Average Oil Appetite

[geoffbaltz]

How much oil does everyone's cars seem to consume? Give me some feedback on how many miles it takes to get to being a quart low.

Turbo and N/A and what is normal?

My 86 951 w/97K miles seems to eat a quart every 1500-2000 miles.

Thanks.

-G



[This message has been edited by geoffbaltz (edited 08-25-2001).]

[lordgrommit]

Mine loves oil but I've got 200K + prob quart every 1000 or so

Matt

[geoffbaltz]

I have heard that this is normal for these cars. Not sure that is true though. Anyone else?

[scoober78]

I haven't ever had to add any to mine. I run 3k between oil changes with Mobil 1 and have put about 13k miles on it. It is a low mile car though...(64k)

Erik

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Go the distance....

[Bob's944]

I burn less than a quart over 5k miles typically, on a recent 1400 mile trip to the mountains with alot of very hard driving it burnt less than a cup of oil; temperatures were in the 90s mostly also. I use 15w40 Diesel engine oil in my car, i have found it's at least twice as durable as standard gasoline engine oil. Since I've switched to using it, the oil comes out still looking nearly clean when I change it at 5,000 miles and I really think oil consumption is down too. I don't remember having an oil burning problem before I switched, just that it was more often that I'd add a half quart, and the oil when I changed it was definately darker. I have an 85.5 NA with 117k, still stock.

[Blackfoot]

my 951 goes through a quart every 500-700 miles. that's a lot, but the good thing is it never smokes, even upon startup in the a.m. so i just feed it what it wants, and it gives me much driving pleasure.

[geoffbaltz]

blackfoot-

Same here. My 951 never smokes but likes oil and runs real strong.

Is this commonplace for the turbos?

[Bob's944]

Blackfoot... wanna try an experiment? go to regular brand name diesel engine 15w40 next change, seems like you burn enough oil where you would notice a change very quickly and let us know if maybe the oil companies are engineering gasoline oils to break down faster than they need to. By the gallon it doesn't cost much more than regular oil and can be found in most parts stores.

[MAS]

Same with my 87 924S... it never smokes or leaks oil... it runs strong with great compression, good gas milage... and yes, it burns about 1 liter of oil about every 1,000 miles. Sometimes more if I drive it hard.

-MAS

[MAS]

"go to regular brand name diesel engine 15w40 next change"

Bob, just curious, but any idea what the "official" Porsche line is on using an unusual oil like this in a 944 engine?

I mean, it sounds good... but would there be any downsides? If not, I'd definitely consider using it in my 924S.

-MAS

[Bob's944]

Diesel engine oils are approved to go into EXTREMELY expensive very high tech turbo diesels that are designed to run for a million miles. They have more certifications and approvals than the very best gas engine oils. 15w40 oil is 15w40 oil, how well it holds up to temperatures and pressures seems to be very different. These oils are approved for all gas engines too, I just don't think the oil companys want everyone able to have their oil last so long. I have definately noticed a diference.

[944Driver]

Bob's right. Diesel oil is much more durable than gas engine oil. We change oil in our Freightliners every 10-12,000 miles. Try doing that in your car and see what's left of your engine!

[This message has been edited by 944Driver (edited 08-25-2001).]

[Rollins]

So then are you guys saying that diesel would be good for a gas engine or no?

[Sergio]

Im intruiqued by this diesel oil thing... I may try it, but as far as consumption goes, mine 951 drinks a quart about every 1500 miles. It seems to me that this is just the nature of the turbo's

Sergio.

[Bob's944]

I have an 85.5 NA ... here's a copy of the label off of one of the oil jugs in my garage, I'm not loyal to any specific oil, all the diesel oils are better...

if you can't read it, it mentions gas engines and exceding all requirements.

[Sergio]

FYI,

MY friend has a 99 Boxster, it holds 10 or 12 quarts of oil or something like that, manual says, change it every 15,000 miles.
And to drive as soon as the engine is started, no need to let it warm up. Wierd.

[Bob's944]

turbos, by having heat transfered thru the turbines and turbo, have to deal with oil exposed to higher temps... exactly what the diesel oils do in the monster turbodiesels. The oil gets cooled off, but for the instant it passes over the turbo bearings, it get's it's hottest blast. Regular oil starts hurting at that point, goes on lubercating, but i think it's weakened. I bet you would see an amazing difference... just a guess

[IceShark]

Rotella T is a pretty damn good oil. I have used it for 2 decades in my sailboat diesels and never had to do a rebuild. Mind you those engines don't get horsed around like 951s. But a lot of hours.

Never thought about putting it in my cars.

[Allldi]

My S2 consumes about 1 quart for every 1000 miles. It's got over 138,000 miles on it though. Just like Blackfoot and Geoff, mine never smokes and I know Porsches are notorious for consuming oil so I don't even worry about it. By the way Sergio, my S2's owner's manual reads the same thing. Oil change every 15,000 miles (I change it every 6,000 and just keep it topped up) and not to let it warm up. Just take it easy until the engine reaches operating temperature.

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Ryan
1991 944S2 coupe

[T86951]

My '86 NA 944 dailey driver with 202,000 miles uses like no oil between 3-4,000 mile oil changes. Maybe a couple ounces but thats it. My '86 951 60,000 miles that I keep put up seams to use a little oil, Mobile 1. Its hard to tell on it cause I just change the oil about once a year as it is kept in a heated garage. Not driven much. One summer I changed the oil in the spring and drove it about 4,000 miles that summer and when I changed the oil it was not low at all so I think if it was driven dailey there would be nearly no oil usage. I use synthetic in both cars.