So I've been reading some threads and trying to figure out wtf is up w my G. I saw some people put how they are running out of oil and I'm running into the same problem and was jw if it had something to do with me sucking at driving or something else?

I recently 'changed' my oil - there wasnt any in there so the car was making a clicking noise as well as having the check engine light on. the red oil light would flash every now and then but never stayed on. I took it to get serviced, supposed to be every 7500 miled but I took it in at 6000 when they discovered that there was no oil and, per policy, refused to touch the car. understandable.

so I go to do it myself, it doesn't look like there is a leak anywhere. changer oil filter and everything. that was 10/20/13. So I go to check my oil today and its below 'low' part oil dipstick. so my question is what yall think it might be.

just some backround information, I recently made a big move. I cam from a small town in florida, where going 60mph is pretty much unacceptable anywhere in the town. Now I live in Los Angeles where, when not bumper to bumper on the 405, going 80+ is my norm. Also, on the weekends, I make a 200+ mile roundtrip down to San Diego.


It is a manual transmission and I normally shift at 3000RPMs, but do what i gotta do to get up to speed quickly on the freeway. So I guess my question is, am I just hella burning oil or what?

 

also, there's only 2000 miles since the oil change in oct.

 

assuming ur putting the right amount then ur jus hella

 

+1 for burning oil, most of the 6 speed drivers we talk to downshift when slowing down vs. just using the brakes. We have been told by some engineers that this is when the engine is sucking a bit of oil. As bad as yours sounds I would definitely change your oil every 3750 miles vs.7500. At this point it is a good idea to keep a check on the oil level every 1000 miles

 

OHHH I do downshift to slow down this is what's burning my oil? Which is the lesser of two evils? downshifting to save breaks or simply use the brakes?

 

I have been reading a lot on oil consumption. The unfortunate FOR SURE fix is to replace one of the pieces in the block of the engine, the long block.

Check your spark plugs, there is a DIY guide here. If there is oil in your spark plug chamber, you have a problem. You could also have leaky valve covers. This could be fixed with the newly found maxima cheap valve covers!

If you are persistant about filling your engine back up with oil you will be fine. Please stop downshifting to slow down. You are using unnecessary gas, wearing down the transmission, putting wear on the engine, AND brakes are 80$ to replace.

A rather new fix I have seen is installing an oil catch can. The oil catch can can help limit the amount of oil consumption! There are many things to check

 

you should not be using your transmission to slow the car down. You should be rev matching your downshifts anyway. Use your brakes....that's why they are there.

 

OK great...I'm going to do my absolute best to use the DIY guides to check the spark plugs myself. I hate to pull this card but I'm a girl and don't know too terribly much about the amazing machine that is my G...Also, everything I know about driving cars, esp manual transmissions, I learned from 18 & 19 year old guys my freshman year in college so any and all advice (and/or constructive criticism) is more than welcomed.

 

Ask your dad to teach you to drive smoothly and correctly.

 

Driving really has very little to do with oil consumption. There are four main reasons for oil consumption; Leaks (easy to see), rings (not as easy to see, but can find with a compression test), valve guides (not as easy), or the PCV system. In the old days, you could tell if it was rings by letting your foot off the gas, and it you had a cloud of blue smoke behind you, it was rings. Valve guides show up at cold start up, You get a cloud of blue smoke. PCV, you have to look inside the intake plenum.

 

My dad doesn't drive manuals

 

It will also occur under a heavy vacuum when letting off the gas, oil is sucked past the valve seals and guides, this is why bad valve seals noticeable on start up because of vacuum and cylinder temperatures not hot enough to burn off oil.

 

The only problem with today's cars is the Cat Converters, It covers up smoke that would normally be seen. You won't blow smoke until the Cats are swamped with oil and by then it's too late.

 

that's one of the perks of driving a manual..to use the brakes less and control the car better especially during daily driving. I barely have to use my brakes that's how cool driving a manual is. 10 years and 63k miles later only last week I had to change my front brakes

 

+1 for rev matching.
It becomes 2nd nature once you get the hang of it.
I do it without thinking now.