Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Engine using/burning oil?

[THoltz]

I have 75,000 miles on my 2002 Ram. For 60,000 miles I used Chevron Delo 400 and changed oil about every 3500-4500. I never had to add oil between oil changes. At the 60,000 mile point I started using Royal Purple 15W40. I now add about 1 qt every 3-4,000 miles. Anyone else ever seen this?

 

[Wiredawg]

I honestly need to check how often I add oil in my '02. I have Amsoil, bypass oil filter system, and changed oil about 30K miles. Oil analysis was still good, but my instincts made me change out. I did have to add som ocassionally, but I'm a type A that has to keep the oil fil at the top of the mark. Iop of the head, there are a lot of ways these motors "use" oil. Evaporate out where the blow=by bottle is (was on mine) and through the cylinders and out the tail pipe. I get a little blue smake at startup, so some might by seeping past the valvetrain. I wouldn't be too worried.



What kind of driving do you do? I have a mix of city during week, some highway on the weekend.



Curious to see other responses.



Wiredawg

 

[Tractorat]

I have an 02 with about 78k. I would sometime go thru a little oil. I finally realized that the bolts on the oil pan would loosed up. (I thought the oil down there had to do with spray from the puke bottle). So, I tighten them up every once in a while. No more oil usage. Some day, I should have the pan dropped and resealed. But for as little oil it loses when a bolt gets loose, it isnt worth it.

 

[Rattler]

Mine has always lost a quart or so between changes ( since about 100k) I really don't worry about it though. Now at 211k. Randy

 

[THoltz]

Could it be that synthetic oil is more volatile? I'll just keep an eye on the dip stick.

 

[WestTN]

I have 152,000+ miles on my truck and have never had to add oil. Since your usage began when you changed oil brand, I would suggest going back to your old oil for one cycle. It is possible there are volatile elemnts in the oil you are currently using.

 

[diesel DOG]

no leaks? i have 145,000 on my 01 and it never need oil between changes until it started leaking at the timing cover which I will fix soon. I change every 10,000 and use Valvoline 15W/40 none synthetic. I did use oil testing to go to 10,000. It also made me do my Excursion 6. 0 diesel at 5,000 also.

 

[THoltz]

I have no oil leaks, front of engine is clean. I replaced the oil filter about 1000 miles ago and I am still at the full mark. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I thought mine "used" a little oil somehow, too. Turns out the turbo bearings were bad and I have been slowly leaking oil into my intercooler. Just a thought for your situation. You could pull the lower blower hose off and see if there's oil in it. You can eliminate that as a culprit if nothing else.

 

[snappy]

Tholtz, I have seen what you are describing, but not in a 5. 9 Cummins. One of my brothers went from Rotella T 15-40W to Co-op HD 15-40W in his highway tractor. Oil consumption went from 1 1/2 gallons between changes to 5 gallons. He went back to Shell oil and the oil consumption returned to 1 1/2 gallons. I would go back to Chevron oil and see what happens.