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* Missing oil - 3 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.nissan/t/cdde96636a1dc818?hl=en
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TOPIC: Missing oil
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.nissan/t/cdde96636a1dc818?hl=en
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== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 29 2011 8:35 pm
From: AS
John is right:
Many manufacturers consider some oil usage normal. I think that is a
lousy excuse to avoid having to repair a bunch defective engines; e.g.
VW continues to have issues with oil consumption in their engines (as
per the CarTalk guys).
As far as BK's problem, oil either gets consumed by the engine or goes
somewhere else (leaked, water system, exhaust pipe, etc.)
Just make sure that you are getting a level reading right after the oil
change or topping.
Good luck!
AS
John Henderson wrote:
> BK wrote:
>
>
>>2006 Altima SL V6. 90,000 miles. In the past year I started commuting
>>to work and do about 80 miles per day.
>>
>>Service engine light came on several times over the past 7 months,
>>each time the dealer replaced an electronic module and changed the oil
>>(which was due to be changed). Finally,when the light came on again,
>>they noticed that the engine was virtually without oil. They now
>>believe that this lack of oil is what caused the light to come on.
>>
>>The car seems to run fine. There is no obvious oil leakage though,
>>since I live in an apartment, I cannot park in the same space each
>>day. The car passed an emissions test so it does not appear to be
>>burning a lot of oil. Car gets good mileage (26.2 mpg according to the
>>car's computer). I am assuming there is a leak, but no one can seem to
>>figure out where it's coming from. Dealer seems to be giving up on
>>this. Could use advice.
>>TIA
>
>
> From what you say, I understand that the oil level isn't becoming
> critical until the car is due for an oil change anyway.
>
> That would be a lot of miles to have travelled without checking
> the oil level and topping up (if required).
>
> Manufacturers often quote normal oil consumption figures up to
> a maximum of something like a litre per 1,000 km (in the order of
> a quart per 600 miles in imperial measurement).
>
> While some cars don't need topping up between regular oil
> changes, it's not unusual for any car to need topping up
> several times in that period.
>
> Given your mileage, I'd suggest checking the oil level every
> week. What does your owners' manual say on the subject?
>
> John
>
>
== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Mar 30 2011 4:23 am
From: "C. E. White"
"AS" <mialex@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:VuOdnT8aZrZpOQ_QnZ2dnUVZ_tOdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> John is right:
>
> Many manufacturers consider some oil usage normal. I think that is a
> lousy excuse to avoid having to repair a bunch defective engines; e.g. VW
> continues to have issues with oil consumption in their engines (as per the
> CarTalk guys).
Some oil usage is normal....it has to be given the nature of piston engines
Some small amount of oil is routinely left on the cylinder walls to be
flashed off during the combustion phase. Other minute amounts of oil are
carried on the valve stems into the intake air stream and some portion of
this is carried on into the engine with the intake air. All engines consume
some oil. Those that appear to consume none are making up the lost oil with
unburned hydrocarbons and combstuin products that escape past the rings on
the compression and power strokes. If stuff wasn't getting into the oil, it
wouldn't change color over time. Send a sample off for analysis sometime.
On my farm we had a very old tractor with weak rings that "made" oil. As
long as you didn't work it very hard, the oil level would actually go up. If
you worked it really hard, the level would drop rapidly since you were now
getting the oil hot enough to flash off any unburned hydrocarbons and water
