IMO, this may be normal by SAE standards, but it's not normal for the VQ motor.

Michael.

 

I lose none to date....car has 13k miles on it, variety of driving from mild to nuts.

1 quart every 3k is alot, though Nissan will probably chaulk it up to "normal" - no way I would take that lying down though.

 

for those of you who are losing oil, how did you break in your engines?????

 

bump to road warriors question

 

Changed my oil and filter this last weekend while spilled some in the process. Poured it back in a 5qt jug and it came up just a cm under the 4qt mark, so i'd say I probably burned a little over 1/2 qt (if you don't count the oil left in the filter)

 

while 0-1 QT every 3K is acceptable, it is still unusual to me that some burn more/less oil and others don't burn a drop.....how did you guys that are burning oil break in your motors....?????

inquiring minds want to know...humpity-bumpity

 

my exact situation also

 

the dipstick sux but i found a way to use it. you gotta pull it out and wipe it off completely. put it back in and pull it out really fast. this gives an accurate reading. just make sure u are careful when u do it.

 

i babied my motor when i broke it in an it burns about 1 quart between changes.

 

I'll have to check at my next oil change, but I have noticed what looks to be smoke coming from my car when I look in the rearview, but only at WOT. Could I be burning oil?

 

black smoke at WOT is normal. If it is blue smoke, it is burning oil. And it would be doing it not only at WOT too

 

I can't tell the color, I'll have to get someone to follow me or something. What about white smoke?

 

white smoke is condensation. Black smoke at wot is normal. Dont worry about it man

 

I don't think it is normal for the VQ to be losing any oil, same for most newer engines. The QR had some serious issues with the chromoly rings taking forever to seal, but that is a rare exception. Now, my 345 lost about a qt every 3k miles, but this was normal for IH engines. Most bowties were the same and a buddy with a built 440 swapped in his Scout burned through at least a qt every 3k miles. Tolerences have increased and so have seals, this should not be happening imo for the VQ. I lost nothing my last change, 3k miles and had great feedback from Blackstone on the analysis. I use M1 0W-40, and redlined my engine with 13 miles on the odo on the test drive. Drove it like I normally would from then on after I bought it; to redline about every day at least once. But, I'm one of the few who think a good break-in should have a redline run every time the engine gets to operating temps to help seal the rings- similiar to properly bedding new pads.

 

break it in like you are going to drive it....in my case, occasionally WOT through the gears every time i drive it....so far, i hardly burn any oil and i have 2700 mi to date....and i can live with that

 

I performed my break-in as instructed. Never went over 4000rpm for the first 1200 miles. Then, I changed the oil at 1200 miles and noticed that the amount of oil I drained out seemed to be a lot less than 5 quarts, and it was extremely dark as well. At 3500 miles I took it to the dealer for the first free oil change so I don't know if the level was low at that time. I checked my oil periodically and noticed that it was getting low. I had to add about 3 quarts before I got to my 6000 mile oil change. That's when I notified the dealer. We then started an oil consumption test and by 7000 miles I had lost about 2 1/2 quarts. That's when I got NNA and the BBB involved. Engine was replaced under warranty. Nissan North America didn't even want the dealer to attempt repair of the engine, and requested that they remove the engine intact and ship it back to headquarters for a teardown there.

The new engine has been great so far.

 

Hmmm.. I changed my oil myself for the first time since getting it last weekend and I put in 5 quarts, but only got out about 3 3/4 quarts. I think I had gone about 3500 miles since the last oil change. The oil dipstick sucks a$$ so I guess that 5 quarts filled it up. I'll have to keep an eye on it next time I change the oil. I have a little over 12K miles now.

-Chris

 

Maybe you guys could list the viscosity of the oil you are using. My guess is that those cars, maybe not all, that are burning oil are using a 5w-30. Someone posted in "repairing" that the Nismo oil is a 5w-40. I am thinking that our engine is acutally designed around a 40 wieght oil for all temps above zero. Maybe some of you oil gurus can answer this.

 

My FC RX-7 uses 1.5 quarts every 3000 miles and it's DESIGNED to burn oil (rotary is like a 2 stroke). Sometimes it's not abnormal for a car to use more oil in the first 5K of it's life while the rings seat but if you're way past that I wouldn't accept it either. If these cars are that sensitve to the changes in oil type from 5W-30 to 5W-40 I'd be very scared Normal break in for a new car should be much like regular driving (i.e. varied loads and engine speeds).

 

Damn! I changed my oil today (Mobil 1 5W-30 Synthetic) and only 3 QUARTS of oil came out. I made sure the car was totally level and let it drain for 20 minutes to make sure I got it all out. I refilled it with Castrol Syntec (although this is not a full synthetic oil) just to see if it burns off as much as the Mobil 1. I think a 2 Quart loss of oil is a bit excessive. Next oil change is going to be with Royal Purple.