Oil Consumption city vs. highway

[m3jala]

I am trying to figure out if I have a problem or not.

I bought my car at 17k miles and drove it across the entire United States (oregon > virginia) ~3500 miles with some scenery in colorado. The oil was about 1/2 when I started and then popped to 1/4 when I arrived. So at that rate, it's like 1 quart of oil consumed say per 12000 miles.

Then had oil changed and the doofuses at the shop did the classic overfill of 9 quarts. I drove on that for about 20 miles thinking it was the finicky oil gauge and would "settle", and then realizing there was an issue just drained to the appropriate level myself.

I've then added another 3000 miles and have gone from full to 1/4 quart empty. Most of this has been city driving. So say 1 quart per 4000 miles.

Is the variation between highway and city in your all experience normal, or did the doofuses at the shop reward me with an early christmas present of oil thirst on a low mileage vehicle? If such is the new life, anything I should be on the lookout for other than having a quart of oil in the backseat to refill here and there.

Thanks.

[R3dliner]

Our cars do drink oil on long highway drives cruising 60-75 mph. If you also WOT a lot it drinks more. On city driving I burn zero oil.
Got a oil change right after I picked up my car in Houston and driving to NY, I ended up in the half mark.
Typically on my 5K OCI I put in a quart of oil.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by m3jala

I am trying to figure out if I have a problem or not.

I bought my car at 17k miles and drove it across the entire United States (oregon > virginia) ~3500 miles with some scenery in colorado. The oil was about 1/2 when I started and then popped to 1/4 when I arrived. So at that rate, it's like 1 quart of oil consumed say per 12000 miles.

Then had oil changed and the doofuses at the shop did the classic overfill of 9 quarts. I drove on that for about 20 miles thinking it was the finicky oil gauge and would "settle", and then realizing there was an issue just drained to the appropriate level myself.

I've then added another 3000 miles and have gone from full to 1/4 quart empty. Most of this has been city driving. So say 1 quart per 4000 miles.

Is the variation between highway and city in your all experience normal, or did the doofuses at the shop reward me with an early christmas present of oil thirst on a low mileage vehicle? If such is the new life, anything I should be on the lookout for other than having a quart of oil in the backseat to refill here and there.

Thanks.

Completely normal..

Dave

[jmeek83]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

Our cars do drink oil on long highway drives cruising 60-75 mph. If you also WOT a lot it drinks more. On city driving I burn zero oil.
Got a oil change right after I picked up my car in Houston and driving to NY, I ended up in the half mark.
Typically on my 5K OCI I put in a quart of oil.

My experience has been exactly the same. I live outside of Chicago (so no extreme heat), I've owned my car since new, and it's had 0W-40 since break-in. Romps on non-highways seem to drive little to no oil consumption. Cruises at 80 mph where engine speed is consistently around or above 3.5K RPM seem to make the car consume oil much more quickly. In mixed driving, I would say a quart every 5K is very accurate.

[m3jala]

Thanks all. My experience seems to be the opposite. Very low fuel consumption highway driving. Overfill on oil change. Sudden higher fuel consumption in mostly city driving.

However I will continue to monitor. If it's 4-5k needing one quart seems that's what I have and no reason for concern.

[R3dliner]

Originally Posted by m3jala

Very low fuel consumption highway driving. Overfill on oil change. Sudden higher fuel consumption in mostly city driving.

You mean oil consumption?

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

You mean oil consumption?

S65 has surprisingly good highway fuel economy as long as you are sensible with the throttle. Then again it doesn't compare to 4 bangers or turbos at legal speeds...

[m3jala]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

You mean oil consumption?

That's what happens when I multi task

Yes I meant oil consumption. Thx.

[BayE30]

this is another reason why i change at 3k miles, never have to worry about adding oil.

[m3jala]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

this is another reason why i change at 3k miles, never have to worry about adding oil.

Fair point

[dparm]

The quantity is largely irrelevant as long as it isn't something ridiculous like a quart every 1000 miles. Some cars consume oil, some do not. This is just normal engine variation.

What you want is a consistent rate of consumption. Increases or decreases point to something else going on.

FWIW, highway miles are generally easy on the car since you have steady RPM, low load, constant airflow, smooth surface, minimal transmission shifting, minimal steering, etc. City miles are much harder on the car. This is why low mileage vehicles worry me.

[EnVe46]

My car almost always shows 1/2 full after driving on the highway for a bit. Once I get off the highway it goes back up. Don't know the reasoning but its never more than slightly less than full the rest of the time.

[m3jala]

Originally Posted by dparm

Increases or decreases point to something else going on.
.

Just to be aware, what would you say are the things to look into should high oil consumption become an issue?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by m3jala

Just to be aware, what would you say are the things to look into should high oil consumption become an issue?

Could be any number of things: worn rings, PCV problems, oil thinned out due to contamination, etc.

If oil consumption starts to rise, there are typically other secondary symptoms.

[m3jala]

Originally Posted by dparm

Could be any number of things: worn rings, PCV problems, oil thinned out due to contamination, etc.

If oil consumption starts to rise, there are typically other secondary symptoms.

Thanks brother

[Lazardm3]

Originally Posted by dparm

The quantity is largely irrelevant as long as it isn't something ridiculous like a quart every 1000 miles. Some cars consume oil, some do not. This is just normal engine variation.

What you want is a consistent rate of consumption. Increases or decreases point to something else going on.

FWIW, highway miles are generally easy on the car since you have steady RPM, low load, constant airflow, smooth surface, minimal transmission shifting, minimal steering, etc. City miles are much harder on the car. This is why low mileage vehicles worry me.

1litre per 1500 km is considered factory spec (~ 1q/1000 miles).

The rings designed to looser tolerances for heat at high revs and a lot of fuel gets into the oil. Designed this way. When you run the car to operating temps long highway drives it burns some of that off so often shows needing oil top up.