Oil Consumption, how to figure how much you use?

[steve40th]

Most people talk of quarts in a mileage sense. Well, I am thinking that we need to really see how are cars use oil.
There are many variables, such as engine size, rpms due to gear choices, steady state vs city driving etc etc.
What can we honestly due to figure out our oil consumption. I mean, if I tracked a car for an hour and used a quart after 250 miles, yet on the highway and I am cruising in OD till I hit 250 miles and I use no oil, what has changed?
I am thinking one thing tells us how we are doing with oil consumption, and that is compare it to fuel consumption.
I am no engineer, no mathematician, but if you get 10 mpg and use 1 quart of oil, then you get 20 mpg and use 1/2 quart, you will eventually see a trend.
ANyways, just a thought.

 

[mechtech2]

Qts per mile is a standard, and works well.
What else would you see benefit from?

 

[steve40th]

Well, if a person says your engine burns too much oil, and it is not true. Some people would take advice literally and rebuild an engine, if they didn't know better?
Serioulsy, my engine burns about a quart every thousand miles of city driving. But, I have low tension piston rings, and my engine compression is very good 195-200psi in all 8 cylinders.
But, I am just trying to get an idea of how much oil is really acceptable in consumption. Hours, mileage, etc etc.

 

[TallPaul]

My wife's Aerostar 3.0 consumes (PC term, who wants an oil burner?) a quart every 1300 miles. That is a lot! But the van runs great and has as much power as you could expect from the miniscule 3.0 engine (great engine, just too small). Not all bad because it's fun to play with oil topping up periodically. Thanks to the catalytic converter, I don't have to leave a blue fog behind me.

 

[TwoBills]

My old Mit. used/leaked 1cup/75mi.(dino) or 1cup/150mi.(syn). Go figure.

 

[road_rascal]

My Taurus will probably go through at the most a quart in 6-7K. My Windstar doesn't use a drop in 4K.