Does Your Engine Burn Oil?

ems657

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Howdy,

I couldn't find a good previous thread through search, so decided to start a new one. Let's share our experience and not turn this into a oil viscosity or brand debate. =)

> My car is completely stock with 11K miles. I always perform my own oil change every 3,000 to 3,500 miles with Redline 5w30 and Mobil 1 filter.
> I live in Seattle (mild winter, mostly above 40F). On Mon-Fri, I drive 1 mile to a local bus stop (warm up engine for at least 1 minute). On other days, I drive very slowly to avoid tickets. In my 14 months of ownership, the car has seen 6 track days.
> I check the dipstick from time to time, and "sometimes" it goes below the "low mark" (I usually top off around 40% between the low and high mark). The fix normally requires less than 1/2 quart. I don't really have a complete data, so I can't say how much I lose every 3K miles.
> Interestingly, I check the dipstick very frequently during the track day, and it actually never lost any oil.

> Why 5w30 instead of 0w20? Again, not for the purpose of debate, I live in relatively warmer weather, and am not comfortable having 0w20 oil on the track day. I recall watching youtube (maybe Savegee) showing 0w20 oil in a stock BRZ became junk after track day due to its viscosity. Again, not for debate.

Thank you all,
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FifStreet

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You sure it's burning and not leaking?
 
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OP

ems657

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@ Fifstreet



Leaking is always a possibility. I always open my belly pan cover 2 weeks after oil change to check for leaks. I also pay attention to stains on my driveway. Did I miss something in terms of checking leaks?

Thanks,
 

d15b7

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hi. those one mile drives are NOT good for it. yikes. i'm lucky in that I live in the countryside and the shortest drive I ever do is 8-10 miles. most are 20 30 50 miles long. mine is right at 4k miles still on orig oil (going to change it at 5k miles). has burned zero oil (still at full line). no track days yet but lots of spirited country road driving (many near redline shifts often times). those super short drives of 1-2 miles where the oil never really warms up is probably contributing to some oil consumption. simply idling the car for 2-3 mins and then driving one mile does not warm it up; oil takes quite a while to reach its proper operating temp (oil wants to be over 210 deg; 220-230 is a good target temp for engine oil, so that it can burn off moisture and so that it is in its happy spot for viscosity and protection. your oil temp after a 3 min idling and 1 mile drive is prob under 150. the coolant will come up pretty quickly due to the thermostat etc but oil takes time to warm up.
 

NapalmEnema

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Redline is trash, change oils that's more than likely your issue.
 


alvav

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Redline is trash?!? One of the only true synthetics our there. One of the greatest oils out there, if not the outright greatest.
 

FifStreet

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Is your oil life indicator really hitting 0% every 3,500 miles?
 

caspar21

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60k km. honda oil changed when mm said(except befor track days and autox days)
oil has never been low between changes.
tsp1 tune. and yes. i drive it but not abuse it.
wait till rpms drop to 1200 rpm on cold starts and drive gentle till its up to temp.

sorry about your luck. i would check for leaks then start engine checks to find where its going.
good luck
 

Hayabusa160

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switch the oil and see if it stops.

if you are concerned about running a true synthetic oil castrol 0w 30 or mobil 1 0w 40 are full synthetics. both are close in weight.
 

Lust

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Lol you don’t live in a “warmer” area dude. Swap back to a 0w-20. Try a different brand of oil and see if that helps. I would recommend Motul 8100 or 300v if you track.
 


FriscoBrah

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You shouldn't change out the factory oil until required. Honda is the only manufacture that puts a break in additive (molybdenum-disulfide, an anti-wear additive) in the oil from the factory.
 

.grimace

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You shouldn't change out the factory oil until required. Honda is the only manufacture that puts a break in additive (molybdenum-disulfide, an anti-wear additive) in the oil from the factory.
Changed mine at 6k or 30-40% and it's just fine. He's got something else going on.
 

NTAWRX

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I have an 8th gen that requires a quart of oil between changes, but my fk8 has not used/burned a single drop.
 
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NTAWRX

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By the way unless you are burning more than a quart in less than a 1000 miles, Honda is going to call it normal.
 

Maximum6

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Redline on paper looks great, but recent YouTube comparisons of oil has it down to the final 2 of Mobil 1 5w30 and Amsoil OE 5w30 in the oil championships :).

Redline lost to Mobil 1 in the competition
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