[Cloud9...68]

I just discovered that my engine is exactly one quart low on oil. I changed the oil 2000 miles ago (Mobil 1 15W50), and am pretty sure I filled it to the top mark on the dip stick. It has 88,600 miles. It has a slight leak at the front balance shaft seal, but if anything, I've been seeing fewer fresh drops on the garage floor in recent months, though I would assume a moderate amount is leaking out under pressure while driving. The car runs great, and doesn't smoke, ping, or have any other anti-social behaviors. Thanks in advance.

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[BruceWard]

Mine has never left a single drop on the floor but uses a quart every 2500 miles. I fill to the top mark with 7 quarts after changing the oil, then add a quart when the light comes on around 2500 to 3000 miles then change the oil when the light comes back on at 5000 to 5000 miles.



I believe the factory manual states that up to 1 liter per 1000 kilometers is acceptable. That is a little over a quart per 600 miles in our units <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Greimann]

I think I am at a quart per 2500 miles too on 15w-50. It is also highly dependent on how hard you are driving it too. Hard, hot driving and you could burn through a quart in a few hundred miles.

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[Cloud9...68]

Thanks, guys. With my small leak, and the amount of "testing" I was doing at WOT all those months of troubleshooting my hesitation problem, mostly in the heat of the Austin summer, it seems that my oil consumption is pretty normal.

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[Anchorman]

I guess I'm on the low end of the consumption range. If my light comes on, it's at least 3k miles after an oil change - and, more usually, 4k miles or more. And, when the light comes on, the dipstick shows about 1/2q down. Only once have I added a quart between oil changes, and that was in two 1/2q doses. The car has nearly 128k miles on it, and the oil is Mobil 1 (I forget the grade, but I think it's the 5W-35).

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[BruceWard]

I use Mobil 1 15W50.

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[Beachboy]

I use Mobil 1 15-50 and use about 1 qt./ 2500 miles at 70K mile odometer with moderate driving habits but I don't baby her. No track time, no leaks.

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[Anchorman]

Hmmm. I just checked the receipt for my last oil change and it shows Mobil 1 00/40. I didn't know there was such a rating - anyone? Or is the receipt wrong?

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[Greimann]

[quote name='Anchorman' date='Nov 18 2005, 07:52 AM']...it shows Mobil 1 00/40.  I didn't know there was such a rating - anyone?  Or is the receipt wrong?

[right][post="12537"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

There is a 0W-40 (not double naught). What that means is the oil has a very wide temperature range of performance. Flows like an SAE 0 at cold temperatures, but gives the protection of an SAE 40 at operating temperature.

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[Larry Currie]

My last trip to Pa. for the 968 Celebration which was 1700+ mile I had to add a quart of Moble 15-50. I drove her pretty hard on the trip. She also had over 125,000 miles wear.

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[Dave]

My 142k mile car seems to use virtually no oil on the street, but will consume a bit at the track (lots of high RPM WOT time).

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[flash]

yup - i can go quite a while with ne'er a drop lost, but romp it around and suddenly half a quart is gone - weird - i'm thinking gapless rings when i rebuild

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[Jacks968]

I have only driven my 968 about 3000 miles (61000 to 64000 Miles) since purchase. So far it has only dropped about 1/8 of an inch on the dipstick. And I know where it has all gone - in a drip pan under the engine. I have two small leaks my mechanic says are not worth tracking down. And considering the low oil usage I agree. As to my driving habits I do not track but have done two PCA driver Skill days and several weekend tours with a group of local road runners. Other than that it is an everyday (not raining) car. The car has always had Mobil 1 according to the maint history.

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[Cloud9...68]

Hmmm... So there seems to be a fairly wide range in the oil consumption of these engines. At one quart per 2000 miles, mine appears to be to the high end of the range, but probably not anything to worry about. I'll just make sure I always keep a spare quart or two of Mobil1 15W50.

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[Gary Grigsby]

My 1995 Track car uses 3-5 quarts per race weekend-excellent compression/newly blue printed/balanced motor. The block/sleeves/pistons/rings are all new-as of last summer. I use Mobil 15-50 exclusively. Gary

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[RPM]

from the 1993 968 Owner's Manual (p. 63)



Engine Oil Consumption



It is normal for your engine to consume oil. The rate of oil consumption depends on the quality and viscosity of the oil, the speed at which the engine is operated, the climate, road conditions as well as the amount of dilution and oxidation of the lubricant.



Because of these variables, no standard rate of oil consumption can be established, but drivers should expect an increased oil consumption at high speeds and when the engine is new.

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[Dave]

They seem to consume a wee bit at high RPM operation. For example, both my 944 and 968 can be driven all winter, about 3k miles, with no noticable oil usage.



Take either of them to the track and spin them between 4500 RPM and redline all day, you get to add 1/4 quart or so a day. Not as high as Gary is noting, but I'm also no where near as fast as he is. Perhaps I need to spend all of my track time north of 5500 RPM <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Eric_K]

My 1995 Track car uses 3-5 quarts per race weekend

Wow. That seems like a lot for a relatively fresh engine. I burnt a little over a quart in the most recent 8 hour race. That was going full out the whole time, 600+ race miles.



Eric

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[tedwright]

No leaks in my engine.



Castrol GTX 20W-50 did not use A DROP in 3,000 miles.



Mobil 1 15W-50 uses 1qt every 1,500 miles or so depending on how hard I am driving.



I guess this means that because the Mobil 1 is doing it's job and lubricating BETTER, that it is sneaking past the rings or valve stem seals better than the other oil.



My car has 193k on it now (almost 7k of that I put on in the last 5 weeks).

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