Oil sucking 3.8
09-17-2016, 08:46 PM
#573
JK Newbie
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Location: Piermont, NH
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So, I am the second owner of an '08, 123K miles and I go through about a quart every 2000 miles, does the oversize filter really make a difference or should I just change my filter on a regular basis since I'm updating my oil fairly regularly... No warranty for second owners??
09-17-2016, 09:25 PM
#574
JK Jedi Master
So, I am the second owner of an '08, 123K miles and I go through about a quart every 2000 miles, does the oversize filter really make a difference or should I just change my filter on a regular basis since I'm updating my oil fairly regularly... No warranty for second owners??
Keep an eye on the oil level, adding a quart when down a quart
Use a good brand of conventional oil, changing it and the regular filter at 4,000 miles.
Experiment with heavier oils. 5W-30, or even 10W-40. See if it slows down oil consumption
When convenient, start looking into why it's using oil, especially if it gets worse.
The lifetime warranty that came with your JK is not transferable to second owners.
09-18-2016, 04:25 AM
#576
JK Freak
09-18-2016, 06:21 PM
#577
JK Super Freak
This is what I would do;
Keep an eye on the oil level, adding a quart when down a quart
Use a good brand of conventional oil, changing it and the regular filter at 4,000 miles.
Experiment with heavier oils. 5W-30, or even 10W-40. See if it slows down oil consumption
When convenient, start looking into why it's using oil, especially if it gets worse.
The lifetime warranty that came with your JK is not transferable to second owners.
Keep an eye on the oil level, adding a quart when down a quart
Use a good brand of conventional oil, changing it and the regular filter at 4,000 miles.
Experiment with heavier oils. 5W-30, or even 10W-40. See if it slows down oil consumption
When convenient, start looking into why it's using oil, especially if it gets worse.
The lifetime warranty that came with your JK is not transferable to second owners.
09-18-2016, 07:05 PM
#578
JK Jedi Master
This is Chrysler's published guideline for the 3.8L engine:
NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION:
Below are industry standards for normal engine oil consumption:
Mileage below 50,000: Normal oil consumption is one quart for each 1,000 miles driven. Mileage above 50,000: Normal oil consumption is one quart for each 750 miles driven.
The proximity of the soot covered piston top to the pcv valve is not a factor.
09-19-2016, 06:19 AM
#579
Interesting thread. My '09 was purchased new and now has 58,500 miles. I've always changed the oil at 3k intervals. Around 15k I began to notice a bit of consumption, maybe 1/2 qt at 3k. At 18k I switched from the recommended 5w-20 oil to 5w-30. No real improvement in consumption was noted. Some time later I tried swapping out the PCV, again no improvement noted. When it was revealed the Mopar remanufactured long blocks come with a 10w-30 recommendation I switched to the heavier oil, and while that ended the startup clatter for good and greatly reduced the 3.8's annoying high end racket at high RPMs, there wasn't much if any improvement in consumption.
So, after all that I'm resigned to the routine consumption of 1/2 qt at every oil change. With the engine nearing 60k miles I'm resigned that it will eventually join the rank of the oil guzzlers. But, right now most people with 3.8 Exxon Valdez's would be happy were theirs so tight as mine. Which finally brings me to the question: Where is the oil going? Past the rings, past the valve guide seal and down the intake valves, past the intake manifold gaskets? What? Has anyone done a proper cylinder leak down test on a chronic oil drinker? Your thoughts, please!
So, after all that I'm resigned to the routine consumption of 1/2 qt at every oil change. With the engine nearing 60k miles I'm resigned that it will eventually join the rank of the oil guzzlers. But, right now most people with 3.8 Exxon Valdez's would be happy were theirs so tight as mine. Which finally brings me to the question: Where is the oil going? Past the rings, past the valve guide seal and down the intake valves, past the intake manifold gaskets? What? Has anyone done a proper cylinder leak down test on a chronic oil drinker? Your thoughts, please!
09-22-2016, 03:05 AM
#580
JK Super Freak
Interesting thread. My '09 was purchased new and now has 58,500 miles. I've always changed the oil at 3k intervals. Around 15k I began to notice a bit of consumption, maybe 1/2 qt at 3k. At 18k I switched from the recommended 5w-20 oil to 5w-30. No real improvement in consumption was noted. Some time later I tried swapping out the PCV, again no improvement noted. When it was revealed the Mopar remanufactured long blocks come with a 10w-30 recommendation I switched to the heavier oil, and while that ended the startup clatter for good and greatly reduced the 3.8's annoying high end racket at high RPMs, there wasn't much if any improvement in consumption.
So, after all that I'm resigned to the routine consumption of 1/2 qt at every oil change. With the engine nearing 60k miles I'm resigned that it will eventually join the rank of the oil guzzlers. But, right now most people with 3.8 Exxon Valdez's would be happy were theirs so tight as mine. Which finally brings me to the question: Where is the oil going? Past the rings, past the valve guide seal and down the intake valves, past the intake manifold gaskets? What? Has anyone done a proper cylinder leak down test on a chronic oil drinker? Your thoughts, please!
So, after all that I'm resigned to the routine consumption of 1/2 qt at every oil change. With the engine nearing 60k miles I'm resigned that it will eventually join the rank of the oil guzzlers. But, right now most people with 3.8 Exxon Valdez's would be happy were theirs so tight as mine. Which finally brings me to the question: Where is the oil going? Past the rings, past the valve guide seal and down the intake valves, past the intake manifold gaskets? What? Has anyone done a proper cylinder leak down test on a chronic oil drinker? Your thoughts, please!