Oil change issue

[Heimkehr]

What operating temperature are you checking at? Iirc, the recommended procedure is to get the engine hot, shut down, wait exactly 5 minutes and check on level ground. If you check before this time, all the oil is away from the bottom and it will read at least a quart low.

+1. How many folks have reviewed their Owner's Manuals -- for any vehicle they own -- to determine if there's a prescribed method for checking the fluid levels?

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[wheels082]

My 2018 3.6 does not use any oil between oil changes.

 

[tinymay]

For a healthy engine? No.

I'm old school and when my brand new Chevy Avalanche was using oil from day one I got way concerned. Just kept feeding oil as it needed it. Here it is, 415,000 miles later and it's still strong and using a quart ever 1500 miles. Had to rethink my schooling.

 

[Heimkehr]

I'm old school and when my brand new Chevy Avalanche was using oil from day one I got way concerned. Just kept feeding oil as it needed it. Here it is, 415,000 miles later and it's still strong and using a quart ever 1500 miles. Had to rethink my schooling.

That mileage is impressive, tm, no doubt. ?

That said, consumption is consumption and I'd have wanted an answer well before even 1K miles rolled around...doubly so for a brand-new vehicle.

The only time I don't get concerned about burning oil is as it regards air cooled engines. This is linked to their inherent heat and cooling cycles and the collateral effect on necessary build tolerances. Even then, there will be limits to what I know to be appropriate, doubly so if such limits are mentioned explicitly in the Owner's Manual.

 

[Bandit59]

2019 JL Wrangler (Moab). 3.6 engine.

Issue: oil dipstick is dry. I did oil change, I drained 4.0q, and I put in 5q after (I’m positive I put in 5Q the last oil change)

Background: (I use the molar oil filter. Pennzoil fully synthetic ow-20 oil. I typically do oil change when the Jeep dashboard tells me to (~8,000 miles). Last oil change was in January (8,000 miles ago). I do live in central California where summers are 100+ degrees for about 4+ months, in case that plays any role.

Question:
1) is it normal to be burning a whole 1q of oil in between oil changes?
2) if not, how to detect what the issue is?
3) resolution?

8000 miles is a long time. You should check it regularly and change it4-5000 miles. Don’t wait for it to tell you

 

[blnewt]

2019 V6, never noticed any drop on the dipstick level w/ 6k OCIs, and that includes an annoying little oil dribble at my rear main seal area for the last 4 yrs (just enough dribble to keep those 2 rubber plugs a bit gooey). Oil change for the V6 is too simple and cheap to go more than 6k miles IMO. And FWIW I check my oil in the morning after sitting overnight and it's ALWAYS at the top of the hatchmarks, and check it about every 2 weeks.

 

[NateB]

2019 JL Wrangler (Moab). 3.6 engine.

Issue: oil dipstick is dry. I did oil change, I drained 4.0q, and I put in 5q after (I’m positive I put in 5Q the last oil change)

Background: (I use the molar oil filter. Pennzoil fully synthetic ow-20 oil. I typically do oil change when the Jeep dashboard tells me to (~8,000 miles). Last oil change was in January (8,000 miles ago). I do live in central California where summers are 100+ degrees for about 4+ months, in case that plays any role.

Question:
1) is it normal to be burning a whole 1q of oil in between oil changes?
2) if not, how to detect what the issue is?
3) resolution?

I’ve been a professional Automotive Technician since 1985 and I’ve owned my own shop since 1998. I can’t tell you how many engines we’ve replaced on vehicles that don’t get their oil checked regularly. I CAN tell you that many cars consume a quart or two of oil between oil changes and the consumption doesn’t get worse if the owner checks it regularly and adds the specified oil when it gets low. Even on engines that consume a bit of oil they rarely have catastrophic failures - major failures almost always occur on neglected or abused engines (with the exceptions of some makes and models with known design flaws that result in pattern failures). Some engines consume more oil than others.
Furthermore; oil is cheap - I change my oil every 5,000 miles on all my vehicles with the exception of my diesel RV that has a 14 gallon crankcase. I always use the OE specified viscosity, regardless of oil consumption or ambient temperatures, and I run full synthetic oil at or above the OE spec rating. I advise all my customers to do the same. Those that maintain properly have good ownership experiences.
One of our customers has followed this advice on his 2000 Explorer and has 780,000 miles on his engine and trans and we’ve never opened them up.
I may be rambling, but I’ve been preaching this to thousands of people over the years and I’ve seen the results.
Change your oil regularly (not 8,000-10,000 miles), use high quality oil, check it at least once per month, and add oil when it’s low.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Try changing from Pennzoil full synthetic to Pennzoil Platinum. Some oils have a higher volatility than others. I don’t know the volatility numbers on Pennzoil full synthetic, but mine never uses any. But I also run 5w30 in it. That’s my choice.

Also, wait 5-10 minutes before checking the oil on a hot engine, and do so on level ground. These late model engines with ESS take awhile for the oil to drain back down from the heads.

 

[JL ME]

2019 JL Wrangler (Moab). 3.6 engine.

Issue: oil dipstick is dry. I did oil change, I drained 4.0q, and I put in 5q after (I’m positive I put in 5Q the last oil change)

Background: (I use the molar oil filter. Pennzoil fully synthetic ow-20 oil. I typically do oil change when the Jeep dashboard tells me to (~8,000 miles). Last oil change was in January (8,000 miles ago). I do live in central California where summers are 100+ degrees for about 4+ months, in case that plays any role.

Question:
1) is it normal to be burning a whole 1q of oil in between oil changes?
2) if not, how to detect what the issue is?
3) resolution?

If I were you I would change oil at 5,000 miles regardless of what the oil indicator says.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I am 1 year or 5k myself. Just me not sure if any science backs 1 year but since I work from home a cheap thing. The fuel I save is 100x a oil change probably once a year or 5k. The cost is so small to the benefit of having fresh good viscosity oil.

 

[azjl#3]

My 2018 3.6 does not use any oil between oil changes.

None of my previous 3 used any oil. Waiting to see what #4 does with 1,000 on the clock.

 

[Tahoma]

Sounds like the takeaway is:
- check oil more frequently
- top off with oil if needed
- oil change every 5,000 miles

Thanks everyone. Will implement these

 

[alphawolff]

For a healthy engine? No.

Honestly spec is 1qt every 1000-1500 miles. Anything less than that is pristine.

 

[blnewt]

Honestly spec is 1qt every 1000-1500 miles. Anything less than that is pristine.

Wow, pretty loose motor w/ those specs ? Do you have the specs handy??

 

[DWS44]

One of our customers has followed this advice on his 2000 Explorer and has 780,000 miles on his engine and trans and we’ve never opened them up.

Wow. I cannot fathom driving any one vehicle that many miles. ?

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