High mileage Cavalier

[MuncyBob]

My little Chevy has just over 220k miles and I notice between oil changes I'm using about 1/2 qt. of oil. I say I'm using(burning) it because I can't find any evidence of oil leakage. I've owned it since new and have changed the oil on time(3k miles) with Castrol GTX 5-30. Is there any advantage in my case to switch to Castrol's High Mileage oil??

On a side note, I notice my old Ford F-250 was approaching 3k miles oil change time...so of course I perfromed the task yesterday and chuckled when I noticed in my log it was 4 yrs. and 4 mo. ago since the last oil change. Obviously it doesn't get of the farm much!

 

[Dmace]

Try switching to a 10W40 oil in the car, the thicker oil may help with any leakage or burning and it has a wider range of temps.

As far as the truck, there is a reason they say 3000 miles or 3 months. The oil breaks down and loses viscosity within a few months and tends to boil faster and not protect nearly as well. I go 3000 miles or 4 months because I found 3 month old oil to be still pretty good. That was Quakerstate, the Castrol seemed to break down much faster. And change the filter every time, it's not worth saving the $4 and 5 mins of time.

 

[Oldtrout]

220,000 miles and a half a quart,thats no shame,drive another 200,000 miles and check oil whenever you fill with gas,will go for another 200,00 miles.

 

[DieselPower]

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. 1/2 a quart between oil changes with that kind of mileage is very good. I have seen new engines that use that much.

 

[john_bud]

That's pretty good oil use. You may be pulling the oil in thru the PCV valve and not by a oil rings or cylinder valves. If the PCV is not sealing it will pull more oil.

A "goofy" thing to try is to run a 50:1 mix of 2 cycle oil for a tank. It may help lubricate the rings and help free them up some. Sticky rings will wear a cylinder faster than ones that are free. I've been doing the 2 cycle in an old car and it has helped with idle vacuum and smoothness. Went up 3 in hg. May not do a thing for your car, but the cost is low. Any no, it won't make it smoke like a bug fogger, I can't even tell except the engine smooths out.

If you do try it, mix the oil and some gas in a tank then add to the car's tank.

 

[Patches]

That oil usage with 220,000 miles on the vehicle, I would do just what you have been doing and not worry a-whit about it

 

[RalphVa]

That's about the amount of oil that our 1983 Benz with near that mileage on it has ALWAYS used between changes. That's nothing.

Ralph

 

[Soundguy]

I had an old 85 pontiac sunbird.. it did similar at similar miles.. i went to 15w40 oil.. really helped the inbetween oil usage.. dropped to les sthan half quart.

soundguy

 

[KeithInSpace]

That a Chevy Cavalier with 220k miles HOLDS oil is an accomplishment.

The 1978 Honda Civic I rebuilt as my first car had a chronic oil leak out of the main seal such that I didn't bother to change the oil...I figured it was "rotated" every 3 months or so anyway. That was a quick engine too. Lasted 5 years and untold teenager miles until one of the rods was liberated at ~7,000 RPM. Nice thing was I had a running replacement back in the engine bay 36 hours and $150 later. I love simple cars.

Not that it's on the subject or anything.

Add the oil. Be happy. Drive the F250 more.

 

[MuncyBob]

Well, I have really treated the Chevy like a baby since new(96) and can't complain at all with repairs done to it...now my 98 Jimmy is a different story!!

Not really concerned about the half quart esp. since it's not leaking it on the ground. Just wondered if I should do anything differently...thanks for the info.

keith....can't afford to drive the F 250!! 4 barrel on top of the 351 seems to suck up the petrol....but she sure does sound sweet! Done lots of snow plowing and never(he knocks on wood) been stuck with that monster!