Now what do I do?

Went from using virtually no oil 6 months ago to using 1/2 a quart every fillup (300miles). Is this usual? A mechanic told me I wouldn't see smoke out of these newer vehicles because the catalytic converter burns it all up.

Since about 5,000 miles I've been using 5w30 Valvoline Full Synthetic, at every 5,000 miles.

Should I switch oils, add Marvel Mystery Oil, sell it (don't want to, love truck, body is in great shape and has new tires).

Also, if I'm using a $4 quart of oil ever other fillup, can I switch to a cheaper synthetic or back to a non-synthetic?

BWalters
Katy (Houston) Texas

 

My truck has burned a half-quart every 3,000 miles almost since day one. Have 120K miles now.

You are well within acceptable limits.
Don't worry about it.
Don't sell it.
Everything will be OK.

Now just take a few deep breaths...

If consumption dramatically increases, to like 1 quart every 1,000 miles, then you can start worrying.

If you are adding oil, it's best to stick with the same oil that's already in there. But oil these days is supposed to be compatible, so there supposedly is no harm in topping-off with a different type.

 

I'm at 1/2 a quart at every gas fillup or 300 miles, so every 600 miles I'm using a quart. I've never added oil between my 5000 mile oil changes, so something happened recently to where I'm burning a lot of oil.

I'm actually perfectly fine with adding oil and driving until it's time to bury the thing, but I'm curious how to lessen the financial burden of and extra $4 at every other fillup (I know, not a big deal) and are there additives that can help out?

Also, what signs will there be that it's time to bury it or replace the engine?

 

sorry, I mis-read your initial post. You do have high consumption.

Make sure it's not leaking out. With consumption that high, I would expect some smoke out your tailpipe.

At this point, a tune-up-in-a-can certainly can't hurt anything. Worth a shot. But if you are burning that much oil, there's your sign - a rebuild is in order.

I'd ditch the synthetics. With consumption that high, put the cheapest dino oil you can find in there. It's not gonna last very long in your crankcase anyways.

 

ok you kinda asked for opinions on what to do

i basically had the same experence
ran motorcraft till 36k
switched to castrol and ran til about 120 k and tried castrols Synthetic
my truck didn't like it ( and i read that it was kinda normal to use a quart between changes) but with 120 k and no oil usage before i didn't like it
and the cost was higher to keep it to the full level between changes ( and this was at 3k eack) tried it for about 7k and used 3 extra quarts in that time frame. so i switched back to regular castrol.

again i tried at 135k to prove a theroy to my BIL about "Oil is Oil is Oil" all the same thinking ( and i will take a few hits here ) we all have our own thoughts and brands and probably most of the time will stand behind them. Ok with that said i went to wally world and picked up their brand of oil ( my brother-in-laws favorite) and used it for two oil changes again oil usage shot up to a quart to 1 1/2 between changes. ( for me this shot his theroy that oil is oil and all are the same) went back to regular castrol and usage stopped been running it every since and still the same.

I thought about changing to Synthetic but it always pops up in the back of my mind " if it aint broke"


ok my thought on all this is try a regular brand of dino of your liking
if you was using a regular brand with no oil usage then try that again.
for you Synthetic and your usage its not going to be cost effective to use it
you would only need to change the filter every so often will all the oil your throwing at it.

if you haven't changed you PCV you might want to and with that much usage unless your leakin its probably gummed up your throttle body