Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Normal oil consumption=gotta burn some???

[merryman]

A recent thread on oil consumption saw a number of members claiming NO oil consumption. (Many posters of course said they did not need to "add" oil between changes. That is quite different from claiming NO use of oil--I too almost never have to add oil, and have done so only when going more than 3K between changes and then only when towing hard)

It seems to me that if "some" oil did not get past the rings, you would inevitably have some dry metal on dry metal? It that is so, you would suffer substantial wear. If some oil gets past the rings to avoid bare metal on metal, you would then have to have some oil consumption. Even if only a few drops got by the rings with each cycle, over a couple thousand miles that would be a noticable amount of oil.

I have never owned a vehicle that did not consume some oil. My two CTDs have both used a quart in about 3-4K miles.

A M-Benz I owned, stated normal consumption of oil was 2-4 quarts per Kmiles--it was closer to 2 for me, and although that was the highest consumption I ever experienced, I have found that all my vehicles used more than either of my CTDs.



I would like to hear other views on the necessity of some oil consumption to avoid the metal to metal problem in the rings.



Vaughn

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

My truck's oil level has always read slighty over the full mark till I drain it at 3k. I'm sure an extremely small amount might get by the rings on a healthy engine, but I wouldn't think enough to cause the dipstick level to drop. JMO



Dan

 

[DDT]

mine has 110K & has pulled hard all it's life. 4K add 2 qts( on the add mark)

 

[curatchko]

Mine seems to use about 1 quart every 6-7k miles, which is great for any engine diesel or non diesel... All engines consume oil, just some more than others. Not all engines rings seal the same, not all valve seals seal the same with the tolerance spread in the cylinder bores, ring gaps, bore finish, valve tolerances, guide tolerances etc... .



Just keep up on your oil level and none of it is a big deal.

 

[mcoleman]

I went from changing my oil every 3000 miles to changing it at every 5000 miles and I'm still not using any. My truck has 120,000 miles on it and I use Rotella.

 

[illflem]

Every engine has to use some oil, you might not see it on the dipstick though. Remember your oil is collecting soot and it's volume will increase with use, even if your dipstick stays the same you are burning oil

. Don't know about Cummins but Cat says as long as it's below 0. 5% of the amount of fuel consumed (2 qts per 100 ga of fuel) there is no problem.