Oil Consumption Question
#11
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Road Rage
I am not questioning the veracity of anyone in this thread - your anecdotes are your anecdotes. However, it is hardly scientific, and the conditions and variables so great that any attempt to draw a conclusion from those anecdotes just doesn't cut it.
There is no reason that a mechanically sound engine will "burn" or "eat" synoil at a rate faster than mineral oil. In fact, the opposite is more likely true, since the film strength of synoil is higher, it makes a better seal at the ring/cylinder interface, reducing blowby. If a car has developed some ring wear or has striations at the ring/cylinder interface, it will chew up oil, and synoil's ability to flow readily into minute spots could conceivably raise oil consumption a bit, but not night and day as has been stated here.
For those of you who are experiencing oil consumption, are you using aftermarket air filters (I am doing a mental survey)?
Second, the volatility of even the best mineral oil is usually 50-100% higher than a synoil, so oil losses due to the lighter oil factions (smaller molecules) in mineral oil will be greater, especially in hot weather and when the car is driven hard.
I am not questioning the veracity of anyone in this thread - your anecdotes are your anecdotes. However, it is hardly scientific, and the conditions and variables so great that any attempt to draw a conclusion from those anecdotes just doesn't cut it.
There is no reason that a mechanically sound engine will "burn" or "eat" synoil at a rate faster than mineral oil. In fact, the opposite is more likely true, since the film strength of synoil is higher, it makes a better seal at the ring/cylinder interface, reducing blowby. If a car has developed some ring wear or has striations at the ring/cylinder interface, it will chew up oil, and synoil's ability to flow readily into minute spots could conceivably raise oil consumption a bit, but not night and day as has been stated here.
For those of you who are experiencing oil consumption, are you using aftermarket air filters (I am doing a mental survey)?
Second, the volatility of even the best mineral oil is usually 50-100% higher than a synoil, so oil losses due to the lighter oil factions (smaller molecules) in mineral oil will be greater, especially in hot weather and when the car is driven hard.
#14
I have a question to throw out there for other opinions.
We got back home from a over 2300 mile road trip in conjunction with the New England Chapter's Nor Easter event in MA. On the way up to Westport, MA in the 532.9 miles from garage to hotel my S consumed about .8 quarts of Mobil 1. Most of this drive was on Interstate like highways at speeds of between 55 to 70 MPH (mostly at engine speeds around 4,000 RPM with stock gearing in my AP1). On the way back from Vermont on Friday and Saturday via some back country roads and Interstate like highways with some V-TEC engine speeds involved we drove 620 miles after topping off in Killington, VT and did not burn a drop?
This is a pattern that I have seen before. There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to the oil consumption. Even at a recent track day at Summit Point, WV I spent about 75 miles on the track at V-TEC engine speeds between 6,500 - 8,500 RPM and did not use a drop? My theory is a sticky ring that allows excessive blow by when lined up "incorrectly" with another ring.
What is your opinion?
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