What oil for an oil burner?

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I don't consider a qt in 2k an oil burner.
I would... JMO though...

I would use the cheapest Dino you can find that meets the required engine specifications and just change the filter out every 10K KM's of (6K miles) and drive happy.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Bamaro
Originally Posted By: Chris142
I don't consider a qt in 2k an oil burner.

My Nissan QR25DE used more than that from day one and Nissan said it was 'normal'.

A qt of oil in a 1000 miles is considered by many car makers normal oil use. I'd be one unhappy camper if I had a new car using that much oil. But that's what happens if someone brings in an car using oil that isn't leaking and tries to make a warranty claim. A 250,000 mile engine using a qt of oil every 2000 miles I'd say is normal. Sure there are plenty of cars with more miles using no oil, but that could just be the luck of the draw.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
A qt of oil in a 1000 miles is considered by many car makers normal oil use. I'd be one unhappy camper if I had a new car using that much oil. But that's what happens if someone brings in an car using oil that isn't leaking and tries to make a warranty claim. A 250,000 mile engine using a qt of oil every 2000 miles I'd say is normal. Sure there are plenty of cars with more miles using no oil, but that could just be the luck of the draw.


For oil burning, I consider myself lucky. The only real oil burner I had was a 1983 LTD with the 2.3 L. That thing just loved to burn oil. It wasn't outside what manufacturer's would consider "normal," but it irked me and one could smell it.

Since then, I've had a 1990 Town Car 5.0L, a 1999.5 Lightning, a 1984 F-150 4.9L, and a 1991 Audi 200 2.2L. None burned oil. That latter two, however, have been leakers. The F-150 is fixed, and I nursed it along with 5w30 Valvoline MaxLife and Delvac 1300 until the rebuild. The Audi is leaking around the valve cover gasket, which I will replace when I actually have time to let the thing cool down. I have noticed that Delvac 1300 leaks a lot less than just about anything else I've had in it, including synthetic HDEOs.

No problems with burning, but I'm getting mighty sick of playing with gaskets.

 

[CharBaby]

It's funny how the MFG's still mention that using a 1qt of oil every 1,000 miles is normal on a new engine and mechanics that tell people that they should change their oil every 3 months/3,000 miles when engine and oil technology has changed all for the better. I agree that 1qt of oil every 2,000 miles is OK on an engine with 250,000 miles because, "it is what it is"
I could not accept a new engine that used a qt every 1K. Only my older vehicles from the 60's, 70's and some of the early 80's needed a make up qt between OCI's. Nothing from the later 80's to today. Now, I did have engines with several hundred thousand miles and some used a bit and others didn't.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Garak


No problems with burning, but I'm getting mighty sick of playing with gaskets.


Gaskets can be a PITA. I have a 93 Aerostar which has a leak, I'm using about a qt of oil every 3000 miles. I went thru a "cleaning process" in hopes of slowing/stopping it. I had some brief success and then it started leaking again. I don't want to spend the time/money to fix it so I'm living with it. The good news is it doesn't drip onto the driveway as of yet. When it does I'll put a pan under it.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Gaskets can be a PITA. I have a 93 Aerostar which has a leak, I'm using about a qt of oil every 3000 miles. I went thru a "cleaning process" in hopes of slowing/stopping it. I had some brief success and then it started leaking again. I don't want to spend the time/money to fix it so I'm living with it. The good news is it doesn't drip onto the driveway as of yet. When it does I'll put a pan under it.


Although the Audi isn't leaking enough to always have to add between oil changes (unlike what the 1984 F-150 was doing), it's a bit of a nuisance. The top end of the straight fives are canted towards the passenger side, and the oil drips onto the turbo, and can even wind up on the exhaust. It can create a bit of a stink.

With synthetic, I could see it pooling. With the Delvac 1300, it just has a visible film.

 

[wolfc70]

I had a 1987 Buick Century with the 2.8 v6. It burned a quart every 500-800 miles. It did that when I got the car with 50k on it until I sold it with 177k on it. Never any smoke, or drips, just a plugged cat around 100k miles.

A quart every 2000 miles on a car with 250k is well within reason. I would buy whatever 5qt jug of dino is on sale. I do not think exotic oils will help much at this point.

 

[Gene K]

Based on heavy diesel experience I would say Mobil Delvac 1300 15W40 is usually the best bet for reduced oil consumption. Its on sale for $7.99 a gallon at AAP. I dont know if the west coast has those. However I usually reserve such oils for cars that use a quart of 5W30 every 1000 miles or less.

Considering its only a Qt every 2000 miles I would try a treatment with MMO and then Valvoline Maxlife 5W30 and see if it improves.

If it doesnt just buy the filter of your choice and change it every 5000-7500 miles. Its a self changer.

 

[garlicbreadman]

bought maxlife 10w30 and a supertech filter

 

[Gene K]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
Based on heavy diesel experience I would say Mobil Delvac 1300 15W40 is usually the best bet for reduced oil consumption. Its on sale for $7.99 a gallon at AAP.


Sorry, brain fade. O'Reilly's has it for $7.99

 

[Gary Allan]

My gosh, how many miles a year does this car see, anyway? Let's say it's something high like 25k/year. You mean a once a month add will break some camel's back in some line drawn between functional and otherwise?

Add the oil ..the spec'd oil ..check the oil. Add the oil when needed. Change the oil when recommended. Make sure stuff like PCV and whatnot are serviced properly.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this level of consumption unless it's accompanied by other side effects that reduce fuel economy or drivability.

The human can adapt to adding oil over a one or two month period without major negative impact on their lives.