VY V6 oil consumption!!!

what oil do you guys use?? when i got my car serviced they put in magnatec. :unsure:
i though that it is **** old. what do you guys think?

 

Oil consumption

I have heard it is due to "Holden" choosing to run a semi-synthetic oil from day one, which simply works so well it stop the rings from bedding in and forming a good seal on the bore. In the old days i'd cure that by pouring a little brasso metal polish down the carb while engine running. Wouldn't recommend that remeedy on new Commodores

 

The real king of oil consumption is the BA XR8. I know of oil consumption ranging from 3.5 lt per 10,000 km to as much as 11.5 lt per 10,000km!!

Back to the issue at hand.

My partner and I both have VX's. One is a stock V6, the other is a S/C V6. Both were purchased brand new.

The following service history has been followed.

Since the 1500 km service, we have used Castrol Softec LL 5w 30 Oil

1. Oil & filter changed at 1500km service
2. Oil & filter changed at 5000km
3. Oil supplied at every dealer service
4. Oil & filter changed every 5000km between dealer services
5. Spark Plugs & Air Filter changed every 20,000km.
[S/C car received a D & T Performance (Adelaide) pod filter at 20,000km due to lousy fuel economy. Economy has improved by between 2.5-4.0 lt per 100km]

Neither car has been flogged, both are idled for a minute or two when cold, then driven sedately until operating temp is reached. Both have done regular hwy km. The non S/C car has done 85% fwy/hwy km, the S/C car about 60%.

I check fluid levels daily and keep oil level exaclty on the high mark. With 64,000 & 68,000km respectively on the clocks, they both use less than 100ml per 5,000 km.

Oil consumption is a warning sign preceeding major trouble like an engine rebuild. It occurs increasingly as the gap between the cylinder wall and piston rings increases. It is referred to as blow by.

Some oil consumption is to be expected, but it really shouldn't be more than 500ml or so per 10,000km in a well maintained Commodore engine with under 100,000km on the odometer. However, regular heavy towing applications are a different story.

 

I disagree. NSW Highway Patrol do not have a Gen III oil consumption problem. The first thing they do with a new car is fit them out (lights radios etc.) then put them on the dyno to certify the speedo up to 180km/h. Then they go right into service. The cars get driven firmly from day one. Using Moving Mode Radar, they have to brake hard, U-turn and then quickly catch up to an offending vehicle. Some vehicles get flogged and still no probelms. Why?

The secret is drive sedately until the engine reaches operating temp. During the running in period, fluctuating revs is good. (without revving too high)

If you drive too sedately like an old granny you'll clog the motor up with caron, leading to crappy economy and high oil consumption.

Most experts say well over 80% of engine damage is done before the engine warms up. So, use a good oil and take it easy till she warms up.

I've owned and driven most Ford and Holden models at work from new in the last 17 yrs. (XF, XG, XH, EB, ED, EF, EL, AU, BA, VK, VL, VN, VP, VS, VT, VX & VY)

All were very well maintained and driven sedately till the engine warmed up. Several were driven quite firmly from time to time. They've all had the odd bug or warranty issue, but I've never encountered an engine oil consumption issue in any of them.

 

diesel oil is not "crap"!!

This "crappy" oil you speak of is one of the highest rated diesel oils on the market, check the letters again. I have used it my VTS V6 for its whole life without any oil consumption issues and due to the high detergent levels the engine stays very clean. Comparing diesel oil to car oil is like comparing single malt whiskey to Johnny Walker, there is no comparison. Just some more info, the oil BMW and Mercedes use in the cars is relabelled synthetic Delvac(don't know the name at the moment).

Cheers

Monty