Where does the oil disappear to?

wazza

This applies to the 2002 vauxhall astra 1.6 8v version not the 16v. Whenever i check my sister's car after a few months the oil level is below minimum. There is no oil stain on the ground or around the engine bay. When starting, running or setting off there is no blue smoke. The oil level warning light comes on as you start the car then goes off quickly. This has been happening for a year now. Naturally i top it up but it takes ages to register on the dipstick. The car has done 60k. The next step is to drive behind her and see if i can detect any blue smoke.

anewman

All engines consume a certain amount of oil, even brand new cars whether they're a Hyundai, a Ford, an Audi or a Lamborghini. They all consume different amounts and some like oil more than others. While it's desirable for a car not to use much, this is quite normal and usually not indicative of any problems.

If the car has suddenly started using more oil than normal it will either be due to the type of oil put in, lack of servicing, seals in the engine are going, or the piston liners or whatever you call em wearing. Highly unlikely on a well maintained 60k 7 year old engine.

You really should be checking the oil more often than every few months anyway! Consuming as much as to go below minimum after a few months isn't drastically problematic - but letting the oil go below minimum *is*. Check regularly, top up as needed, have the car serviced as required. It should be ok unless you get blue smoke, it fails an MOT emissions test, or the clutch slips due to oil contamination! Don't worry about it

Teach your sister how to check and top up the oil. It's part of the driving test after all these days

steveo3002

cars with cats stop most of the light smoke so you wont see it...if it was a older car it may well smoke a fair bit

matty538

Id check the sump gasket, the oil would only leak at higher temps or under pressure and the chances are it would blow back onto the exhaust and burn off leaving no really visable signs.
This happened on my 2000 astra sport 16v, there was no oil stains or smoke but i was using a litre a week!!

sarah_elton

I have a 52 plate 1.6 8v Astra which I've owned just over a year. In that time, I've only had to top the oil up once.

I did also have the oil changed during a service, but it wasn't low before that. Your sister's car does seem to be going through a lot of the stuff... My car's done almost 100k!

Sirbendy

I have a 2000 plate 8v auto Astra that's used about..3/4 on the dipstick level over 3 months.

Not too alarmed by that. Admittedly, my old 97 plate used nothing, but I haven't serviced this one yet.

Premier_2

There's only 3 places oil can go:

1. It leaks externally.
2. It leaks internally (e.g. into the cooling system)
3. It is emitted through the exhaust (usually burnt, so as smoke)

Whilst every engine consumes some oil, some engines more than others (even apprently identical ones) it shouldn't use more than from max to min on the dipstick (which is perhaps about 1 litre depending on the engine) during a manufacturers service interval (perhaps 10,000 miles). If it is using more, then something is amiss.

roswell

probably dropping onto the plastic cover under the engine ;-)

goldspanners

so how much oil do you need to put in it every few months? 3 or 4 litres?
i would say thats a bit too much oil to be burning off, engines do and will burn some off but thats a lot. is there any sign of the oil mixing with the coolant, or the coolant mixing with the oil? check for white gunk under oil filler cap and check coolant for oily smell or colour.

cyclonebri1

You are worrying over nothing. Seriously forget about it, apart from more regular topping up. If you can see no signs of leaks, drips etc then be assured it isn't leaking, you would see it. It WILL be using the oil.

All engines/manufacturers are different. You will see a "disclaimer" in every owners handbook stating that it is normal to use say up to 1ltr of oil per 1k miles, seems excessive to me but as said, disclaimer. It's normal tolerance variation within the engine. I've had cars with 120k on the clock that did not use any oil between changes. I've also had cars with 20k that needed a ltr every month

Unless the performance deteriates, and I can assure you that the engine would need to be well shot at before that happens, leave it be.;)

tomstickland

It either drips out of the engine or it gets burnt. It won't necessarily create visible blue smoke when it burns.