Engine is burning oil?

[Soyabean]

So i got my oil change on Aug 16. 2 week later, felt something was wrong with the car and didnt drive the same, so i checked the oil level and found it was low. I ended up pouring in ~1 1/2 L of oil to get it to where it was supposed to be.

Now today, Oct 7, after driving 5000km (i drive a lot), i felt my shifting jerked a lot and wasn't smooth and something wasnt right. Checked oil again and it was low again. So today i poured in 1 L.

NOW, i know this isn't supposed to happen because within 2 month, i burned over 2.5L of oil? Like come on, thats half of what we need to put in.

I dont drive very spiritedly due to gas prices but once in a blue moon i'd go slightly over speed limit.

So now, why does it do this?

Also, i fill in 5W30 Mobil 1 sync instead of 5W20.

Anybody help?

[06Touring3]

Dealership....shoulda been there already...

[Flagrum_3]

I agree with Adio, but have you checked that it's not leaking anywhere? With the under-cover it may not leave any puddles, so check for leaks or blow-off from the oil cap or pcv valve and if nothing, unfortunately it may be the engine is burning it away thru the valves or rings....it would be the first though that I've heard of!!


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[Noisy Crow]

Also, the oil plug might be not in right or it might be cross-threaded. Also possible that the oil filter housing was cracked from overtightening.

[Noisy Crow]

You may not notice oil leaking from the filter because it is (I think) on the output side of the oil pump which only is running when the engine is on.

(Bah... meant to edit the above post.... and there is no delete!)

[Soyabean]

I dont think there is any signs of oil on my driveway. I will check tomorrow when i leave for school. But i dont think it is leaking, cuz if it was then i would see traces of oil on my driveway.

[Flagrum_3]

I dont think there is any signs of oil on my driveway. I will check tomorrow when i leave for school. But i dont think it is leaking, cuz if it was then i would see traces of oil on my driveway.

Not necessarily, it would be better to take a good look around the engine compartment and on the under-cover of any signs of oil spray, to make sure.But seriously you should consider taking it in and having them perform a compression test.....Just hope your still under warranty bud!


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[Soyabean]

Not necessarily, it would be better to take a good look around the engine compartment and on the under-cover of any signs of oil spray, to make sure.But seriously you should consider taking it in and having them perform a compression test.....Just hope your still under warranty bud!


_3

Yep, still got it. Thanks Ron, i'll take it in and get it looked at sometime next next week? lol. Got a crapload of mid terms and assignments due next week

[Krisekca]

how long u running that mobil 1 for ? i mean for how many km total not only changes ... did it happen before u switched or after ?
smoke from tail pipe ?

[Soyabean]

um no smoke. Like i understand if oil was burning, i'd see smoke (not sure which colour, blue?) exiting thru the exhaust but i dont see any or dont notice it anyways.

I probably ran about 15k on mobil 1. I guess its just recently that it started happened.

[Krisekca]

o yes u will see smoke .. puffs .. u mean even not know ... when u accelerate harder ..

Its not going to coolant reservoir ?
Who did oil change ?
Did you checked PCV Valve ?

Drop plastic cover the one under the car and look for leaks !

do it asap ! or you will starve your bearings !

[dsichewski]

I probably ran about 15k on mobil 1. I guess its just recently that it started happened.

is that total and you've only done one oil and filter change or total amount of kms since you started using mobile 1 and you've done 2 or 3 oil changes.....casue if its 15k since an oil change i would think thats a bit much...most definatly for regular oil i can see it being a bit different with synthetic but not that much...

[Soyabean]

o yes u will see smoke .. puffs .. u mean even not know ... when u accelerate harder ..

Its not going to coolant reservoir ?
Who did oil change ?
Did you checked PCV Valve ?

Drop plastic cover the one under the car and look for leaks !

do it asap ! or you will starve your bearings !

Well thing is, im scared that i already kinda screwed up the engine because i was driving with this feeling for like at least a week or 2.

No smokes under hard acceleration. It would of been noticeable. I have to check for leaks but i think i'll take it in to get it check on thurs since airport mazda is 5 mins from my school.

Im just not sure where this oil is going, like my driveway has no trace of leaking oil. So WHERE IS IT GOING?

[Soyabean]

is that total and you've only done one oil and filter change or total amount of kms since you started using mobile 1 and you've done 2 or 3 oil changes.....casue if its 15k since an oil change i would think thats a bit much...most definatly for regular oil i can see it being a bit different with synthetic but not that much...

No, i do oil changes every 8k. This one is my 3rd oil change and it was done by MoT.

[dsichewski]

Well thing is, im scared that i already kinda screwed up the engine because i was driving with this feeling for like at least a week or 2.

No smokes under hard acceleration. It would of been noticeable. I have to check for leaks but i think i'll take it in to get it check on thurs since airport mazda is 5 mins from my school.

Im just not sure where this oil is going, like my driveway has no trace of leaking oil. So WHERE IS IT GOING?

well could be slow leak and just covering your engine with a mist and spray so its not enough to be causing a puddle....possibly leaking into bellhousing where it connects to the trans if its set up that way...maybe check trans level and see if its overfull....if it is your bypassing oil through the input shaft seal...


No, i do oil changes every 8k. This one is my 3rd oil change and it was done by MoT.

ok well that is good that your doing them regularly....i would say your under warranty take it in, have them put it up and pull the panels and check for leaks, do a compression test, pull the oil and have them cut the filter!!!...if your blowing oil one main possibility is piston rings are shot so there should be some metal in the oil and the filter, if there not gonna do it request that you get the filter yourself and do it yourself....take exacto knife and cut the filter paper so that you get a chunk out of it...remove wire mesh if it has it and then wrap in papertowel and place in vice and squeeze oil out of it...remove filter paper and look for small metal pieces...you'll know you have a major failure if its loaded...

[Krisekca]

Well thing is, im scared that i already kinda screwed up the engine because i was driving with this feeling for like at least a week or 2.

No smokes under hard acceleration. It would of been noticeable. I have to check for leaks but i think i'll take it in to get it check on thurs since airport mazda is 5 mins from my school.

Im just not sure where this oil is going, like my driveway has no trace of leaking oil. So WHERE IS IT GOING?

No need to be yet ... if u didn't get dead light i mean Oil light ... :P ur still ok :D
But i assume .. u may get a new engine ... Keep us updated

or u may not for using 5w30 but i didn't think its a oil related failure

[Krisekca]

I posted ur message on different forum - maybe someone had same issue i will let u know!

[Noisy Crow]

Well thing is, im scared that i already kinda screwed up the engine because i was driving with this feeling for like at least a week or 2.

I wouldn't worry too much... as long as the oil light didn't come on you should be just fine. As long as there is enough oil to keep the oil pump fed your engine will be getting enough oil. Especially with new oil in the car, as you don't have to worry about running on sludge that raises the oil pressure but doesn't actually circulate all that well.

To be safe, throw a couple of litre bottles of oil in your car along with some paper funnels (I make my own from those pointy water-cooler cups). That way you can keep on top of things.

[Soyabean]

first off, i always have a bottle of oil in my trunk for emergencies and it came in handy today.

And as for blow oil..... i dunno. Today when i started my car and left it running, it was already warmed (temp is mid after driving for 30 mins), i pulled the dipstick out and oil droplets were spitting out of the little hole. So i turned off the car but thats probably cuz the engine was running.

But what does a compression test tell and how do they perform it?

Im going to book an appointment hopefully tomorrow night to get it in by hopefully friday and hopefully they can fix it. I'll keep u guys updated though

[Krisekca]

first off, i always have a bottle of oil in my trunk for emergencies and it came in handy today.

And as for blow oil..... i dunno. Today when i started my car and left it running, it was already warmed (temp is mid after driving for 30 mins), i pulled the dipstick out and oil droplets were spitting out of the little hole. So i turned off the car but thats probably cuz the engine was running.

But what does a compression test tell and how do they perform it?

Im going to book an appointment hopefully tomorrow night to get it in by hopefully friday and hopefully they can fix it. I'll keep u guys updated though

please tell me how u check oil !! ??

U get ur car on level ground ?
Take Dipstick >> Clean It >> Put it Back >> And take out Check oil ? Right

because if u don't clean it ... just pull it and read ! it always shows low in my M3 !

and its not good idea to check when car is running ! U should stop it wait 5 minutes then check

I just wonder how low u have to go to get Oil Light ?

1 1/2L its a loot of oil

[Soyabean]

please tell me how u check oil !! ??

U get ur car on level ground ?
Take Dipstick >> Clean It >> Put it Back >> And take out Check oil ? Right

because if u don't clean it ... just pull it and read ! it always shows low in my M3 !

and its not good idea to check when car is running ! U should stop it wait 5 minutes then check

I just wonder how low u have to go to get Oil Light ?

1 1/2L its a loot of oil

yep, i did the Take Dipstick >> Clean It >> Put it Back >> And take out Check oil.

The reason i started my car is because back in highschool for my automotive class, everytime i finished an oil change i would start the car for a minute to get the oil running through the whole engine and then turn off and then check the level.

as for how low, i was pretty surprised i put in 1 1/2L. At first i was pissed and thought that the tech at MoT was dumb but i figured that there is no way how my engine will be short by so much because i clearly brought in a 4L jug + 1L bottle and he used the 4L. So at that first moment i kinda suspected something

[dsichewski]

first off, i always have a bottle of oil in my trunk for emergencies and it came in handy today.

And as for blow oil..... i dunno. Today when i started my car and left it running, it was already warmed (temp is mid after driving for 30 mins), i pulled the dipstick out and oil droplets were spitting out of the little hole. So i turned off the car but thats probably cuz the engine was running.

But what does a compression test tell and how do they perform it?

Im going to book an appointment hopefully tomorrow night to get it in by hopefully friday and hopefully they can fix it. I'll keep u guys updated though

for a compression test the would remove the spark plug and insert a guage into the hole where the spark plug went. they will crank the engine over without starting it and this will allow them to see how much compression is in that cylinder. compression is the compression of the air fuel mixture as the piston pushes it up from the bottom of the cylinder to the top towards the head where the spark plug ignits and an explosion happens casuing the compressed mixture to ignite forcing the piston back down (aka the power stroke) if you have a 4 cyl car and for example only you have 3 cylinders getting 550psi of compression and one cylinder only getting 150psi then you know that piston is allowing the compressed mixture to bypass the oil rings in the piston.

Good to get it in the shop....if they can't find an external leak...I would prepare to not have the car for a few days as its more than likely going to be a major repair.

[Fuel90]

The other day, well and a couple other times, after 3-5000k after an oil change I would check my oil and have no reading whatsoever on the dipstick! At Kawartha speedway there I checked it and the stick came up CLEAN! The being said everything still ran fine and no oil light came on and no temp went up. (i've since added oil + had oil change.)
I'll be interested to see where they determine your oil is going I've already checked mine for leaks etc too and I know im not smoking. Granted mine is over a longer period of time though!

Good luck!

[kevcol74]

if you have a 4 cyl car and for example only you have 3 cylinders getting 550psi of compression and one cylinder only getting 150psi then you know that piston is allowing the compressed mixture to bypass the oil rings in the piston.


550psi?? Holy crap! You running on alcohol too? I sure hope that was for an "example" to exaggerate the difference from cyliner to cylinder! lol

I did a compression test on my 86 Mustang after 230,000kms, was 120-130psi/ cylinder, new rating was 135psi. With no rebuild, I was doing pretty good! 4 cylinders tend to be higher compression, but chances are if you have a compression issue, you have a bad valve seat or blow-by (rings)... either way you will likely get blue smoke out the tailpipe. My mustang had bad valve guide seals, if it sat for a while, I'd get a puff of blue smoke on start-up from leak-down while the engine wasn't running. BUt, as you saw, my compression numbers were good, so the oil burn was minimal.

I'd be looking for an internal or external leak. Not likely a head gasket, or you'd have coolant in you crank case (milky brown on the dipstick).
Seems a mystery to me!:whoa

Update : From what I have looked up, your compression should be around 180 psi per cylinder. Cheaper to buy the tool yourself than get the diagnostics done at a garage, just an FYI.

[Flagrum_3]

Okay I'm not going to assume anything here, but just hope the oil dipstick readings were done in the correct fashion ie; engine cool or cold, vehicle level and proper markings were read.(I know there was some issues with the style of dipstick on some models)...But since I will assume Soyabean knows what he's doing and he's still under warranty....it's best to have the vehicle taken to the dealer ASAP and have them diagnose the problem!.....No Farting Around!! ....This could be a very serious issue.


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[kevcol74]

Okay I'm not going to assume anything here, but just hope the oil dipstick readings were done in the correct fashion ie; engine cool or cold, vehicle level and proper markings were read.(I know there was some issues with the style of dipstick on some models)...But since I will assume Soyabean knows what he's doing and he's still under warranty....it's best to have the vehicle taken to the dealer ASAP and have them diagnose the problem!.....No Farting Around!! ....This could be a very serious issue.


_3

+1 :whoa

[dsichewski]

550psi?? Holy crap! You running on alcohol too? I sure hope that was for an "example" to exaggerate the difference from cyliner to cylinder! lol


yes that was just an example to exaggerate the differences from cylinder to cylinder!






so I talked to my engine teacher today at school casue oddly enough we were talking about engine lubrication so I asked him about this and he said that it is normal for when switching from regular oil to synthetic for it to burn oil for the first few oil changes and then it will stop....(he runs his own reman shop for engines and trannies, does chryslers warranty work and works on race cars and a race truck....this guy knows his shit!) so this could be the casue right there, and maybe by the next oil change it will stop. but seeing as your under warranty take it in and get it checked...just to be on the safe side....it can't hurt any!

[Krisekca]

thats so true !
but it his 3rd oil change ... so it should be gone by now..
it not only between syn it happens when u switch brands 2 :)

warranty will not cover him if they will find out that he used 5w30
its not oil fault fight !



yes that was just an example to exaggerate the differences from cylinder to cylinder!






so I talked to my engine teacher today at school casue oddly enough we were talking about engine lubrication so I asked him about this and he said that it is normal for when switching from regular oil to synthetic for it to burn oil for the first few oil changes and then it will stop....(he runs his own reman shop for engines and trannies, does chryslers warranty work and works on race cars and a race truck....this guy knows his shit!) so this could be the casue right there, and maybe by the next oil change it will stop. but seeing as your under warranty take it in and get it checked...just to be on the safe side....it can't hurt any!

[Soyabean]

thats so true !
but it his 3rd oil change ... so it should be gone by now..
it not only between syn it happens when u switch brands 2 :)

warranty will not cover him if they will find out that he used 5w30
its not oil fault fight !

Well i asked MoT and they said that 5W30 is fine. I just finished school but will call airport mazda and hopefully schedule appointment for friday. Hopefully the engine burning oil when switching is correct but i will take it in anyways

[Krisekca]

Well i asked MoT and they said that 5W30 is fine. I just finished school but will call airport mazda and hopefully schedule appointment for friday. Hopefully the engine burning oil when switching is correct but i will take it in anyways

its true ... but i dunno if it will burn that much ! ( U need to see a dealer )
2nd 5w30 is good diffrence is viso. is small but ur warranty .. says use 5w20 ..

But i think its not oil realted if there is failure in engine - so they should cover u!

[kaval]

How many KMs on your car? Using synthetic will cause some burning. Smaller particles fit in smaller places. I've switched to full synthetic on two cars (make it 3 tomorrow) and all have burned some oil after the change. The 3rd car I'm switching is an 06 Odyssey with 50K on it. We'll see how the consumption is. Are you checking the oil level right after you turn the motor off? You have to check it when the car hasn't been running for a while so all the oil can trickle down into the oil pan to give you a better reading.

Also you said the car was feeling jerky or something...do you have an automatic tranny? The jerkiness can be many things, but I don't think it's related to the combustion of your motor.

I'd invest in magnetic drain plugs too.

[Flagrum_3]

Using 5w-30 would in no way effect the warranty as it is actually a better grade in the sense of protection then the 5w-20, 5w-20 is recommended by Mazda solely for the purpose of fuel economy.

As for an engine using oil only because you've switched to synthetic, I'd have to say; I doubt it very much. I could see an engine loosing a small amount 'if' the engine has got high mileage before the change-over and this would have to do with the various seals, nothing else.
On a new engine it would be very unlikely, not impossible mind you but unlikely to occur. My last four, 4 cylinder vehicles that I've owned I switched to synthetic early, all within 16k and never noticed any loss of oil between oil changes including my present 2.3 (and I check my oil atleast once or twice a week)........maybe I'm just lucky, but I doubt it.

If he's loosing as much oil as he states, there is definately a problem but it would not be due to the synthetic....that you can take to the bank!


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[Dante]

I faced the exact same problem on my MS3.