Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Is it normal for my EO to use 1/2 to 3/4 quart of Mobil 1 ?

Should oil consumption be expected with synthetic motor oil ? Does the synthetic oil have anything to do with it ?

It may. To confirm what you're seeing try switching to a different brand of synthetic and see what happens.

I used to have a '95 F-150 that I used synthetic oil in. I used Mobil-1 for about 20,000 miles and then I had the same problem you describe, I was using about 1 quart per 1000 miles. Not seeing any signs of a leak, or any noticable smoke from the tail pipe, I switched to Castrol Syntec and immediately the problem disappeared.

Try switching to AMS OIL. Its about twice the price of Mobil-1, but I am convinced it is superior to other synthetic oils. I'm sure if you ask around you'll find other who will say the same. browse their site and even order factory direct here: www.amsoil.com

I never had a problem with Mobil 1 burning more than usual. Some other brands had in the past in other cars. I used to live in Pittsburgh, if you drop a gear to brake the car that will suck in a little oil. The throttle will be closed and the engine spinning fast creating a high vacuum in the intake. Pulls oil down the valve guides a little faster. Mobil 1 will leak a little too. Sneaks past the gaskets a wee bit. It is still worth the money, especially in the winter where you are. My car started easier when it was below freezing. Started at 20 below 0 once or twice with no jump.

How many miles are you talking here? Between oil changes, no problem; every tank of gas, problem.

Except it uses Viscosity Index improvers!
A fair amount of them too to achieve it's slightly higher operating SUS viscosity.
A good oil, however not remotely a fair tradeoff IMO...

Also their stories about diesel engines and taxi cabs are comparing apples to oranges as well...

mc,

I remember reading a tech article in Road & Track a few years ago that said full synthetic oils are missing certain natural components that aid in keeping some kinds of oil seals in good condition. Because of that, the seals might deteriorate and lead to leaks.

That article was from about the time Mobil 1 hit the market. Since several years have passed, it's possible that oil companies have changed their formluations to avoid that problem. It's also possible that the auto industry has adopted newer materials that don't suffer when full synth oils are used. I know Porsche uses Mobil 1 as OE oil as does Chevy on the Vette.

I thought it might be worth mentioning.

Thanks for the help
The time frame is between oil changes (3,000 miles)And it isn't the same amount every time
Also sometimes I'll check my oil and the level will be low,like maybe a quart and a half low, so I'll wait a day and the next time I check it it is right where it should be. I'm starting to get used to waiting a day or until after the next time I drive the car for a second reading,
does this sound familiar to anyone ?

i've heard the molecules in sythetic oils are a lot smaller than regular oils, allowing for better lubrication. i know i guy who had an old supra with 240 000 km's on it and when he put synthetic oil in it it burned oil like crazy, stunk, blue smoke everything, but it was fine with regular oil.

mentioned by mc....

sometimes I'll check my oil and the level will be low,like maybe a quart and a half low, so I'll wait a day and the next time I check it it is right where it should be. I'm starting to get used to waiting a day or until after the next time I drive the car for a second reading,

After the motor's been running, it takes time for the oil to run back into the sump; that's probably why you're getting a "low" reading one day and a "fine" the next. Wait at least 15 minutes or so after you shut down to make sure you get an accurate reading. Too much oil can be as bad as too little.

On your original question, I don't use synthetic, but my 99 SVT does burn about 3/4 of a quart between changes. Has done this since new.