Is this normal oil consumption?
 

Hey Guys,

I have a 2009 Touring 6 speed manual. I bought it at a dealer 2.5 years ago with 10k on it. I am at 32k right now and I have been noticing oil consumption in the last 15k. Yesterday, it took 1 quart of oil to bring the level on the dipstick from the L side of normal to 3/4 of the distance between the L and H of normal after about 1,200 miles. I had a Nissan dealer do an oil consumption test around 25k and they said it was fine. Should I go to another dealer and push harder?

Do another one?

I know there is a chart somewhere here with the "acceptable" specs for burning oil

Yes that is past the limit of bein ok. Mine is on it third motor.

10mm lower on the dipstick after 1000-1500 miles - See this TSB with chart:
TSB: 2009-2010 Nissan 370Z: Engine Oil Level Is Low

-- worth a new engine

Keep an eye on it. Check every thousand miles and record the measurements exactly. Build a record of the issue.

Demand to see the oil level before the engine is sealed if you do a consumption test. Look at the oil with the tech when it is unsealed and measured. Crosscheck that with the TSB.

I had a dealer purposely overfill my oil to the point where oil would spurt out of the dipstick and all over the block causing smoke whenever the oil pressure would peak just because they didn't want to replace the block.

It took me going to another dealer to get it addressed. If a dealer is giving you problems, go to another one or get NNA involved.

:iagree: Your warranty is with Nissan, not the dealer. If you don't trust your dealer to work on your car, go find one you can. I "fired" the dealer I bought my '09 from. My current dealer is much better.

Thank you sir! :tiphat:

:iagree: hope they take good care of you

given the oil consumption chart posted you can from the top of the dip stick at the H to just above the L in 3000 miles and that still be considered an acceptable amount of oil to burn. geez!

Correct. I believe the "acceptable" amount is approx 1.5 quarts per 5k miles.

These motors do have a tendency to burn a little oil. The term "little" can range from dealer to dealer on what's acceptable and what isn't. I do know with the VVEL system, the high compression, and the fact the oil is susceptible to higher temps, it can cause the motor to burn oil.. At least at a small/tiny rate.

Obviously if you're heavy footed, running from stop light to stop light, you may notice more oil being burned than when you're doing most of your driving on the highway.

Also, make sure you're checking the oil in the morning (or after the car has sat for a while) and on a flat surface. An uneven driveway can throw numbers off. If you check it 15 - 20 minutes after, it doesn't give enough time for gravity to take its course and feed it back down to the oil pan which could give you an inaccurate test.

With that being said, a quart is a good amount of oil to burn in just over 1,000 miles.

:iagree:

While it is true that "acceptable oil consumption" varies dealer by dealer, it does not vary as it applies to the oil consumption tsb.

This technical service bulletin is something all dealers must adhere to when dealing with this problem. Don't be afraid to print it out and bring it in if you've already done your measuring at home and verified that you are indeed in the "No Good" area as illustrated on the TSB.

Good point

Thanks guys for the info. I am taking it to a different dealer tomorrow morning for an oil change and then a follow-up oil consumption test again. For you guys that have had the short block replaced, how are things for you now? Is the car okay now? JapanJay, how are you on your third motor?! What is going on there?