winner99

So within my last 2 oil changes Ive noticed it coming to low on oil. Im approaching my 3rd since I noticed and Im halfway under the first hole which seems way to low.... not sure exactly how many quarts that is but I change it every 5k. Im about 500 miles from changing it and at 60k miles.

BUT the oil guage says its a bit high on oil?

Ive randomly smelt some burning oil but maybe its just me or other cars, no visual leaks.

If the gauge says its high and the dipstick is low is there oil possibly getting stuck in passages or the dipstick isnt showing correctly? That much? Ive had this issue on my 04 while changing the oil.

I just added some seafoam to clean it out before the coming change and the guage went further up so I assume its working.

ucinn

The oil guage shows pressure, not oil level. The dipstick is what you need to use to determine the amount of oil you have. It should be taken without the engine running. Do you have blue smoke cominjg out of the exhaust? If not, then you probably have a leak somewhere and it's dripping on the block and burning off and that's what you are smelling. Check the valve covers for leaks first.

winner99

No smoke at all I checked for that. I never smell any oil burning. Maybe twice since my last change and it could have been another car in front. Or if I get on the gas I might. I have no leaks anywhere to result in such a large drop. Its basically like disappearing.

dusman59

Your oil level looks like maybe a little over a quart low. With almost 5k on the oil change that doesn't seem excessive. What type and weight oil are you using? What style driving? You can send a sample off and have it annualized. That may give you a better picture of what's going on if your concerned.

Art161

I suggest you add oil between changes. You should not let the level get below the lower hole.

If you want to check for leaks, you could add a dye that glows under UV light.

SCCAGT

Oil consumption is a weak link in any engine. No engine design is immune from its occurrence. No 2 engines are alike, and yours is burning it. Just not enough to see it. 1 qt in 4000mi in not considered excessive. An inconvenience, yes. But well within what is considered normal.

movielover40

Your well within the normal range for oil consumption.

I once owned a 1994 Lumina Z34 that would use a quart of oil at least every 1000 miles. Even when fairly new.

algregory

I see you live in New Jersey. I suspect that means a lot of stop and go driving? Daily driver? I used to live in the San Jose, California area, there was a lot of STOP and a little go in the commute. Its been years, but something like 40 minutes for 12 mile or so drive, if that many miles. I changed at 5k miles, and would add oil from containers (synthetic oil) that had markings on the side in between changes. I'm sure I would add about a quart during those 5k miles. Now, in NC, for awhile I would buy an extra quart (Amsoil) for that useage. Here, with very little stop in the go my oil consumption is near non-existant.

algregory

I just wanted to add, my other car in San Jose, my wife drove it, was a 4.3 liter 4X4 '89 GMC with a wee bit over 155k miles when we got here on '07. I always kept a careful eye on my rides, but, a major weak spot for me was I paid no attention to the GMC's ATF. Never had any problems. It may have been serviced in SJ once, I really do not recall.

So, we moved to NC and almost immediately the transmission wasn't shifting right. I thought it had given up. Took it to a shop, they said it had bee in severe service and likely just needed a fluid change. I denied, but they said the CA driving qualified it as severe (you in NJ?).

They changed out the fluids, it worked just fine and all was good. I resumed my "pay no attention" policy on the ATF. Until, damn thing started making a strange noise as my wife would leave for work, and the shift was not right. The fluid was not even showing on the dip stick. They must have used a low grade ATF! I topped if off with a couple of quarts of Mobil 1 ATF and started paying attention! For some amount of miles I needed to add some Mobil 1 ATF (significant amount) until it apparently had cycled all of the cheap ATF out. I sold it at 237k last June and the transmission was working just fine.

Incidentally, in NC my wife's commute was an EASY 23 miles each way, hardly any stop involved. With Amsoil I was going 8k and more with hardly any consumption. in '10 I had MAJOR surgery, and it had more than 10k since the previous change and was still near the full mark.