I changed my oil over the weekend and only 2.5 quarts came out. Never checked the level in my oil but didn't have any low oil pressure lights or unusual sounds/no signs of burning oil.

I just bought the car a few months ago from a reputable dealer and so this is my first time having the oil changed.

Worries me a bit... any possible explanation?

 

06 z s are notorious oil consumers

 

Yes. There is not enough oil in the motor.

 

How many months is a few? The 06s are notorious oil consumers, like kno said... but 1.5 qts over a "few" months seems like you should talk to the dealer. All engines will consume oil to an extent, due to valve timing, piston ring wear, PCV system problems and some other things. It's my understanding that the exhaust valve timing is the problem on the Z. Search "oil consumption".

 

The lights/gauges can give you a wrong reading.

I'd check your car every day or so now that the correct amount of oil
was put in the car.No telling how long the 2.5 qts have been in the car or,the
type of oil used.How many miles on the car,yr?

 

Oil pressure will not change nor will you get a light unless you are so low that the oil pump sucks the pan dry. It is possible for this to happen at sustained high rpm

 

I've always loved my cars, but I've never measured the volume of used motor oil.

 

You probably have an oil burner. Good luck with the used car dealer.

 

car is an 04 92,000 thousand miles. One previous owner was a middle aged lady. Oil put it was synthetic. Any issues with Z's burning synthetic oil specifically?

 

No, oil consumption is equal. Same molecule size escaping same voids.

 

try using mobil 1 0w-40 or castrol syntec 0w-30. it will help.

 

Thanks for all the words. I've actually driven 1,000 miles since my oil change and according to the thread on this I've lost between 1/3-1/2 of a quart which actually isn't too bad??

Just surprised never had to deal with this before. I'll be keeping a close eye during fill ups and just live with it.

 

Use Castrol "GERMAN CASTROL" 0w30 which is a very thick 30 weight oil and use a quality filter like Napa gold, Wix, Puralator. That should help keep your consumption down and of course the longer you keep it below 4k rpm the lower oil you consume.

 

are you serious?

30 weight is not thick. the filter type has no bearing on oil getting burned up by the motor.

all the OP can do to fix this is get new rings and a rehone of the cylinders.

 

faiz23 didn't say 30-weight oil is thick. He said the Castrol "GERMAN CASTROL" 0w30 is a "very thick 30 weight oil".

I always thought oils with the same viscosity had the same thickness, but what do I know. I suppose they have additives to slow down the viscosity change that normally takes place as the temperature rises.

 

Without seeing a compression (at least) or leak down test (preferred), you shouldn't start blaming rings. It's pretty well known that it's the exhaust valve timing that's the problem. Don't scare the OP into thinking he needs a rebuilt bottom end

 

a vq won't throw an oil pressure light from low oil volume until you're down to about 1-1.5qt under normal driving. if you do some abnormal maneuvers you might be able to get it to flicker earlier.

 

Please explain how exhaust valve timing affects oil consumption.

 

Same with me. I just open drain plug and out of there.

 

God I loved some of the advice given here.