Burning Oil, from where? Options

[hurley97]

ok, I'm already working on the issue I just want various opinions to work with in case I run out of ideas.



recently my car has been going through oil like crazy. here are some of the facts so far:
- it doesn't seem to be leaking from any gaskets (at idle speed) checked valve cover, sender, and head gaskets
- never see any puddles of oil on the ground after being parked
- no blue smoke out the back. theres a little white smoke, slightly more than there used to be but not that bad at all and could just be from the cold and wet weather. and it smells normal
- oil light comes on about every 2,000 miles or so now. before about 3 or 4 months ago it had never come on before, I would just change it every 3-5k miles regardless
- extra info: started out using 10w-40 then switched to 5w-30 then 5w-30 synth now 10w-30 synth (over the course of about 3 years)


here's whats happened and when in detail:

[07.15.06] 159,400 mi - oil and filter changed, everything normal

[08.20.06] 162,300 mi - oil and filter changed again, like normal

[09.01.06] 163,165 mi - first time I'd ever seen the oil light come on. was low but still clear, 1qt added

[09.16.06] 164,749 mi - oil and filter changed

[10.14.06] 166,853 mi - oil light on again. very low but still clear, 1qt added

[11.02.06] 168,262 mi - oil light on. switch to Mobil 1 full synth 5W-30, changed oil and filter

[11.26.06] 170,000 mi - oil light on. added 1qt Shell 10W-40 synth blend, its all I could get and I had a long drive home

[11.30.06] 170,748 mi - oil and filter changed. switch to 10W-30, still Mobil1 full synth

[12.18.06] 172,370 mi - oil light on. change oil and filter

[01.04.07] 173,800 mi - oil light on. found oil leaking from drain plug, tightened it and put it 3qt Mobil1. ran car for about an hour, no more leaking from plug

[01.07.07] 173,900 mi - still no leak from drain plug. added engine oil tracer dye, will check it in a few days



thats where I am now. throw out any ideas you might have and I'll either try it or tell you I've already tried.

This post has been edited by hurley97: Mar 15, 2007 - 11:25 PM

[Negative]

I will try that. that was also a thought since I have been doing a lot more highway driving lately

This could be a major part of your problem. When I met my GF she lived about 60miles away and I would drive to and from a couple of times a week. I started noticing that I was having to add a half a quart between oil changes. I got worried due to the recall on later 5s's and called a friend of mine who is a Tech at a Toyota dealership and he specifically asked me if i was taking very many long trips during the problem time. I was amazed that he was able to diagnose it like that but he was right.
Now my GF lives with me and so I'm back to my old driving habits and no burning oil.
His explanation was: The hotter/longer duration oil temps cause the water in the oil to burn off therefore lowering the volume of oil.
That plus your higher mileage and worn seals is probably adding up to your total problem.
Hope this helps ease your mind.

[alltracman78]

His explanation was: The hotter/longer duration oil temps cause the water in the oil to burn off therefore lowering the volume of oil.

That's correct if your level drops suddenly after driving after your first long trip in a while, but continuous long trips like she does don't cause that. Water doesn't have enough time to build up in the oil.

[Relatively] high RPM driving causes higher oil consumption because more oil is thrown off the rod bearings up onto the cylinder walls, and the oil control rings have a harder time getting rid of all of it.
A worn engine makes this even worse.