Oil Consumption With Formula Shell

[The Critic]

1996 Saturn SL2, 124,000 miles.

I have 2000 miles on this fill of Formula Shell 5W30 and I am already 20 ounces low. On my previous fills have with Chevron 5W30, I would only be 1/2 quart after the first 3000 miles.

The only other difference with this oil fill is that I replaced the thermostat with a Stant 195F. My original thermostat has been stuck open for quite some time, so the engine was running much cooler than it should have.

Has anyone else experienced higher oil consumption with Formula Shell?

 

[bobfather99]

As you know Saturns burn oil due to the piston and ring design.

Chevron Supreme and Formula Shell are both great oils, but if your particular engine "prefers" Chevron, then run it.

May just be a weird variable that cant be explained, though.
Id give it a little more time before passing judgement on it, but thats me.

 

[jldcol]

I think the stuck thermostat is at least if not more responsible for the extra oil usage. Stuck open the coolant may have been up to 50 deg cooler and oil is usually cooler than coolant, 20-50 degrees so now oil is getting much hotter, and therefore thinner, much easier to get past ring pack and get burned. FM is good oil, but maybe not the best at resisting burn off.

 

[mechtech2]

Running 50 deg cooler didn't help your rings and bores.
You were running richer than you should have, from the coolant sensor readings. The fuel wash and carbon problems have done their damage.

Saturns use oil more than most anything else out there - at least the older ones.
Keep the proper thermostat and get a thicker oil if you need to .

ARx may fix it or attenuate the oil use.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
1996 Saturn SL2, 124,000 miles.
I have 2000 miles on this fill of Formula Shell 5W30 and I am already 20 ounces low. On my previous fills have with Chevron 5W30, I would only be 1/2 quart after the first 3000 miles.


I'm currently using Formula Shell in my '94 Aerostar. The van used to use about a quart every 2,000 miles, but with Shell it's about to 3,000. When I catch it on sale at Menards, the price is right. I used to use about a different brand every oil change, but I think Shell is my new favorite. YMMV.

 

[jldcol]

A bit of clarity if needed, coolant was likely 50 deg cooler, but oil was 70-100 deg cooler with open thermostat than with a functional one, almost a 20w50 vs a 5w30 kind of thing.

 

[ZZman]

Maybe the Chevron was a little thicker oil than the Shell is.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
You were running richer than you should have,

Yes! He used just as much oil with Chevron ..but now, with Formula Shell, he doesn't have all that fuel keeping the sump level going down slower ...