Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

My 2003 WRX PPP seems, to me, to be using a lot of oil. I had to top it up a litre around 2500 miles ago. Today I have topped it up another litre.

There's no smoke, there's no smell, the car sounds and drives normal etc. and the power seems to all be there. A search on here brings back lots of guff but I have managed to find people saying it's normal to use oil and people saying it's not, so I'm no happier.

What does everyone think? Car is on 102k now.

RS_Matt

Get used to that!

At 40,000 miles my 03 WRX used a litre per month, at 80,000 it now uses a litre per year.

I don't have an answer for it. I use stop smoke for MOT's but I thought that was a cure for a matter of days.

rb5 stu

My 03 doesnt use a drop and its driven hard.

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

Yup my blob sti uses none at all

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

A litre a year, you know you should really change the oil more regularly than that!!

RS_Matt

Shaun

If your 2ltr consumes that much oil, something isn't right. The Newage 2ltrs shouldn't use any oil as an OEM build.

Get a leakdown test done.

*matthewturb2000*

iTrader: (11)

1L a month at 40k! Surely that's not wright

WRX 2312

Standard 2003 wrx blobeye, oil is the same as when I bought it 8 weeks ago and it has had mix driving

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

One of the (well respected) specialists has told me it's fine to use this much oil against that many miles. Now I'm more confused.

WRX 2312

I guess it varies slightly car to car, I cover around 120 miles a week to/from work mainly with the odd trip at the weekend. Never tracked mine and probably never will but have the odd bit of fun and literally checked my oil this morning and apart from being a bit darker hasnt changed level whereas some other owners are reporting high oil useage without any faults so I probably wouldnt worry too much and if you are have tests done to put your mind to rest

Shaun

Explainable perhaps, due to the mileage, but that doesn't mean it's "fine".

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Might get it checked the to be totally sure. How much labour would I likely be looking at with a leak down test? Everything does run/feel perfectly fine.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Mine use a litre a month, but thats only because i have a leak on the crank seal, before that never used any or next to nothing, never topped up in between changes

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Booked a leak down test for Thursday. Let's see what's really what.

Tyler 1

iTrader: (8)

got me worried now as mine does the same on a 2ltr forged engine

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Well it's easy/cheap enough to get a leak down test done, so get yourself booked in if you have any concerns. I can't see any reason not to get mine done, other than my slight desire to stick my head in the sand!

Tyler 1

iTrader: (8)

been thinking to get it done for some time but I knew it as a compression test not a leakdown.. Didn't know they were the same.. Been to scared to get it done..

oilman

iTrader: (9)

They can vary from engine to engine, that is why you get so many different answers.

Whilst it seems heavy, it is not excessive. BMW for example say anything up to 1ltr per 500 miles is acceptable! As you have done, if you are concerned go for a leak down test.

What oil is currently being used? And does the car see any track use or is it just road fun?

Cheers

Guy

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Off the top of my head, I think I am running fully synth 5w-40 at the moment.

Tyler, the leak down test and compression test are two separate tests as I understand it. Compression test will give you a PSI value for the compression of each cylinder, leak down test will give a percentage value which I *think* (as I haven't looked intot his before now) indicates how much pressure loss occurs in each cylinder. I'm sure someone will correct me shortly.

oilman

iTrader: (9)

Do you happen to know what brand 5w-40? You could also move to a 10w-40 or 10w-50 that might help reduce consumption a little.

Cheers

Guy

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

I would do as guy said try another oil, is it fully synthetic?

How does a oil down test work?

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

I'm running fully synth.

Actually it needs completely draining and replacing with new so I might get some from Opie. I was in a bind and bought Triple QX stuff from ECP. I've not had the car massively long so having topped up with that, it is actually very possible it was running a different grade already.

Sadly, after I first discovered the issue and topped it up, I had bought a new oil filter and planned to do the full change and it ended up completely slipping my mind.

Guy, what would you recommend for me to buy today? 102k miles, PPP installed. If leakdown test is OK I plan to take it to 300 - 320bhp.

oilman

iTrader: (9)

I would go for a 5w-40, but using a different one can reduce oil consumption as that can vary from car to car, oil to oil. If it was a basic oil in there, it could burn off quickly.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-656-5w-40.aspx

Out of those, the best ones are the Fuchs/Silkolene Pro S, Millers CFS/CFS NT, Motul 300V, Red Line and Gulf Competition. The Motul 8100 X-Cess, Millers XF Longlife, Fuchs GT1 XTL/Supersyn, Gulf Formula G, Shell Helix and Mobil Super 3000 are good, cheaper alternatives.

Cheers

Tim

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Tim one thing i wanted to ask you about oil was how come millers has no spec's on the can like other oils?

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Well I'm happy to buy the best so which is number 1?

oilman

iTrader: (9)

On the Millers Nanodrive?

It's because it's aimed at race/track use, so was not submitted for specs approval.

Cheers

Tim

oilman

iTrader: (9)

Take you pick out of the top ones I listed, they are all top end oils, although with the Millers Nanodrive, there is the potential for a power gain.

Cheers

Tim

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Sorry mean't CFS 10-40, looked at some in a store and noticed had no info on, so how do i know its ok with my Impreza?

Jay Cartay

iTrader: (3)

Wasn't sure if I needed the nano tech oils or not but that'll do for me. Is the 20% off code still valid?