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Steve Tinker · 01-06-2011, 01:52 PM

Tex,
Has the car suddenly just started this oil consumption?
Was the oil at max level before the trip?

Several things spring to mind:
1) Has the coolant level remained normal and clean - no intermixing of the two? If the coolant has a frothy coffee coloured consistancy, you have a problem.
2) If the oil is old (10,000km) it really needs replacing - especially Mobil 1 0W40 which is reported to go out of spec quite early in its lifespan.
3) If the engine had done a lot of short trips, followed by a long trip, the accumulation of moisture in the oil generated by the short trips is "boiled off" on the long trip which suddenly looks like sudden oil consumption - though 2 litres in 1000 km is a lot....
4) Your AOS could be starting to fail, allowing oil to be dragged up into the combustion process. Check the throttle body for oil accumulation or remove the oil filler cap when the engine is hot and idling and if the cap is difficult to remove (vacuum) the AOS is suspect.
5) Get under the car after a run with a torch and see if there really are no oil leaks, especially where oil can drip onto a hot exhaust and burn off very quickly. Cambox and spark plug tube leaks are a favourite

Replacing the oil with (say) a slightly heavier 10W40 or 10W50 full synthetic oil (I use Shell Helix Ultra) and checking the level over the next 1000 km would be a good start too.

01-06-2011, 01:52 PM	#5
Steve Tinker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,522	Tex, Has the car suddenly just started this oil consumption? Was the oil at max level before the trip? Several things spring to mind: 1) Has the coolant level remained normal and clean - no intermixing of the two? If the coolant has a frothy coffee coloured consistancy, you have a problem. 2) If the oil is old (10,000km) it really needs replacing - especially Mobil 1 0W40 which is reported to go out of spec quite early in its lifespan. 3) If the engine had done a lot of short trips, followed by a long trip, the accumulation of moisture in the oil generated by the short trips is "boiled off" on the long trip which suddenly looks like sudden oil consumption - though 2 litres in 1000 km is a lot.... 4) Your AOS could be starting to fail, allowing oil to be dragged up into the combustion process. Check the throttle body for oil accumulation or remove the oil filler cap when the engine is hot and idling and if the cap is difficult to remove (vacuum) the AOS is suspect. 5) Get under the car after a run with a torch and see if there really are no oil leaks, especially where oil can drip onto a hot exhaust and burn off very quickly. Cambox and spark plug tube leaks are a favourite Replacing the oil with (say) a slightly heavier 10W40 or 10W50 full synthetic oil (I use Shell Helix Ultra) and checking the level over the next 1000 km would be a good start too. __________________ 2001 Boxster S (triple black). Sleeping easier with LN Engineering/Flat 6 IMS upgrade, low temp thermostat & underspeed pulley. 2001 MV Agusta F4.