Is there a such thing as normal oil consumption?

[Stewie]

3k/1 quart

I got a mazda 3 2014

So yeah modern engines do burn but not much, depends on engine and weather.

Here in canuckland

we normally see -20 to -35 C temperatures

also

I checked my pan and is dry (no leaks)

 

[Koz1]

Originally Posted By: abycat
Originally Posted By: zpinch
Originally Posted By: jk_636
There is no such thing as normal when it comes to burning oil. If you are losing oil during the OCI, then something is wrong.


Where have you been?! Every engine will lose oil sooner or later, again platform specific, age related, oil variable, driving style variable, etc. Get your facts straight.


my car doesn't consume a drop At 57000km. Not saying it won't eventually but it hasn't yet. my truck is actually the same with 314000km on it. It is the 300 6 so im not too surprised.


I don't ever remember having to add oil to any vehicle I have ever owned, except one 2000 Caravan only when on a thin Amsoil and SOPUS Oils.
All my other vehicles I have not had any.
Im in my mid 40s.
Im sure there are numerous factors that effect the way engines consume oil.
Im not hard on vehicles.
I have owned many different Manufactures of vehicles.
I do not do any excessive idling ever.
I have almost always used Valvoline SynPower as my go to oil.
I might just be lucky who knows.

 

[turtlevette]

I would not trust a person that claims their engine does not burn a drop of oil.

They're either a dishonest person, or do not understand how to read a dipstick.

A claim like that shows a basic lack of technical understanding.

Maybe they're trying to set up a case for resale value of their auto. They're likely to say their home has no ants, spiders, roaches, mice, termites etc etc. I have people like that in my neighborhood who think they're setting up a case for higher resale of their old rotten shanty.

But yaknow, some just live a charmed life.

The real answer is if you can see exhaust smoke it's too much.

 

[Ducman]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
To me a normal oil consumption in a healthy and well taken care of engine is when you don;t have to add the makeup oil. So if it drops to about half way on the dipstick throughout the OCI, I'm OK with that, but if you have to constantly top off the oil in order to keep the level above minimum, the engine is burning too much IMO.


That's quite a good way to look at it, in the most practical of terms.

A lot has to do with the total sump capacity, and the calibration of the marks on the dipstick.

 

[Ducman]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
But yaknow, some just live a charmed life.

The real answer is if you can see exhaust smoke it's too much.







I totally agree with this.

At times it's possible to burn quite a bit of oil, and it's not necessarily apparent looking at the exhaust outlets.

A lot of engines will be fine, and then drink oil if you get up them enough.
So the method of operation also plays a big part in the equation.