I own a 2012 TL SH AWD with 45K miles. My normal driving pattern is a 10-15 mile commute to my offices 5 days per week with many shorter drives on the weekend. The car has consistently used one quart of oil per 4K miles. The oil usage is linear from the time I change the oil. One quarter of a quart per thousand miles no matter how far along in the oil change I have traveled. It does not change in the heat of summer or the frigid temps in a New England winter. I have used various 5W-20 synthetic oils and have found no difference in consumption. This is not a complaint session for me. Just means an additional quart between oil changes.
I have noticed that if I use the car for an extended drive, the oil consumption drops to zero, zip, nada. Last year I drove to Myrtle Beach SC which is about a 900 mile drive. Outside temp ranged from 95-100. Speeds of 75-80 mph with only bathroom and refueling breaks. I checked the oil prior to leaving and it was exactly on the full mark after sitting overnight. Did some local driving down there to restaurants but not much. Returned home under the same conditions. When rechecked at home after sitting overnight, the oil level was exactly on the full mark. 1800 miles with not a drop of oil usage.
This year I did a drive to Cleveland for a family event. Ambient temp was 80. Speeds were 65-70. 1200 miles round trip and had the same result. Not a single drop of oil use!
Not sure conclusions can be drawn from this limited sample, but perhaps the oil usage occurs when the engine is cold and warming up. If so what might be causing it?
I have noticed that if I use the car for an extended drive, the oil consumption drops to zero, zip, nada. Last year I drove to Myrtle Beach SC which is about a 900 mile drive. Outside temp ranged from 95-100. Speeds of 75-80 mph with only bathroom and refueling breaks. I checked the oil prior to leaving and it was exactly on the full mark after sitting overnight. Did some local driving down there to restaurants but not much. Returned home under the same conditions. When rechecked at home after sitting overnight, the oil level was exactly on the full mark. 1800 miles with not a drop of oil usage.
This year I did a drive to Cleveland for a family event. Ambient temp was 80. Speeds were 65-70. 1200 miles round trip and had the same result. Not a single drop of oil use!
Not sure conclusions can be drawn from this limited sample, but perhaps the oil usage occurs when the engine is cold and warming up. If so what might be causing it?
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