil 1.


Funny since my 04 2.0t has used zero in about the same OCI. I too ran Mobil 1 0w-40 before.
 
Originally Posted By: shpankey
Well, I just now did a GC fill so we'll see how it does this go around. It consumed some last time. Once I went back to other 5w30's it stopped altogether and I've ran them for awhile now so this new run will be a good test. I'll report back if it consumes any this time. Maybe last time was just a freak occurrence.


I almost can't believe this as I had about 4 or 5 perfect oil changes in a row with no consumption at all. As I said I would, reporting back I have already consumed with the GC again. I have already had to add a half quart. What in the heck is going on? 5w30 didn't consume a drop. Something about GC in my car makes it consume it.
 
For whatever reason, certain motors seem to drink certain oils. Some other S4 owners claim their car consumed zero Lubro-Moly Synthoil Premium -- mine consumed 1.5qt in 5000 miles.

Same for Honda K/B VTEC motors. Mine never drank a drop of Mobil 1 5w20, but others burned a quart per oil change.


*shrug*
 
The GC consumption seems to have slowed in both the Mazda3 and Sunfire. It seems to be about normal again. I haven't added any to the Mazda in the last few months and the Sunfire was down its usual 250 ml after a 1000 mile trip.
 
Added another 1/4 quart today. Luckily I had a quart and a half spare leftover. So this leaves me 1/2 a quart left. Once I use all of it and if it drops below the fill line again I'm just going to bailout. None of the 5w30 otc synth's consumed in-between the last GC run I ran a long time ago and this current run where I wanted to see if that 1 back then was a fluke. At this rate I'll be changing pretty soon as it's sipping at a pretty good pace right now. I guess my car with my driving just is one of those cases where this particular oil doesn't fit.

On the bright side, I picked up a Mobil 1 0w40 oil special at AZ yesterday and I've never tried it yet. Though my car did seem to like RP 0w40 so I'm thinking it will be aces. Especially with this newer formula of Mobil 1 that seems to be doing very well for everyone.

After that, I'm going with either Red Line 5w30 or 0w40, haven't decided yet between them.
 
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