Burning Oil???

I have had several problems with my 2000 Alero GlS 3.4L. Roters... 2times Wheel Bearing 2 times. Interior Leather problems on dash. The emergency light is now behind the dash because it went in all the way when I pushed it once gently. Now...

My car is burning oil apparently, it is using at least a quart of oil in between oil changes every 3,000 miles. Possibly more. I have had the PCV? valve changed. I have had the oil filters, oil changed. I have had 2 mechanics look at both my engine and under my car up on a rack... no signs of any leaks?

Has anyone else had this problem? Can any one tell me what might be wrong and where all the oil could be going. I am not having trouble at all with the running, starting, stalling, or any smoke in the exhaust? I really want to fix this if it is reasonable. I need to at least make it one more year with this car before I get rid of it.

Thanks. :blink:

1Qt of oil every 3K miles is not bad and I would say even typical.

How many miles are on your engine?
What brand and type of oil do you use?

Regular motor oil is a mix of things with some of them evaporating off. Synthetic motor oil like Mobile 1 or Amsoil doesn't have as many oil parts that will evaporate off, so it's way more consistent. I would maybe try 10w-20W straight synthetic (or even regular) Mobile 1. 20W may be the way because the 3.4 is a looser engine and may just tend to burn a 10W straight.

Some engines like a certain oil height. For example, the Intrigue 3.5L (LX5): some people swear that by going 1/2-1 pint low they will use very little oil, but if they fill it full they are always using 1Q or more every 3k miles. Racers don't want the bottom of the crank hitting the oil they will typically go minus a few quarts, but they know their proper oil height because they always are tearing apart their engines.

For the 3.4L engine 1Q of oil every 3K miles is ok/good/average. It's more important that you are changing your oil regularly (3K-5k miles). The 3.4 is an older style engine that can take quite a beating. It's looser,noiser, than my LX5, but will cost way less to fix and most likely outlast a more complicated design.

I was using 5w 30 then 10 w 30... I just bought 5w 30 and plan to get my oil changed again and switch back. I think I am going to take it in again and have it looked at. It only has 75K miles on it. And it did not start burning it like this until this spring. It wasn't driven regularly this past winter because I was in a wheelchair so I am wondering if that would have effected seals... But there are no signs of any leaks so I really don't know where to start.

Originally posted by badsey@Aug 28 2005, 09:14 PM
1Qt of oil every 3K miles is not bad and I would say even typical.

How many miles are on your engine?
What brand and type of oil do you use?

Regular motor oil is a mix of things with some of them evaporating off. Synthetic motor oil like Mobile 1 or Amsoil doesn't have as many oil parts that will evaporate off, so it's way more consistent. I would maybe try 10w-20W straight synthetic (or even regular) Mobile 1. 20W may be the way because the 3.4 is a looser engine and may just tend to burn a 10W straight.

Some engines like a certain oil height. For example, the Intrigue 3.5L (LX5): some people swear that by going 1/2-1 pint low they will use very little oil, but if they fill it full they are always using 1Q or more every 3k miles. Racers don't want the bottom of the crank hitting the oil they will typically go minus a few quarts, but they know their proper oil height because they always are tearing apart their engines.

For the 3.4L engine 1Q of oil every 3K miles is ok/good/average. It's more important that you are changing your oil regularly (3K-5k miles). The 3.4 is an older style engine that can take quite a beating. It's looser,noiser, than my LX5, but will cost way less to fix and most likely outlast a more complicated design.

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