What is considered "normal" oil consumption for a CUT diesel?

[patrick_g]

For the old aircooled Porsche 911s, a quart every thousand miles was pretty typical. Of course, with an oil cooler and a dry sump engine, they held about 17 quarts of oil!

My old MG and Sprites were loose engines and when wound up and pushed hard would get up to about a qt in 1000 miles. This was not considered unusual for those.

Pat

 

[JDgreen227]

My old MG and Sprites were loose engines and when wound up and pushed hard would get up to about a qt in 1000 miles. This was not considered unusual for those.

Pat

My older sister had a Triumph Spitfire back about 1968, I remember her griping about it using a lot of oil but can't recall if it was burning the stuff or LEAKING it. We all know about British motorcycles leaking oil, but I don't know if the cars did too.

 

[jonyyuma]

I worked at Buick dealer for a spell. It was normal for 400 miles to the quart? More than that they changed the oil to heavier weight and tested it again. Then did a compression test? They did not like "Eating an engine", so you had to lock it up... for replacement..rarely would they do an overhaul..Usually a short block, and work the heads.I saw one engine bored on ONE cylinder, for a bad piston..350 cid, you could not see it shake, felt bad for the customer, ..

 

[JDgreen227]

I worked at Buick dealer for a spell. It was normal for 400 miles to the quart? More than that they changed the oil to heavier weight and tested it again. Then did a compression test? They did not like "Eating an engine", so you had to lock it up... for replacement..rarely would they do an overhaul..Usually a short block, and work the heads.I saw one engine bored on ONE cylinder, for a bad piston..350 cid, you could not see it shake, felt bad for the customer, ..

I run the V-6's in our Saturn and Buick 3500-4500 miles between oil changes and neither budges from the full mark on the dipstick in that distance. That is using 5W-30 oil. 400 miles per quart, you say? Glad GM has improved.

 

[US American]

I guess the consensus is: yes, no, maybe. My old JD 4200, which was a rented mule in a previous life, used no oil between 100 hr changes. It had 2300 hrs when I sold it.

My 4320 and 6.7 Cummins use no oil either. I once had a 78 Chevy pu with a 350 that used a quart every other fillup. It was a tired motor. When it comes to fluids I come from the school of "replace the fluid if its cheaper than a costly repair". An academic did a study on this a few years ago and this was determined to be the most efficient.

Now if its getting markedly worse or its already bad then you need to fix it. But I wouldn't worry about a minor usage. The 4200 had slightly leaky seal near the front left tire (it was axle fluid). I used 1.5 qts of Hyguard in 3 yrs to keep the level full. I could go for days of constant use and not drop to the add line. I prefer no leaks but its not the end of the world.
But to each his own. My $.02

 

[kenmac]

on old Yanmar I don't have to add oil between changes.

 

[nikdfish]

3038e still sitting on full @ 180 hours.

Nick

 

[dmccarty]

My 4700 with a Yanmar engine does not use any oil at all.

My Ford 7.3L will use a quart or so every 5,000ish miles.

Later,
Dan

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My BOTA BX25 has 400 hrs on it. Oil level has stayed right on the mark. Coming up on the 3rd oil change now. I remdeber those old diesels from my past though and you had better have a 5 GL can of oil on the truck every day.

 

[clemsonfor]

My yanmar is 35ish years old, has been rebuilt to some degree, not sure what that involved, but i go 50 hours or every year oil and filter changes. The first year when i put 50 hours on it that year i did not have to add any oil, i could not tell it moved either, maybe it moved an 1/8" or something on the stick but i dont look and make a mental note that close i just know it was at the top the whole 50 hours. As far as yours i would not worry. Id only worry if you start seeing the blue smoke and add a qt or more a day.

As for burning oil yea GM has that 1qt 1000 mile rule. My ranger is like 1 qt every 750 miles or 1000 miles but more frequent on the interstate at hight speed compared to the normal 60-65mph tops commute i do. Its a 1990 with 290K miles on the engine. My 1997 saturn has always burned oil pretty good worse in the last 50K miles id say but even with 100K on it it would burn about 1 qt every 1500 miles or so. Now its burning a qt every 600-900 miles id say. I dont keep tabs on it that close just check it when i think it needs it, i have a pretty good feel for it. turns out to be every few weeks. Car was owned by an old lady then my father in law bought it who has maintained it till wife and i married. He was a mecanic and changed oil every 3k miles. even when the neighbor old lady had it. Its only been on interstates on trips and not really ever been dogged. Its a daily commuter for me now at 55miles per day.