OT. oil for car

danmcdonald · Apr 27, 2014

I have a 1988 Buick with 140,000 miles on it with the 3.8L. Starts and runs great but it burns about a quart of oil every 3,000 miles. I use 5w30. Can I use a heaver oil to help stop the oil consumption? I know I cant stop it completely just want to slow it down. Thanks

crawlerjohn · Apr 27, 2014

I would not worry about oil consumption until you need to add at every gas fill. With high mileage thicker oil will just increase the heat retained in the engine and cause faster wear.

Dachshund · Apr 27, 2014

Lucas Oil Treatment.

Allan in NE · Apr 27, 2014

One quart in 3 thousand miles is perfect! Leave 'er alone.

Allan

RESLLS · Apr 27, 2014

Try a different brand. I have had cars that would use more with certain brands.

Blackhole49 · Apr 27, 2014

I'm with Allen, leave it alone. If your worried, start changing it every 3,000 miles.

Pops1532 · Apr 27, 2014

Use the grade of oil the manufacturer recommends for your climate and driving conditions. A different brand of oil may reduce your consumption.
I wouldn't be too concerned about using a quart at oil change interval.

Leroy · Apr 27, 2014

98 Buick with that 3.8 engine all I ever run is 10-40. 98 Plymouth Vovager with 3.0 same 10-40, if take to shop and they put in 10-30 (Called for in both) at about 800 I have to add oil, if the 10-40 then do not need to add for 2500 miles. The van shows 230,000+ hard stop and go miles, averigning 2 stops per mile for several years on rual paper route. The only thing that does not have the 10-40 is the 06 Caravan with 3.3 just recently purchassed and it calls for 5-20 I think but as soon as it starts using oil or showing low pressure in goes a heavier oil.

Goose · Apr 27, 2014

I agree. Don't worry about it!

Interestingly, my wife drives an '07 Chrysler Town & Country with Chrysler's 3.8 engine and 103K miles. It will take about a quart in 3,000. For my work van, I drive an '05 Dodge Grand Caravan with the same 3.8 engine and 138K miles. It will drop 1/8" on the dipstick at the most in 3,000.

Go figure.

Pops1532 · Apr 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:46:15 04/27/14) I'm with Allen, leave it alone. If your worried, start changing it every 3,000 miles.

If he's using conventional oil he should already be changing it at 3000 miles with that age car.

JDemaris · Apr 27, 2014

Geez - my Subaru uses a quart of oil with every fill up (275 miles). I'd be tickled to go 3000 miles and only use 1 quart of oil with anything. My Ford and Dodge and GM diesel trucks all use that much and more. In fact the only vehicle that uses as little as your's does is my 2003 Geo Chevy Tracker with 260,000 miles on it. I'm amazed it does that well!

Geo-TH,In · Apr 27, 2014

3000 mi a qt at 140k isn't bad. My 2005 buick has 50K and at 3k it down about 1/2 qt. A friends 2004 cheby has 95k. At 3k oil is fine, at 4k down 1/2 qt, at 5k down 1 1/2 qt and engine only holds 3.5 qt.

For me this is proof oil should be changed at 3K-4k, especially when engine only has 3.5 qt.

danmcdonald · Apr 27, 2014

Yes I do change oil every 3,000 miles.

js305 · Apr 27, 2014

I have a 96 Lumina that is kind of a beater car now. My son is using it for a work car now. It varies, but usually doesn't burn any oil until about 3000 miles after an oil change. Then it goes down a quart in a week or so. I change it and it's good for another 3000. I'm using straight 30 wt in it now. Runs good so far.

Remember the old Ford pickups that had to have oil every fillup with gas? The same ones that got ten mpg?

As long as your car is running OK I wouldn't worry about it.

ASEguy · Apr 27, 2014

You cannot stop the consumption only slow it down. The trade off with a thicker grade oil is less oil at start-up. Most engine wear occurs at start-up.

Mike (WA) · Apr 27, 2014

That's perfect- down a quart at 3,000, time to pop in for an oil change.

My '99 Buick with about same mileage on 3.8 is about the same, and that's my strategy.

sd pete · Apr 27, 2014

I wouldn't worry about a Qt of oil every 3000 miles.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 27, 2014

My boy claims he gets 2-3 more mpg using 0-20w synthetic in his camery, but using thinner oil causes it to use a little. He thinks he saves more on mpg than oil consumption. He lives in Plainfield, In.

David G · Apr 27, 2014

I would stay with recommendations from manufacturer, quart in 3000 is fine.

Northvale - PA · Apr 27, 2014

Subaru = tighten up the oil pan and oil cover screws periodically, snug them only. For some reason, they get loose and leak. Look underneath for the signs.

ss55 · Apr 27, 2014

I have a Pontiac Bonneville with the second version of 3.8. It also needs oil around 3000 miles. I don't think your oil consumption is unusual or anything to worry about. Stay with a factory recommended oil.

It sounds like you don't put a lot of miles on the car. Be good to your car and change the oil at 3000 miles or when it needs a quart. It will last a long time that way.

buickanddeere · Apr 27, 2014

Use what ever the manufacture specifies. There is oil for "high mileage" engines that will swell the seals and reduce seepage.
As the vehicle is computer controlled, fuel injected, highway driven , doesn"t tow a trailer and runs on unleaded fuel. I"m puzzled why you are still following the customs of an dark and bygone era of the past ? From 30+years ago. That is wasting time, oil and money changing engine oil at 3000 instead of 10,000 miles.
If you really want to do something for that engine . Install a longer, higher capacity , lower restriction oil filter.

HughB · Apr 27, 2014

A very slow seep of oil around one of the gaskets could account for that loss of oil. Sounds like normal oil usage though for that amount of miles.

D beatty · Apr 27, 2014

I wouldn't do any thing differant. A car with that milage and a quart at 3,000 miles is not bad. I bought a 06 Chevy Impala with a 3.9 L with less than 18,000 miles and dealer said to use synthetic oil. Car used a quart every 1,000 miles and no leaks.Tried it it through one more oil change and did same thing. I then switched to conventional motor oil and it doesn't use a drop in 3,000 miles. I also saw no differance in gas milage with the two oils.

rustred · Apr 27, 2014

if you want you can put some Castrol 20-50 oil in it next change and do the experiment yourself and get yourself an accurate diagnosis. wont hurt a thing. I use 20-50 for ages now.

Nick m · Apr 27, 2014

My 01 lesabre used about that much at that mileage. I finally parted ways with it a month ago with 240000 on it. Wasn't using any more or any less. Don't think I'd worry about it.

T in NE · Apr 27, 2014

I think Toyota's "acceptable" level of oil usage is up to a quart every 1,000 miles. So you're doing better than what their new cars may be doing.

buickanddeere · Apr 27, 2014

New engines with close clearances built to use 0-20W oil can be damaged with 20-50. Thicker isn't always better.

Steve@Advance · Apr 27, 2014

Have you replaced the PCV valve and checked the vacuum line to the PCV for carbon build up or collapsed hose? Could be causing some crankcase pressurization.

Depending on your climate, for warm weather driving wouldn't hurt to move up to 10W-30. Could even adjust it a little at a time, add a quart of 10W-30, see what happens with the consumption, next time add a 10W-40.

OT. oil for car

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