Diesel engine question

[..]

SS Grit Chips RV

Serviced at 60,000 miles.

Mileage now 67,000 miles

Had to add 4 quarts of oil to get level to about half way along the marked area on the dip stick. Takes 7 gallons of oil at service.

Usual consumption for a diesel? Does 50-50 highway and around town.

[old2soon]

Was it FULL after it was serviced? What engine and how many miles are on it? Sounds a tad high-1 gal in 7000 miles but then again I might be wrong. I had a mechanic where I used to work couldn't tell the difference in crankcase capacity between a Detroit and a Cummins. RIDE SAFE.

[Daniel Meyer]

Way high for any modern diesel engine. Should be closer to...well...ZERO.

The question about whether it was actually full when finished last service is an important one.

[Pete]

1000 miles to the quart is not considered excessive, base on my experience and discussions with other diesel owners.

Not wanted but not that unusual, either.

[hubcapsc]

I was shocked at how much oil my Mini seemed to have
used last time I checked... turned out to be a bad gasket
on the oil pan... lots better than a motor that burns
excessive oil... hopefully your problem is something like that...

-Mike

[fordmano]

My 7.3l turbo goes through WAY more oil than that.. probably 1 quart every 300-400 miles... Oh wait I have a leak on the top side that I haven't fixed yet. oil is cheaper than dealer services.

I would think your loss or consumption is a fairly high ratio, I would just make sure to be 100% sure it is full now and check it every other day or so and see whats happening. Then you'll have a better idea than just guessing like we are doing.
I have to check my oil level every night before I head home from work just to be safe.

[dwreefs]

Modern diesel engines should use zero oil. You might want to get an oil change as some of the cheaper oils at zippy lube places will burn off the additive package (cheap)then you are left with the oil part . Make sure you get a good quality oil ,shell rotella 15-40 is one of the best conventional oils out there might try that.

[hairyteeth]

My suggestion would be to fill it to the top of the stick full mark. Check it every morning before starting and add what it takes to reach the top of the stick. You said adding 4 quarts raised it to the center of the stick, so figure another one or two to the top of the stick. That's alot of oil in 7000 miles, unless it sits and idles alot not being driven(assuming it was full to start with). Being a modern motorhome chassie it's probably an electronic diesel, typical oil consumption should be 1-2 quarts in 15-20k oil change.
HT

[..]

Thanks guys I'll fill it up and monitor oil consumption.

[bogator]

 I have and still are driving a lot of trucks with diesel engines, some of them ---you had to run a qt low or it would blow it out ---run a qt low and it would stay there. and some a gallon low---try some of these and see ---but put it to the full mark first, and then see what happens? OTS has done a lot of driving also,--------------GOD BLESS------------

[fudgie]

If I run dino oil in my Z-71 it uses no oil. Synth or blend, the add oil light comes on. Not sure why. Never getting synth again tho. Happened twice.

I use to add a qrt of oil every shift- 6-9 days- to our power stroke ambulance. The Chevys use no oil.

[Bronson]

Hi: I have run both ford and cummins diesels for years and never had oil consumption in either one. A lot of oil stays up in the engine, and takes time to leak back to the oil pan, so let it sit several hours before you decide where the oil level really is, and then add oil to the bottom of the hash marks on the dipstick. It''s easy to overfill, and can be hard on the main seals if the pressure is excessive.
If you are burning or leaking motor oil, that is not normal for a diesel engine, and will merit further looking into.
Since you don't know what the level was when you left the service provider, you are at the start of the process. Hope it's nothing major, keep posting if you need more info, or just to let us know what happened.
Bronson

[R J]

At the dealership I used to work for, they had a drop down hose dispenser.

Parts dept would set it to oil required and the Tech would put the hose in the fill pipe and pull the trigger.

They found out the one dispenser in the Parts Dept was defective,    They found it after they had to put in a couple of engines.    After that was fixed the Tech's were told to start the engine and get the oil pressure up or the red light out.  Shut it off and while they were cleaning up the oil could drain back into the pan.

I don't remember when it started but every morning before I left the house I checked the oil in my car and or the Cruiser.    Still do that to this day.

[wdvalk]

My 7.3turbo powerstroke uses no oil at 294,000 miles, always on synthetic

[NCGhostrider]

What engine is in it?   Most of the comments I have seen here are concerning small diesel engines, not necessarily large truck engines, like the ones that hold 7 gallons or more at oil change.

One gallon of oil consumption at 7k miles on a large engine is not excessive.   Load conditions depend on actual rpms, and weight being pulled.   This of course can effect oil consumption.

That being said, if the engine has changed its consumption pattern recently, I would check for new leaks, blocked off crankcase ventilation etc. 

I have seen 625hp  Cat engines that little or no oil at many 100k miles between oil changes, others that have been treated similarly with no miles in comparison need a drink (gallon) on occasion.

.02

Craig
NCGhostrider
99 I/S