I got an 2003 G35 Sedan, and I am still under the powertrain warranty until the end of December (I don't drive much).

My engine has always been burning oil for as long as I can remember, and it burns a lot. I mean I gotta top it off every 1000-1500 miles or so or else if I don't watch it by 3-4000 miles it'll always go below the minimum line.

So I took it to my dealership and they noticed it too, and they did an oil change for me (using my oil), and then told me to come back after 1000 miles for an oil consumption test.

So after 1000 miles I come back, and tell them to check my oil consumption and I go to wait in the lobby. 30 min later the service guy comes up and says my oil is at FULL and not one drop has been burned. How is this possible? I didn't change my driving habits, I am using the same oil I've always been. How can the problem magically go away?

I am worried maybe they topped if off while I wasn't looking, or maybe not enough time was given to cool off the car, and also the car was on a slight slope.

Any ideas?

 

Next time check it before you have them check it. Or have the mechanic go outside the bay area and check it with him/her.

 

IMHO, they are trying to delay it until after december. But it's good that you took it in before it's up. If you can prove that you brought the problem to their attention before the warranty was up, they should be liable.

One thing you can do is mark the oil cap and valve cover. So if someone unscrews it to add oil, you can tell if someone did it. Do it in a place that's not easily noticable or use a small mark. ie.. white/yellow paint pen.

Check the oil level now and note where it is on the DS. Then go in another 1,000 and ask them to check it again. But check before you go in and then ask that you be there when they check it.

 

Okay thanks. I still have 2 more tests to go. I really feel ripped though, this is totally not normal, how can it not burn ONE DROP? The dip stick was like, right on the full line, after 1065 miles? At least it should have burned a little...

The guy told me it was my driving habits, I was probably baby-ing it. I was not... I drove the same way I always drive.

 

Possibly the piston rings finally wearing in? The other thing is you have to go through the full test. They have to check it two more times at 1000 mile intervals to really know. From my experience, it burns more oil as you drive.

 

How long did you wait until after the engine was shut off? I can't get an accurate reading off of mine unless I let it sit for quite a while; longer than any car I've owned actually.

 

Great point!! ^^

 

Yes we were on a slight slope and it only sat maybe 30 min...

 

30 is too soon, i usually let it sit 1 hour or more.


I ran my own OC test on my car just to see since i heard some AT guys had the issue. Way i did it was do an oil change, park the car on level ground and leave it alone for half the day. Then i came back and measured where it was below the FULL line in MM with a caliper. Then i hit the trip reset button and started driving.

At the intervals marked in the TSB, i would park the car in a flat spot (work parking lot) and then check it after it's sat fir some time (before going home) and i'd measure and record.

I didn't have the issue. I did consume a little oil (all engines do to some point) but nowhere what other guys were seeing and not enough to really be concerned about.

But i've been running my OC test the entire time i've owned the car, and save my receipts and record my service intervals

 

same problem here. ill try waiting half the day at work, and see what happens