Losing Engine Oil ?

[haganjp]

I have a 2004 Mazda 6 with a 2.3L 5-speed manual transmission. The car has about 44,000 miles on it. The car runs smoothly and I get pretty good gas mileage (~28-32 on the highway) but I seem to be losing oil at the rate of about 2 quarts every 4 months.

I don't notice any oil leaks on the driveway nor do I notice any smoke coming from the exhaust or any oil smells coming from the engine.

Anyone have any thoughts about where my oil may be going or suggestions on how to find out the cause? BTW, I use the manufacturer's recommended oil, which is a 5W-20.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Brian MP5T]

If you are running AMSOIL, that's your reason..

If not, I don't know..

 

[haganjp]

Nope, just using Castrol GTX.

 

[bazooka joe]

what is 2 months in real mileage though?? i mean some people don't drive 1000 miles in 3 months?

 

[haganjp]

I drove 44,000 miles in 3 years, which averages out to about 15,000 miles per year. So for 2 months, we're looking at about 2500 miles.

 

[VRMS6]

High heat from turbo will cook the oil...Normal for turbo cars to have to add oil between oil changes... Work at Porsche and the turbo cars average a quart every 1000miles...

 

[bazooka joe]

High heat from turbo will cook the oil...Normal for turbo cars to have to add oil between oil changes... Work at Porsche and the turbo cars average a quart every 1000miles...

i don't think he's turbo'd ???

 

[VRMS6]

ahhh naturally assumed it was a MS6...sorry...stock engines will consume oil some more than others...

 

[Raynman]

If you are running AMSOIL, that's your reason..

If not, I don't know..

That's a myth. Synthetics do not cause engine leaks.

bobistheoilguy.com

I have a 2004 Mazda 6 with a 2.3L 5-speed manual transmission. The car has about 44,000 miles on it. The car runs smoothly and I get pretty good gas mileage (~28-32 on the highway) but I seem to be losing oil at the rate of about 2 quarts every 4 months.

I don't notice any oil leaks on the driveway nor do I notice any smoke coming from the exhaust or any oil smells coming from the engine.

Anyone have any thoughts about where my oil may be going or suggestions on how to find out the cause? BTW, I use the manufacturer's recommended oil, which is a 5W-20.

Thanks,
Jim

I'm assuming that you're measuring the oil when the car is parked on a level surface and turned off for quite some time (all the oil in the pan).

There are ways of tracking down a suspected oil leak. A shop can put in some UV activated dye to your engine. After driving around, they will put your car up on the lift and use a black light to find any spots where the dyed oil is leaking.

 

[protogizzle]

I just came back form a Mazda QMD meeting today and this was discussed. Mazda did a change to the pistons and rings in later models to help combat this problem but what you can do is change to 5w30. The oil may change your fuel economy slightlt but 5w20 was tested for the emissions. 5w30 is thicker and will not burn off as fast. I hope that I have been of some help.

 

[Brian MP5T]

That's a myth. Synthetics do not cause engine leaks.

bobistheoilguy.com

Not in regards to Amsoil.

Just for the hell of it, try switching, your car will blow black smoke and you will loose 1/2 Quart in a week.

Then switch back and everything will work 100% again. (Except you will want to swap out the O2 sensors...)

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

That's a myth. Synthetics do not cause engine leaks.

well i don't know about in bob's particular case, but i have happened to learn through experience. that if you have a car that burns oil..and you put synthetic oil in it..it will burn a lot more than the regular oil did.

just from experience..three different cars 2 fords and 1 dodge

 

[Brian MP5T]

^^ Yes

 

[jmargel]

Please check my post.. I had the same problem, 2004 mazda 6i, 51,400 miles. Engine threw a rod bearing, they want to replace it w/ a manufactured engine for $3600 + labor and tax. They don't want to honor the warranty since it's up at 50,000 miles. Though I did call them about the noise at 49,800 miles.

Something is definetly wrong here. They are trying to blame it on me. My car is complete stock and I just drive it to work and back and errands. On average I drive it 30-40 miles a day.