I've searched but I really wasn't satisfied with the answers I got.

So my situation. I usually change my oil 3000 miles. But the last two oil changes I notice that it is less then what I had put in. So I check my oil level and it wasn't even on the dip stick. So right now I have 200 miles before my next oil change and I put a 3/4 of a quart it. I know it might be normal to burn oil especially when driving the car hard and what not, but I only daily drive my car to work 60 miles a day. And I dont drive hard because traffic will not allow me to. but I have never lost oil before, anything which could cause this to start now? TIA

2002 Wrx
Mods, uppipe and axleback, no intake silencer (not a mod)

i have 92800 miles on it, and this is the first time i have noticed it,

Also i havent changed my spark plugs or timing belts ever, was planning on doing that at 100,000 miles. I have though maintained the fuel filter, air filter, and all fluids when they needed to be.


if this is normal, which i hope it to be, but any response is needed. I just to feel better

 

I have a 2004 wrx and I have had the same problem, I faithfully have changed my oil every 3000 but it seems that when I have 1000 miles left until my oil change I need to put an extra bottle of oil because I cant read the oil level on the dipstick. I just assumed it was regular oil burnage, my car has about 26500 on it also. Dont know if it is a problem or just normal wear and tear.

 

step up to 10-30

 

the first number is basically the cold rating of the oil, "how well it flows when it's cold". therefore a 10-30 will not help the situation. you need to move up to a 40 weight oil. 5 or 10w40 will make the difference due to the oil being a 40 weight and thicker.

 

They normally lose oil but to make it feel good maybe a compression/leak down test. A good sign too is white smoke on exhaust if its burning oil.

 

White smoke is not a sign of burning oil, black/bluish smoke is a sign of oil getting cooked. White smoke mean coolant is getting inside the combustion chamber=bad head gasket.

 

Turbo cars do consume a little more oil, but the first thing you should do is start parking over newspaper and looking for oil drops. WHERE they are coming from under the engine is crucial information.

My 02 WRX has absolutely no oil leaks of any kind and I burn perhaps 1/6th of a quart in 3500 miles; whether I just got lucky or had a good break-in, I have no idea. There's no reason to consume that much oil normally unless you are driving the car to death or have a pinhole leak somewhere. BTW, switching to higher-viscosity oil will NOT magically make the car stop leaking or burning oil, that is pure myth. Viscosity is something that takes place at the molecular level; I'm pretty sure whatever leak you have is bigger than a few dozen oil molecules.

 

I'd get a compression/leakdown test done. Listen for some leaking. Check your exhaust manifold for a sooty carbon stream ( valve guide/seal) check your turbo outlet/compressor outlet.

 

i have 85,000 on my03 wrx and use 5w30 royal purple and i dont burn any oil...well i didn't anyway until my turbo was !smoking! a couple of days ago, im thinking the turbo is starting to go....educated guess?

 

check the front timing cover is it covered in crud

not just dirt

im thinking its an oil leak

 

My car has consumed one quart of oil between oil changes
since I bought my car.I also change my oil every 2500-3000 miles too.
The only thing that seemed to help my oil consumption problem some
was useing thicker 10W30 motor oil instead of 5W30.
Spark plugs and timing belt should be changed every 60K miles.
Dirty air and fuel filters rob power from your car.

 

Timing belts every 105K, plugs at 60, and yes ALL turbo cars use oil.

 

going from 5w30 to 10w30 won't make any difference except in real cold weather. once its at operating temperature the 5w30 is going to be the same thickness as 10w30.

change your spark plugs they would definatly need it at 93k.

 

Since you have higher mileage you should keep
up on your proper maintenance for your vehicle
than end up being sorry in the future.Take good
care of it though it's well worth the money.

 

SOA will say loosing around 1 quart of oil per 3500 miles or so is normal.

With the age of your car there are a lot of reasons you could be loosing excess oil. Tired motor. Blown turbo. Bad lines. Oil leaks. Etc.

My guess is it's just tired.

I was burning 2 quarts in that time frame and they tried to tell me it was normal...even after showing them smoke billowing out of my hood scoop and hood creases.... I had a blown turbo and was burning oil that way.

You boosting normally?