I know oil consumption is a frequently covered and boring topic to
discuss, however, I am curious as to how much oil consumption
is typical in 5,000 miles.

I understand style of driving plays a huge role, however, I am
just looking for averages. I drive convservatively most of the
time, however, I am no stranger to running it hard from time
to time.

I have put approx. 5,000 miles on my 997 in approx. 7 months
and it hasn't used a drop of oil, which I think is amazing.

How about you guys?

 

Mine burns about 1/4 quart

 

In the first 10k miles I might have added close to 2QT. No track use.
In the second 10k miles about 1QT. On the track as a novice a few times.
In the third 10k miles about 2/3 QT. Winter so not much track use.
In the fourth I added about 1/2 QT. Lots of track use up to advanced group.
Its in for an oil change now as 50k miles approach and I maybe added 1/4 QT in this last 10k miles. Only one track weekend on this last 10k miles.

i can't tell if this is asymptotic to zero or if my car one day will start producing oil.

Guess what my oil change interval is...

 

Well, maybe not amazing.

Some types of driving -- short trips, engine seldom gets up to temp -- can result in the oil accumulating a large load of water and unburned gasoline. Mostly water. What this does is make up for the oil consumed so oil level remains good and oil consumption is perceived to be minimal.

What can then happen is the car is taken for a nice drive in nice weather and the engine gets good and hot. This requires rather mild ambient temperature and some stop/go city driving, with the AC off.

With the AC on the radiator fans run all the time and this works to keep the coolant cooler than if the same drive was taken with the AC off and the fans only coming on when the coolant temperature climbs high enough (approx. 212F) warrant the fans coming on.

Anyhow, the oil gets over 212F and the unburned gas and water (especially the water) boil away and guess what? The oil level goes down cause it is no longer artifically inflated by the presence of water and unburned gasoline and thus to the owner oil consumption looks frighteningly high and over a very very short span of time, like one drive. The math is done and the oil consumption is projected to be very high over some long span of miles, usually the number of miles the owner was planning on following regarding oil change services.

Real oil consumption is all over the map, though most engines experience oil consumption towards the good side of oil consumption, using maybe a quart in 5000 or more miles, especially if the engine spends little time idling and experience no long periods at high rpms. Lots of idling or lots of high speed driving can see the oil consumption go up.

Sincerely,

Macster.

 

Very sorry to put you on the alert but that would start to make me a bit concerned that everything's working correctly.

Seriously: I'm not sure why but I would put 200 ml in just to see what happens. I know, pretty wussy-ish, but 200 ml can't hurt, I doubt it's NOT down at least 200 ml.

See what other guys here say.

 

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

I must say, reading the oil level indicator is a bit vague.

I should say, the oil level is down to the highest top notch, so
it is not "full." However, this is where the level has been
for many months and miles.

 

That's well within the norm. I put a new quart in every 1000 miles. I know that gauge and the fill port better than anyone!

 

My last car (997.1) used so much oil in the first few thousand miles that I was really worried about it. However, after 5,000 miles oil usage fell to almost nil. My new car arrived (997.2) and I went out and bought 5 litres of oil because I thought I would need it. The new car passed 5,000 miles a few days ago and the car hasn't needed a drop of oil. I check the oil every time I add fuel and it still shows full. Oh well. I am not complaining. I guess it just depends.

 

I have 6k miles on my car since my last change which just turned the clock at 19k miles and it used 1.0 qts. of Mobil 5W40.

Dave

 

Here's some notes. Guys in a 997.1 saying "I've gone x miles and added x quarts."

FWIW,

 

As of yesterday I have put about 6 quarts in in 9000 miles. Oil consumption has seemed to slow down in the last few months as compared with the way it was going through oil in the beginning.

My Audi S4 also went through oil but not at this rate . . . all I can say is thank god for these forums or this level of consumption would freak me out.

 

I've done 10400 miles and check the oil on a flat level surface every other day.

I've put in 1/2litre of oil, my mileage is a good mixture of long runs (200-300 miles) and town driving.

I have used all the revs from new and never warm the car up at idle.

 

1/2 quart in 47000 miles.

Of course I have changed the oil every year or 10,000 miles.

Obsessive, I know.

 

Given the 7 qts I just drained for my 5900mi oil change, I've probably added 4 quarts in the interim between new and now.. so I'd say I burned 5 qts in 5900mi.. I'm not happy about it, but its within the Porsche allowable range.

 

At Law, sorry for the OT...your Avatar reminds me of the 3rd ID shoulder patch. I don't remember the exact colors of the patch as I have only seen the BDU patch in green and black.

Dave