Normal oil consumption?

[gmupatriot]

Hello,

My 2018 GT has 57,000 miles on it. I have been using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 since the first oil change (about 3000 miles).

I changed oil last time with PUP 5W-30 and filled it up where the oil level was touching the top hole on the dip stick. I wanted to see how much oil my car is burning and if this is an issue. As you can see from the picture, this is where the oil is right now after 1800 miles of normal driving.

Is this normal?

Thanks,

Sponsored

 

[2021 Mach 1]

That seems normal to me. I would say that every two months I put a small top-up in mine.

 

[WildHorse]

In another 1800 miles check it again.
BTW, 'full is considered anywhere along those cross hatches.
Cause the side of the dipstick facing the drivers fender will always show higher.

 

[Skye]

You've had the car for a while.

Q. It just recently started doing this, within the last few thousand miles or so?

Q. Is the engine modified?

Q. Any smoke on start, when idle or accelerating?

Q. You're checking the oil at the same engine temp, same level place, same way, each time, yes?

Thanks.

Edit: Q. The picture above, is that when the engine is hot? Cold?

Thanks Again.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Mine uses a little oil. It doesn't smoke on startup or when I am getting on it, but I still use about 1 litre of oil every 1400-1500 miles. I think it has a lot of the way I drive it, a lot of shorter trips and rev-matching. I also believe the way I broke the car in has a say in the way it uses oil. I wish I drove it like I stole it when I bought it new. I took the car to Ford and they don't consider excessive oil use until its 1 litre evey 750 miles. Which I think is ridiculous.

 

[Crew4991]

Gonna get grief for saying this but any amount of oil consumption in a NEW car means the dang engine was not built properly in the first place.

That's right, looking at you Ford, VW/Audi, Subaru... Oil burners should not be complimentary from the factory!

However, as an engine ages it is prone to wear so that might cause some oil consumption which could be classified as normal. OP I don't think you have anything to worry about in your car.

 

[WildHorse]

but I still use about 1 litre of oil

That's way excessive.

 

[Dave2013M3]

That's way excessive.

Ford didn't think so...They wouldn't even do a consumption test as they said it wasn't enough of a consumption. They felt that 1 litre every 1500 miles was still well within spec.

 

[WildHorse]

Ford didn't think so...They wouldn't even do a consumption test as they said it wasn't enough of a consumption. They felt that 1 litre every 1500 miles was still well within spec.

Really. Then there is something seriously wrong with my engine. Cause 8qts go in, around 7.75qts drained when doing a oil change. Every 7k miles give or take.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Really. Then there is something seriously wrong with my engine. Cause 8qts go in, around 7.75qts drained when doing a oil change. Every 7k miles give or take.

The car runs fine, and once again Ford won't even bother with it due to the fact I am not consuming enough oil for them to even do the consumption test. Actually for me its 10 liters as the Gen 3 has 10 liters of oil. This seems to be more of an issue with the Gen 3 Coyote than the earlier ones. I disagree that there is something seriously wrong with my engine. She put down 449rwhp.

 

[WildHorse]

I disagree that there is something seriously wrong with my engine.

No, I said something is seriously wrong with MY engine.

Anyways, some quick Kentucky math: For you that means around 5.33333 liter consumption over 8k miles.

Cool story Ford.

 

[Dave2013M3]

No, I said something is seriously wrong with MY engine.

Anyways, some quick Kentucky math: For you that means around 5.33333 liter consumption over 8k miles.

Cool story Ford.

Oh snap, lack of sleep...sorry.

 

[BlackandBlue]

I also have an 18 and my experience is similar. What I have found is my car burns to about 1/4 above the bottom hole and stops using oil. I have zero clue why but when I do oil changes I have filled to the top hole and filled to the middle. Without adding it any oil, the next change will be at the same place on the stick which is right above the bottom hole. Makes zero sense.

 

[ice445]

Gonna get grief for saying this but any amount of oil consumption in a NEW car means the dang engine was not built properly in the first place.

That's right, looking at you Ford, VW/Audi, Subaru... Oil burners should not be complimentary from the factory!

However, as an engine ages it is prone to wear so that might cause some oil consumption which could be classified as normal. OP I don't think you have anything to worry about in your car.

Apparently it's become more common in the last 5-10 years due to low tension oil rings to try to get the lowest frictional losses (for more efficiency and MPG of course). Which is funny to me, since yeah, you're saving fractional amounts of gasoline, but now you're just replacing that with burnt oil which is even worse for the environment.

My car on 5W20 has always burned a decent amount over a 5K change, I usually go through at least a quart. But I'm regularly winding it out, so that has a lot to do with it. Never see any smoke from my car either, and the catch can never really caught too much. Maybe a tablespoon or two in 3000 miles. Aerosolization of the oil is an issue with these engines since they have so many moving parts, so I suspect that's where the majority of the loss comes from. The rest is probably just factory tolerances on the rings/ring alignment and things like that. Since I know some people burn nothing at all.

On 5W30 on the other hand, the last time (and only time) I used it, I drove 2000 miles in one week with literally zero consumption. There wasn't much high RPM on that trip, but lots of steep grades up and down (so lots of engine braking). My car has always made good power though, so I don't worry about it either way. Will probably switch to 5W30 permanently in the near future.

 

[Dave2013M3]

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• Apparently it's become more common in the last 5-10 years due to low tension oil rings to try to get the lowest frictional losses (for more efficiency and MPG of course). Which is funny to me, since yeah, you're saving fractional amounts of gasoline, but now you're just replacing that with burnt oil which is even worse for the environment.
  
  My car on 5W20 has always burned a decent amount over a 5K change, I usually go through at least a quart. But I'm regularly winding it out, so that has a lot to do with it. Never see any smoke from my car either, and the catch can never really caught too much. Maybe a tablespoon or two in 3000 miles. Aerosolization of the oil is an issue with these engines since they have so many moving parts, so I suspect that's where the majority of the loss comes from. The rest is probably just factory tolerances on the rings/ring alignment and things like that. Since I know some people burn nothing at all.
  
  On 5W30 on the other hand, the last time (and only time) I used it, I drove 2000 miles in one week with literally zero consumption. There wasn't much high RPM on that trip, but lots of steep grades up and down (so lots of engine braking). My car has always made good power though, so I don't worry about it either way. Will probably switch to 5W30 permanently in the near future.

  I do a lot of rev matching ond engine braking. I also feel that a lot of the short trips hurt me. I change the oil every 4-5k miles. I took a trip to San Diego round trip is 300 miles and I checked the oil before the trip and after and it didn't budge.

Sponsored