Tegger wrote:
> As regulars here will know, I keep very close tabs on my oil consumption,
> trying to make the observation as close to a science as possible.
>
> My latest test period (ended today) reveals consumption of 2,150 miles per
> US quart.
>
> Thus far in my record keeping:
> 1,500 mi/qt at 295,417 miles;
> 1,800 mi/qt at 296,494 miles;
> 2,500 mi/qt from 296,919 to 297,919;
> 2,150 mi/qt from 298,032 to 299,184.
>
> It's been roughly 1,500-2,000 mi/qt for a few years now, but lately I've
> decided to keep much more exacting records in an attempt at determining
> consumption more precisely, and for spotting any trends or correlations. I
> decided to do this after experiencing a few apparent episodes of alarmingly
> high oil usage the summer before last.
>
> I have discovered there is a direct relationship between how hard I drive
> and the oil consumption. The higher the revs, the greater the throttle
> openings used, the higher the oil consumption. This is, it has been
> explained to me, a sign of a well-worn engine.
>
> As a contrast, our Toyota Tercel has 90,000 miles on it. Normally it uses
> no discernible oil between 2,500 mile oil changes. Last summer we passed
> through the hills of Pennsylvania, all the way across PA to VA and DC. That
> little engine therefore spent much of its time at full-throttle and high
> revs, attempting not to lose speed on very long upward grades on the
> Interstates. During that entire trip, the car used something around 1/8 or
> 1/4 of a quart in something like 1,000 miles. It would appear that even
> new-ish engines with good rings are still prone to higher oil usage under
> extended heavy load.
>
>

entirely to be expected. increasing load raises operating temperatures
and thus burn-off. use of a quality oil with a lower light fraction
will reduce burn-off rate as well.