Worrying loss of oil on a 200 mile run

[Shifty]

Hi peeps.

 

I'm a tad worried about the fact that my 2.5 Outback apparently used 1.2 litres of oil during a 200 mile trip.

 

The oil level was spot on before we left but when I checked the oil three days later I had to add 1.2 litres to bring it back to the proper level.

 

There are no signs of an oil leak nor any smoking from the exhausts.

 

Is there a common issue with Scooby engines using oil?

I'm suspecting it may be a problem with the rings?

 

Compression is good on all pots and it runs like a sewing machine.

 

Any ideas gratefully received.

 

Cheers

 

Shifty

[ven]

Hi there,it would be highly unusual for it to use that amount and not either have oil underneath or burning from exhaust or out of.

 

I will throw a guess in here,maybe not dipped correct in a way that dip stick may not have been seated fully.

 

Daft as it sounds,it happened to me on my gear box oil,thought it was a little low,topped up a tad to find a bit over........

 

Dip stick would seat another few mm lower by moving around and a little force down.

 

Only a thought,have you had an oil change recently......?

 

Other than that keep an eye on it,mine was a little low after a subaru service,topped up and find it does use oil,but talking 100-200ml every 1000 miles(yes around 1/2 a mug tops) every 3 months give/take.

[stants]

Any excess on the undertray indicating hole on the filter ?

[Greenmamba]

PCV valve stuck?

[Shifty]

No oil on the undertray or any where else underneath.

Everything is bone dry with no weeps etc.

The dipstick was fully seated when I checked the levels.

Where can I find the PCV valve and how do I test/check it?

I did give the motor some stick at times (5K+ rpm) but surely it should be able to take that?

Oil was changed eight months ago and has been spot on level wise until now.

I did use a fully synth as I got it cheap. I have heard that synth oils can get past the rings easier than dino oil?

Engine has done 103k miles with regular servicing.

Since then I have done another 150 miles at more sedate speeds and the oil level has not moved.

There are no sounds of piston slap at start up or when hot.

Cheers

[Greenmamba]

The pcv valve is in different locations depending on model/year. When you access/remove it (the black tubing needs to come off, then unscrew the valve from the manifold) the valve should rattle when shaken. Clean if necessary using a squirt of WD40 or suitable degreaser and reinsert; or replace.

I'll try and attach a couple of photos, need to check if either resembles your motor.

 

[Shifty]

Cheers the second photo looks like mine.

I'll pull the PCV valve out and give it a clean.

Never even knew they could get blocked or should be checked regularly.

Also been doing some homework on youtube so feeling much more confident about things.

[stants]

The crank case valve only vents the blow by gasses back into the system, there's no way you'd get a liter past it without it throwing a cel. If there was that much venting it means it's blowing by the rings, but if you've got no blue smoke it can't be.

[Nevell]

I can never get a proper reading on my scoob , lol if I face it uphill it reads more oil lol

[Gambit]

If you hadn't checked the oil for 8 months and have driven the car almost daily before to 200 miles it is a good chance it's just used that amount over that period of time. I find I have to give mine a top up before I come round to oil and filter change again as they do use a lot of oil. But I drive mine daily sometimes giving it some.