Oil is this normal?

1. OMGASAXO Established Member Joined: Dec 2011 Derby Posts: 1021 Posi saxo, flatty, Peugeot bipper, Vauxhall vectra

   #1 22nd May 2012, 00:07

   This happens everysingle time in a pattern. I have a service, fresh oil, new filter etc around 6000- 8000 miles and I check the oil every few weeks but it seems to start losing oil around 5000 miles afterward the oil change. Why would it start loseing oil once it starts to get old and ready for changing but not when fresh and new?
2. user_43898 Established Member Joined: May 2010 leicester Posts: 1446 Clio 182 Inferno

   #2 22nd May 2012, 00:18

   Probably because its thinner when its old, fresh oil has a better viscosity, where as older oil can be thinned down by cold starts due to petrol contamination in the oil (due to blow by gasses past the piston rings). Meaning you car is using/ burning a small amount of oil when you drive, over time the oil level will go down . Its the same as if you put 5w30 fulley synthetic oil in a saxo it will burn/use more oil over 5000miles than it would if you used 10w40 semi-synthetic oil due to the viscosity of the oil Hope this helps
3. OMGASAXO Established Member Joined: Dec 2011 Derby Posts: 1021 Posi saxo, flatty, Peugeot bipper, Vauxhall vectra

   #3 22nd May 2012, 00:36

   Okay thanks. So my car is burning abit of oil. Not too bad tho I suppose for saying its on about 130,000 miles :0
4. adamspencer Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 173 52 Saxo Desire 1.1

   #4 22nd May 2012, 20:49

   small engines naturally burn small amounts of oil so long motorway journeys would cause it to burn more which may be why your oil level goes down
5. user_57064 Established Member Joined: Jan 2012 south essex!! Posts: 2442 posi blue vtrs race car

   #5 22nd May 2012, 21:00

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by SnakeVTR Probably because its thinner when its old, fresh oil has a better viscosity, where as older oil can be thinned down by cold starts due to petrol contamination in the oil (due to blow by gasses past the piston rings). Meaning you car is using/ burning a small amount of oil when you drive, over time the oil level will go down . Its the same as if you put 5w30 fulley synthetic oil in a saxo it will burn/use more oil over 5000miles than it would if you used 10w40 semi-synthetic oil due to the viscosity of the oil Hope this helps

   Correct, basically the oil breaks down and becomes thinner, dont put thicker stuff in youll starve the head, and with the engine worn as it will be at 130k which i am impressed with that it doesnt burn oil before 5k the tollerances are not bigger and pulling oil up past the rings, dont worry just change the oil when it starts using some :-) hope helps
   
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6. user_57064 Established Member Joined: Jan 2012 south essex!! Posts: 2442 posi blue vtrs race car

   #6 22nd May 2012, 21:01

   Tollerances ARE bigger sorry fat fingers and interuption mid flow
   
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7. f13sta Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 loughborough Posts: 2229 1988 ford fiesta mk2 1.4- 2001 black saxo furio (d

   #7 22nd May 2012, 21:03

   tbf it souldn't burn any oil at all. although modern diesels are designed to burn a little oil to help mpg.
   
   but as above as the oil starts to break down over time it'll loose its viscosity and lubricating properties, and some will seep past the rings.
   mine never burns any oil cause i do it every 6 months (which is around 2.5k) and it's almost on 136k