The oil or the weight?

[otis24]

In a previous thread, i detailed how my 2009 Chrysler T&C consumed a quart of oil per 1k miles. The Chrysler 3.8 is noted for this pattern of consumption. Last OCI, consumption was reduced to about 1qt/2k miles using Pennzoil Ultra 10w30. For the winter, i just changed to Pennzoil Platinum (GTL) 0w20. I could not find Ultra in an 0W formulation. Consumption is at one quart in 623 miles! I am not sure if it is a difference between the Platinum/Ultra or the difference between the 0W/10W. Your thouhgts?

I plan on running 10k OCIs because of the amount of top off oil, even at 1qt/2K miles. Currently using Pennzoil Conventional for top offs between OCIs. If I reach 10k miles by this summer, I plan on running Pennzoil Conventional one OCI to see how it performs in relation to consumption.

 

[another Todd]

This summer I ran my motorhome (towing a car) 3,100 miles on PU 10-30. Did not use any oil at all for the entire trip, Still full and golden colored with a slightly darker tinge. The NOACK numbers for this oil is the lowest I have ever seen.

Your engine seems to correlate consumption with weight. I would stick with the 10w30 unless you dare try 15w40. With that kind of consumption I would also check PCV, and use conventional oil.

 

[95busa]

I would run the 10w30. Those engines arent very sophisticated, but 15w40 will hurt your mileage pretty bad unless you do long highway trips with few cold starts.

 

[gregk24]

You went from a 10w30 to a 0w20, thick to thin...I think thats the problem here.

 

[gregk24]

Out of curiosity, how is your 2005 3.8 doing consumption wise?

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

1Qt. in 2k is not bad. I'd stick with the 10w30. My 94 3.8 was doing 1400/qt. when I bought it at 187K. Switched to T-6 5w-40 and usage dropped to 2300/qt. Good enough.

Wayne

 

[dlundblad]

+1. 1 qt per 2k isn't too bad. Have you tried a conventional 10w30 yet? I see you're from South Dakota.. I'd run a 5w30 regardless of consumption during the winter assuming you see (*a lot of)

 

[otis24]

Correction, my top off oil is Pennzoil Conventional 10w30. The 2005 conumption was 1 qt/2000 miles or less using Platinum 5w30.

Yes, i will try a conventional 10w30 during the summer months. Probably Pennzoil conventional.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: otis24
For the winter, i just changed to Pennzoil Platinum (GTL) 0w20. I could not find Ultra in an 0W formulation. Consumption is at one quart in 623 miles! I am not sure if it is a difference between the Platinum/Ultra or the difference between the 0W/10W. Your thoughts?


It's blatantly obvious to me that the consumption is due to the 0W-20, but I guess normal people don't see it that way.

 

[jayg]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
It's blatantly obvious to me that the consumption is due to the 0W-20, but I guess normal people don't see it that way.


Give us a break. It's pretty obvious to most people, even ones not as enlightened as you.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: jayg
Give us a break. It's pretty obvious to most people, even ones not as enlightened as you.


Normal people are good about showing up to work everyday and paying their taxes, but when it comes to anything mechanical, they're clueless.

 

[carmine_ricca]

I'm curious about something, why do some people use a different oil for top offs? In my vehicles if I'm using 15-50 synthetic, I top off with 15-50 synthetic. In the winter I drop down to 5w30 and I top off with 5w30. If I'm using 10w30 I top off with 10w30. I always top off with the same weight and also the same brand of oil that I used in my oil change. Why change the top off oil from the oil you used at your last OCI? This way I'm always using the exact same oil all the time, instead of creating the possibility of using a different additive package which may not be compatible with the oil that is already in your engine.