Low oil with new G6 & Castrol

[Toy4x4runner]

I checked the oil on my '08 4cyl Pontiac G6 today and the level was 1/2 qt low which I find very suprising. It's my company's car and have been driving it since new. It has the Oil life % meter. I changed the oil for the first time when it was down to about 25% left which was IIRC 10k or 11k. And when I went to change it, oil level was perfect. So during the first oil change the car never needed oil. Now the car has about 15k & the meter is showing about 68% left, and it's 1/2 qt low!!! I used Castrol GTX 5-30 b/c it met the GM spec in the owner's manual and used a Purolator filter (it's a cartridge filter). I checked the underside, not 1 drop of oil anywhere. So this is bugging me... during the first factory oil interval it goes 10k w/out a drop. I change the oil and now with 68% left on the meter we're 1/2 qt low! I'm at a loss here... some opinions? Only idea I have is the GTX is not performing well in the 2.4L ecotec??

On my next oil change I want to try a different oil.

 

[Hermann]

Some cars just use oil with certain brands. On my old Accord the only time the oil level even budged, was with Kendall semi-syn that came from Firestone. It used about 2/3 qt in 3500 miles. They just didn't get along. After going to Havoline it never used any oil. The Kendall was in from 10 to 15K. Had to top it off to make it the full 5K.

 

[Eddie]

In addition; changing brands often results in increased consumption for that first fill. You may very well find that the next oil change (same oil) will not use any as before.

 

[Rodmiser]

I have g6 3.1 v6 GTX at 7000 1 qt low. change back to M1

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Just top it off with another half quart and keep trucking. Nothing abnormal in a half quart consumption. It may be an isolated incident or it may be something this engine does. Either way, this is why you check the oil!

 

[Cutehumor]

changed brands, increased oil consumption. typically, normalize after a few oil changes with same brand.

 

[Toy4x4runner]

On a 2008 2.4L EcoTec with 15k miles this is normal??! Eh... I find something wrong with this situation. Especially with what Rodmiser just said. In our 2006 Suzuki 2.3L Aerio I get whatever 5w-30 dino is on sale at the time and I don't think we've run the same brand twice; always a different brand and it's never low. But we've never run Castrol in it yet. Same with my 6.0. I've run 4 different brands in it, not low 1 drop. My next oil change will be Valvoline or Pennzoil. And when I find a brand that doesn't dissappear b/c it's predacessor was a different brand, I've found the oil I'll use. FYI, I topped it off with Napa oil (valvoline?).

 

[GMFan]

You used 1/2 quart of oil in ~4k miles. That's completely normal. I know folks with dogged out engines that burn a quart every 300 miles.

Either way, the 2.4L Ecotec will outlive the rest of the car. No need to worry, they're great engines. Just check your oil every other fill-up of gasoline and top-off as needed.

BTW, 10k miles on the factory fill probably wasn't the best idea.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Nothing to see here, move along

 

[jorton]

Dang. Castrol used to be the durable brand.

 

[Toy4x4runner]

I read the owners manual about oil changes and they didn't say anything about having to do an intial change at a certain mile or shorten it down etc. Nothing. Use the Oil life meter from day 1 was their message; so I did and still shortened it to 25% left. Does anyone know what factory fill is for the ecotec?

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I don't use GTX. I never find it on sale. But Certainly you jest in making a judgement on a brand of oil based upon one reported observation of minimal consumption that could have occurred with any oil for all we know.
BITOG used to be the place where data was reviewed pragmatically.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I don't beleve you did anything wrong by running your original oil as long as you did. I wish more would do as you did and run a regular length oci the first time out and not change early.

 

[Toy4x4runner]

It's just something I noticed today, and Was wondering if others with new Ecotecs have this issue, or something along those lines. All I can post about is my experieces/impressions. Time will tell if it continues to happen. I find it hard to believe on a brand new engine of that kind that "brand change" would make it drink 1/2qt.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

It could be many things, continued break in, new oil seating, or perhaps as the miles accumulated you began to drive harder(not abusively but more spirited) on this company owned vehicle as you perceived it was no longer needing a gentle break in. It is impossible to know without knowing a lot more details and having it repeat itself.

I have had the same thing happen in a vehicle when I switched it to mobil 1. The subsequent Oil change with Mobil 1 the consumption stopped. This has been observed before when people change oil brands or types.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
BTW, 10k miles on the factory fill probably wasn't the best idea.


Bingo!!

Treat the car better and it will return the favor. I suggest every 5K using dino. Go back to the AC Delco filter too.

 

[Toy4x4runner]

It uses a Cartridge filter, so I used a Purolator which matched the AC coming out. 5k on dino? The oil meter would be saying 75% left. And if break in required shoter OCI, why didn't GM state it? This car has a 10yr/100k warranty... find it hard they don't know what they are doing. I'm a beleiver in the oil life meter and specs. I wish more cars had it.. I'm sure we're wasting oil like no tomorrow. If the engine has a magnetic oil plug and a oil filter why shouldn't the first OCI be normal?

I've been driving the car the same since day 1. I do not rag on it. I still can't comprehend why different oil brands would allow consumption upon initial use. what is the science behind it?

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: Toy4x4runner
I change the oil and now with 68% left on the meter we're 1/2 qt low!


Would that be 1/2 a quart below the "LOW" mark on the dipstick, or 1/2 quart below the starting point immediately after the oil change?

Like some have said, 1/2 quart of oil use in 5000 miles isn't much; however I must admit I have the same engine (2.4 Ecotec) and use Castrol GTX and Purolator filter also and have noticed no oil usage, ever, and I'm at 50,000 miles. I change at 5000 miles.

Keep an eye on it; I'll bet its just some isolated occurrance. I find the Ecotec dipsticks hard to read due to the ribs and the thick portion at the top and bottom so I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a mis-read dipstick somewhere along the line.

 

[GMFan]

Originally Posted By: Toy4x4runner
Does anyone know what factory fill is for the ecotec?


GM uses Exxon-Mobil factory fill oil....probably something close to Exxon-Superflo. I think GM may add some EOS factory lube to the crankcase as well.

Originally Posted By: Toy4x4runner
5k on dino? The oil meter would be saying 75% left. And if break in required shoter OCI, why didn't GM state it? This car has a 10yr/100k warranty... find it hard they don't know what they are doing.


In all seriousness, you could probably change the oil 5 times throughout 100k miles and keep it running. GM honestly could not care less what happens after 100k miles.

I wouldn't go beyond 7500 miles with conventional in this engine. 5000 miles is probably ideal.

JMHO

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: Toy4x4runner
consumption. what is the science behind it?


Could be fuel dilution. How is fuel economy compared to other new G6's?