Where Is My Oil Going?

[bassadict69]

I am using Mobil 1 5w30, oil changes at about 8-9000 miles. I normally change the filter & top off the oil with the first light, reset it then change it about 3000 miles later.

 

Oil always looks good...even after 9000 miles. I am always about a quart low at the first light...where could my oil be going?

 

If this is a stupid question, please forgive me! I have never had this problem to deal with!

 

I have checked for leaks & found none!

[dewhite]

I am using Mobil 1 5w30, oil changes at about 8-9000 miles. I normally change the filter & top off the oil with the first light, reset it then change it about 3000 miles later.

 

Oil always looks good...even after 9000 miles. I am always about a quart low at the first light...where could my oil be going?

 

If this is a stupid question, please forgive me! I have never had this problem to deal with!

 

I have checked for leaks & found none!

 

How many miles do you have on your truck?

 

As your truck ages tolerances that were once very tight become a little bit more open and allow some blow by. This will lead to older engines consuming more oil than they used to...

 

I would say a quart every 3-5 thousand miles isn't very alarming...

[bassadict69]

I have about 86000 miles on the truck

[GeoHawk]

dewhite's right, you're just burning a little oil as it sneaks (or blows) by the piston rings. I'd be concerned if you were going through a quart every 1000 miles or so, but your oil consumption doesn't sound like anything to be worried about.

[bassadict69]

Glad to hear that...THANKS!

[gmikejames]

My '01 Z71 also uses about 1 quart every 3000 miles with 77,000 on the odometer. I read in a previous topic an issue with the PCV stock unit needing to be replaced with a upgraded version to reduce oil consumption. Any truth to this?

[67ChevyRedneck]

My '01 Z71 also uses about 1 quart every 3000 miles with 77,000 on the odometer. I read in a previous topic an issue with the PCV stock unit needing to be replaced with a upgraded version to reduce oil consumption. Any truth to this?

 

 

It's called the "fixed orifice" PCV. My Z71 was having serious oil usage. I was going through a whole quart every 1000 miles, sometimes less. It turned out the cheap autozone PCV I bought was already crap after 10K and was stuck open. I decided to try the fixed orifice one for the heck of it (you'll never have to change it again.) Oil consumption completely stopped. I use mobil one as well and change about every 4K. I only lose about 1/4 of a quart at 100K over 3 to 4K miles.

[z85violator]

pull all of your plugs out and look to see if their black, if black the oil is hurting your power and fuel milage

if they look good don't worry about it.

[bassadict69]

pull all of your plugs out and look to see if their black, if black the oil is hurting your power and fuel milage

if they look good don't worry about it.

 

Plugs were just changed a week or two ago...all the old plugs looked ok, old & worn, but ok.

[ZZ327]

maybe change your oil and filter every time, and see what that does

[HawkeyeOC]

I had an early 90's F@rd Ranger that burned a quart every thousand or so miles from the day I bought it new. F@rd wouldn't do anything unless it got worse. I kept oil with me and put almost 200,000 miles on it before the motor blew up. I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

Slick 50 actually reduced the oil consumption some.