Alloytec 190 - Hmmmm, I sseem to be using a little oil....

[Phreddy]

G'day All.

A little worrying.... I noticed on my trip to Adelaide recently that my dear A190 used more than just a teeny bit of oil.... In fact, it seems in around 3500 kays I've gone through over a litre, probably 1 1/2. I can't see any evidence of leaking, and if I was burning that much oil I thought I'd definitely see residue all over the back bumper and boot.... And there is none... Lots of highway grime of course after that trip, but no oil residue....

So what could be happening??? Surely that can't just be exaporation... (oh, as a matter of interest - I run Nulon full synth - 5W in winter, 10W in summer... Change with filter every 7500 Ks)

Cheerz guys!

[ashbox]

thats strange, nothing unsual happening with the car besides that?

[Torquative]

I dont know Greg but Dads Adventra (with the 190) tends to go through oil too, always has.

Not really an answer but its something

[88GreenVN]

City driving most k's and then you get out on the highway for a long trip will use upto 1/2 L on almost any car. How long had it been from the last oil change?

And did you open it up a bit on the highway (dont answer that) if so that can also drink a little oil too

[calay]

mine interestingly puffed a decent amount on a startup not too long ago

[andyman]

mine interestingly puffed a decent amount on a startup not too long ago

was it white you blue, white is just condensation

[Sash182]

I've noticed the same prob, used just over a litre in 5000k's.

[torana355]

Greg i use the same oil as you and my car has been using a fair amount of oil (1.5L in 5k) I think im going to use Motul oil on my next change and see if it makes a difference.

[Phreddy]

Thanks for the responses guys.... To address a couple of the questions asked - Ash, no there are no other symptoms. In fact it's running like an absolute dream - drove beautifully for the trip, and got 800 Ks on a tank again - and only managed to squeeze just over 71 litres in.... :woohoo:

I did have a think about this too..... When a car is used for a lot of short-haul start/stop tyoe of stuff, there can indeed be a little condensation which settles into the sump when the engine cools. Because the oil never reaches a high enough temperature to boil this water off, this can effectively "add" to the volume of liquid in the sump, so the level on the dipstick shows OK. It's not enough water to show as "milkyness" in the oil, but it does artificially lift the level. When you go on a LONG trip, and the oil comes up to somewhere above 100 degrees (ie, so the water boils off and goes out through the crankcase vent) then it does indeed leave the engine, causing the level to drop what appears to be quite dramatically. I have topped the oil up since, and it seems to be maintaining the level.... Shane, I think this might be what you're referring to...
(although, a litre of boil-off?? Damn! I wasn't really "booting it" on the trip, although there were a couple of times I opened her up a little... )

I'm not sure how much sense that all makes, I might be blowing trumpets out of my butt anyhow...

I'l getting the car up on stands over the next few days, I'll see what evidence I can find under the body.... Surely I'll spot something if it's leaking.

I too have noticed a very occasional belch of smoke at start-up - it seemed to be white coloured, but I thought I smelled oil once. It soon cleared, and doesn't happen at all often. A few times in the almost five years I've had it.
Anyhow, thanks again for the input guys. I wonder if I might switch oil brands too.... I have had good results with the Nulon though, apart from the consumption issue... It's a little releiving to know that I'm not the only one, and oil these days is pretty thin conpared to what we used to use - not surprising a little of it gets burnt / vapourised.... ( Corse + for my 4.2 thank you...)

Cheerz

[CNULTR]

guys i dont know if this would help, but my dads caprice had started throwing out oil from the manifold in2 the plastic intake those long tubes, ded set about a litre of oil or more was in there but in the mean time it was runing perfect. We just had to do a oil service every 5-10 thousand kz.

[andyman]

dont forget manuals will use more oil than autos, because of engine braking at say 3,000rppm creates huge vacuum behind the butterfly, so it'll pull oil up the sides of the rings

[Phreddy]

Yes, good point Andy. (I'll get that strip of LEDs to you real soon too Mate - sorry about that....)

Again, that's the thing with these thinner runnier oils I guess...

Ah, not to worry - I'm doing an oil change this weekend, so I'll keep a close eye on it. Thatnks for your tip too CNULTR - I'll have a look at that. (I assume you mean those long plastic plenum tubes running along the top behind the radiator?)

Cheerz!

[shiftySLE]

I would say 1 1/2 litres in 3500 k's is too much. For VZ's that are only a few years old, the rings shouldn't be that worn to use that much oil. If they are, the plugs should be oiling up. I've had engines with serious compression issues due to worn/cracked rings and even they didnt use that much oil. Are you sure you dont have a leak. It doesnt matter if you don't see oil on the floor, a lot of the time it lands on a rail or burn straight off after dropping on the exhaust. Check the filter carrier, rear main, rocker covers and other obvious parts for leaks.

[burnz]

this only occures in a 190 useing a 175 dipstick.
175 dipstick is shorter and subequent overfilling of the sump, natural burnoff.
take to holden and run dipstick "id" to confirm correct stick used.

[calay]

i found out yesterday that my oil filter canister has been leaking some oil and has been difficult to open.. gotta love apprentices telling u stuff about ur car that the boss won't say...

[shiftySLE]

i found out yesterday that my oil filter canister has been leaking some oil and has been difficult to open.. gotta love apprentices telling u stuff about ur car that the boss won't say...

Yes definatelty, you can rely on the apprentice to give out company secrets to nake themselves look smart, happy to hear you sorted it out. The VZ filter carriers have a torque setting that should be used, not just a spanner as they are prone to leak once cracked open.

[andyman]

Yes definatelty, you can rely on the apprentice to give out company secrets to nake themselves look smart, happy to hear you sorted it out. The VZ filter carriers have a torque setting that should be used, not just a spanner as they are prone to leak once cracked open.

they only leak if you dont replace the o-ring when you change the filter