Oil Consumption, how to really figure it out?

[ZfrkS62]

Originally Posted by RC45 GM produced a couple million V8 engines from 1997 through 2002 or so that were all fitted with poorly performing oil rings. Many of these engines would suffer ring flutter anytime they operated above about 4,000rpm - and with sustained higher rpm low load conditions can and do use oil at a rtae of 1 quart per 500 miles driven. The fix was to replace the oil rings with appropriate new ones. The catch is GM put most people off till their cars were out of warranty. SOme really bad side effects for bigger (7l and up) V8's was trerrible cold start piston slap. This would result in guaged bores and when forced to, GM would replace these motors under warranty. I had my 2001 (a June 2000 manufacture) LS6 replaced under warranty at 35,000 miles. Thats how long I had to battle GM to get them to pony up to their screw up.

I hadn't heard that one yet.

I know Mercedes was having a BITCH of a time with their V6 in the MLs losing their rings by 60K. In one case, the block itself was cast way too thin and the oil actually seeped through it. You could see light when shined from the other side of the block :shock:

BMW had a horrible problem with their M60 NikaSil blocks in the E34 530. The few engines that have lasted are dropping slowly but surely. Last i heard, BMW was buying the long block and the customers just had to pay the labor.

Every company has a rash of problems like that though at some time or another. Just the downfall of using humans to engineer things :bah: Keeps my job secure though