Consumer Reports finds some newer cars burn too much oil
#46
Lexus Champion
I believe CR's info came from their Owner Surveys, so I'm not sure what the false claims are. In any event, it's definitely a good idea form drivers to check their oil regularly, but I'd be interested to know the % that never, or rarely do it.
#47
Lexus Fanatic
The proper thing to do would of been for CR to report what is recommended by the manufacturer.
I have always said that CR is one of the worst magazines out there, I have just shown how CR is trying to grab headlines for this. They are trying to start a needless panic and they are in the wrong.
#48
Lexus Champion
It is false claims by CR, on their website it states as a headline "Automakers say adding oil between schedule maintent is acceptable. It's not" ….....that is a false claim as I already showed that my 2014 Corolla may need an oil refill between scheduled maintenance. Am I supposed to trust big bad CR when Toyota says otherwise ???
The proper thing to do would of been for CR to report what is recommended by the manufacturer.
I have always said that CR is one of the worst magazines out there, I have just shown how CR is trying to grab headlines for this. They are trying to start a needless panic and they are in the wrong.
The proper thing to do would of been for CR to report what is recommended by the manufacturer.
I have always said that CR is one of the worst magazines out there, I have just shown how CR is trying to grab headlines for this. They are trying to start a needless panic and they are in the wrong.
"It's normal for cars to burn a little oil as they age toward 100,000 miles, the magazine said in its August issue. But for a late-model car to burn a quart or more between changes is not acceptable", Rechtin said.
#49
Lexus Fanatic
CR has very cleverly written the article to grab headlines.
A better alternative would be to state what the manuals state.
#50
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
CR has very cleverly written the article to grab headlines.
It is false claims by CR, on their website it states as a headline "Automakers say adding oil between schedule maintent is acceptable. It's not" ….....that is a false claim as I already showed that my 2014 Corolla may need an oil refill between scheduled maintenance. Am I supposed to trust big bad CR when Toyota says otherwise ???
The proper thing to do would of been for CR to report what is recommended by the manufacturer.
The proper thing to do would of been for CR to report what is recommended by the manufacturer.
But computer oil-monitors, which are becoming more widespread now (my Verano has one), don't operate by a regular schedule....they take data from a number of engine-operation factors and either project the remaining life of the oil the crankcase or flash a service-light when it's time for a change. They may (?) delay the change for a substantially longer mileage interval, so, naturally, the engine is more likely to use a quart or two between those kind of changes. That's not the type of situation CR was referring to in the article.
The real problem, like it or not, is that today's oils have become so good that they actually keep up good lubrication in the engine longer, under oil-monitoring conditions, than it takes for slight tolerances in ring/valve/bearing seals to allow their consumption. That is even more the case with semi and full-synthetics, though the detergent packages can also deteriorate over time.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-03-15 at 03:12 PM.
#51
Instructor
I drag race and track my 2006 ZX10R motorcycle and when I change my oil i measure before and after oil change and i can confirm that my bike burns little to no oil whatsoever. If my motorcycle with a 12,000 rpm redline burns very little oil in harsh conditions, i think Audi, BMW, and Subaru need to redesign their engines. Heck my 2014 Lexus Gs350 hardly burns any oil at all and it has over 30,000 miles on it.
#52
Lexus Champion
I think CR needs to put out a media advisory or article that CR might be full of it
2014 Corolla manual states:
A certain amount of enigne oil will be consumed while driving AND ENGINE OIL MAY NEED TO BE REFILLED between maintenance intervals.
High speeds consume more oil
Long idling
when engine is new
2014 Corolla manual states:
A certain amount of enigne oil will be consumed while driving AND ENGINE OIL MAY NEED TO BE REFILLED between maintenance intervals.
High speeds consume more oil
Long idling
when engine is new
#53
Lexus Fanatic
I drag race and track my 2006 ZX10R motorcycle and when I change my oil i measure before and after oil change and i can confirm that my bike burns little to no oil whatsoever. If my motorcycle with a 12,000 rpm redline burns very little oil in harsh conditions, i think Audi, BMW, and Subaru need to redesign their engines. Heck my 2014 Lexus Gs350 hardly burns any oil at all and it has over 30,000 miles on it.
#54
Lexus Fanatic
#55
Lexus Fanatic
My first two cars, decades ago, burned a quart of oil every couple of hundred miles, but that was because they were 1960s-vintage products with well-worn piston rings/valves that had many thousands of miles on them.....and, back then, except for the Chrysler Slant Six, you were lucky if you got 100K miles before an engine replacement or overhaul. But, Owners' Manual or not, for a late-model vehicle to use oil like that, especially at low mileage, would clearly be unacceptable.
#56
Lexus Champion
Yeah, most manuals rightfully don't say what is acceptable or normal, just that it could happen. If you consume 1 qt. every 300-500 miles is that OK? 1 qt. every 1,000 or so miles, OK?
#58
Lexus Fanatic
#59
Lexus Champion
#60
Lexus Fanatic
The whole issue of burning oil is largely irrelevant as nobody on here noticed that the manual states that engines can burn oil until I decided to read the owners manual.
CR on the other hand is full of it.