QSUD, the down side.

[otis24]

I take it as a given that Dodge Grand Caravans use some oil. My 2005 has used some oil between changes since it was new. That's how I found this site.

I was using about 3/4ths of a quart in 1200 miles. At 36k miles, I switched to Pennzoil Platinum. Consumption dropped to about one quart or less in 3k miles. I currently have 148k on the Grand Caravan. I used QSUD 5w30 my last oil change. I'm down 3/4ths of a quart in 1500 miles. In terms of burn off/vaporization, the QSUD did not perform much better than a conventional oil. Not a scientific test, I agree. Just an observation.

The other down side was that for an individual quart, the price was $6.42, just a nickle per quart cheaper than Pennz Plat. I wound up buying a quart of SuperTech full synthetic for top off oil.

Looks like I will be switching back to Pennz Plat or MC syn blend.

 

[barlowc]

I have heard that oil consumption may be greater when switching between oils and will settle down after a few consecutive fills. Maybe the good, knowledgeable folks here can educate us as to whether there's any truth to that or if it's just another one of those fictitious wives' tales.

 

[Hollow]

Interesting.

I had the opposite experience with PP and QSUD. My Outback jumped in consumption when I went from FS and PYB to PP. Back to normal(5. to .75 quart over 5-7k OCI) with QSUD.

I'd run PP again though, just haven't hit a decent sale on it. Got the QSUD FAR.

 

[hatt]

I'd skip buying top off quarts if I used that much oil and start buying top off jugs.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: otis24
I take it as a given that Dodge Grand Caravans use some oil. My 2005 has used some oil between changes since it was new. ...

... I used QSUD 5w30 my last oil change. I'm down 3/4ths of a quart in 1500 miles. In terms of burn off/vaporization, the QSUD did not perform much better than a conventional oil. Not a scientific test, I agree. Just an observation.


Looks like I will be switching back to Pennz Plat or MC syn blend.



I have had a similar result 1 time with my truck using QS synthetic: It might have been Q-Horsepower or Q-Torque. The engine used about 1 qt (by dip stick measurement) in 4,500 miles. Before that my engine didn't use more than 1/4 qt of oil per oil change, and most of the time I didn't notice any consumption on the dip stick. The next oil change was with the same type of oil; Q-Horsepower or Q-Torque. I notice no oil consumption on that oil change interval. I do not know why I used 1 qt during on OCI, and none the next while using the same brand and type of oil. I know my motorcycle uses a lot of oil when I do a lot of compression braking and hard driving. I think then the throttle is close, the engine pulls air from the crankcase instead of from the intake manifold.

 

[SHOPete]

202,000 on QSUD. 4K OCI (QS "warranty"). Have never needed to add oil between changes.

 

[crazyoildude]

let us know if you ever need that "warranty"

 

[otis24]

I don't think that oil consumption is caused by the oil. It is caused by the particular conditions created by the engine. I'm not saying that QSUD is a bad oil, just not the right oil for my engine and its operating conditions. The only UOA i've ever had done was on Pennz Plat. It suggested that the PP was less volatile and resisted vaporization better than the conventional oils I had been using at the tiime.

I will probably switch back to Pennz Plat or Motorcraft Syn Blend, which can be had for about $2.80 per quart bulk.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
I have heard that oil consumption may be greater when switching between oils and will settle down after a few consecutive fills.


I have experienced that, too. As for the reason, I have no idea. Other times, I switch to something different, and consumption drops or stays exactly where it was. Like I said before, sometimes engines just do whatever they want.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: otis24
I take it as a given that Dodge Grand Caravans use some oil. My 2005 has used some oil between changes since it was new. That's how I found this site.


Do you have the 3.8L engine? The 3.8L engines do have a fairly consistent history of consuming oil. The 3.3L versions, for some reason, don't seem nearly as prone to use oil.

 

[otis24]

Yes, I have the 3.8. I don't see the consumption as a problem, just a characteristic of those particular engines.

 

[Scum_Frog]

I switch from PP to QSUD (good sale I could not pass up) on my last OC for my Dodge Nitro 3.7L and to date no consumption at all.

 

[ruxCYtable]

I have the 3.3 Caravan and have just had a very similar experience with QSUD (I posted about it in another thread). I don't normally run syn in the van but I got this jug for free after rebate. 3k into a 6k planned OCI I was down a quart. I topped it off and after another 1k miles I was down another half quart (this is a new development since I last posted on the matter).

Someone suggested it was not uncommon to see some consumption when a car that is used to dino switches to syn and that it would probably go away after a few OCIs. But as I said, I don't plan to run syn in this car so I guess I'll never know.

I'm going to cut my current OCI short at 5k and fill with NextGen.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: otis24
Yes, I have the 3.8. I don't see the consumption as a problem, just a characteristic of those particular engines.


I agree that it's not a problem, but as a previous Chrysler minivan owner, the collective group was always curious about why the 3.8s seemed to have the issue and the 3.3s did not. The 3.8 is a bored and stroked 3.3, and otherwise use very similar components. We don't know if the ring pack is different on the 3.8s, or if the cylinder machining is different, or if the valve guides in the heads are different, etc. And not all 3.8s will use oil (ours never did in our '07), but if you see a van that does use oil, it'll be a 3.8L van 90% of the time.

 

[sopususer]

Add me to the list of someone who switched brands and experienced usage. After its first oil change with PP, my 2010 Subaru Legacy got a change of 5w30 PU. I experienced around a 3/4 quart usage in 7500 miles. The next change was with PU and I had no usage. As the Ultra got hard to find in my area and since QSUD was a great oil at a great price I switched to QSUD on this vehicle. No usage to date. I don't know why, but I saw usage like you're describing....just not with QSUD.

 

[sm00thpapa]

Originally Posted By: hatt
I'd skip buying top off quarts if I used that much oil and start buying top off jugs.

+1

My 99 Rodeo consumes a quart every 500 miles but the engine still runs smooth with good power.

 

[teddyboy]

Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa

+1
My 99 Rodeo consumes a quart every 500 miles but the engine still runs smooth with good power.


At a quart every 500 miles, I'd be looking for a leak.

 

[SHOPete]

I don't see the QS or Valvoline "warranty" as great selling points. I never hoped for a failure I could collect on. But I've played along for 9 years and 202k miles to great satisfaction. I could have saved a few bucks on longer OCI or cheaper oil, but I always found QS at good prices, so what the heck. Oil isn't scotch.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: SHOPete
I don't see the QS or Valvoline "warranty" as great selling points. I never hoped for a failure I could collect on.


Bingo. For what it's worth, XOM and Imperial Oil offer warranty when using the Mobil conventional and synthetic lines, but it's not based on mileage like the SOPUS warranties, nor does it have as many limitations. As you can see by my signature, I really don't care either way; it's not a selling point for me, either.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: teddyboy
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa

+1
My 99 Rodeo consumes a quart every 500 miles but the engine still runs smooth with good power.


At a quart every 500 miles, I'd be looking for a leak.


I'd be looking for a more efficient two-stroke!

Estimate 25 mpg; 500 miles would consume 20 gallons of fuel. 1 quart in 20 gallons is 80:1!