Ok, Im really a cheapskate.... (oil use question)

Post by **abscate** » 28 Mar 2016, 13:58

[flash=]r[/flash]My 1999 uses about one quart of syn every 1500 miles...my BMW X3 about one every 6000 miles.

My fun car, the 2003 VW convertible, doesn't use any oil, but I put so few miles on her in a year that she gets 5 new quarts of SYN once in April, and last year I only drove it 3000 miles.

Yes. You guessed it. Can I use this like new oil to top off the two 'guzzlers' or does that mark me for the Cheapest guy on MVS??

JeffHicks · Post by **JeffHicks** » 28 Mar 2016, 14:10

Does it have a milky look to it? If it does it has moisture in it - the bane of people who barely drive their cars. And if it does, I'd toss it.

Post by **rspi** » 28 Mar 2016, 14:54

That is about normal for a turbo car driven around town. Actually it's a little low. I would just top it off with fresh oil.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 28 Mar 2016, 15:17

rspi wrote:That is about normal for a turbo car driven around town. Actually it's a little low. I would just top it off with fresh oil.

1 quart for 2500 normal? Seems a little high to me. My 2000 XC w/233K will maybe drop half a quart over 5000 miles, even with the brutal Southern summers.

As far as the original questions, topping off your car with "used" year old oil should be fine and I wouldn't worry about it.

Post by **precopster** » 28 Mar 2016, 17:10

Haha I have a brother in arms!!

I would reuse the low mileage stuff however I'd leave the notor iding for about thirty minutes with the oil cap off to ensure that any moisture evaporates out the top of the engine.

If you leave it in without doing the cap trick the moisture will vaporize and just get recirculated by the PCV system.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Mar 2016, 17:26

The oil comes out amber colored, indistinguishable from new. I always give the Beetle a hot run so there is very little moisture in the used oil, and certainly no milkiness.

The usage is a combination of a burning and a bit of seepage on the right side of the engine. I wouldn't worry about introducing water into the other engines as it would be gone the first time drove these in normal use.

I think Im going to go for it for a year.

Post by **benpineapple** » 29 Mar 2016, 11:15

I dump in a half quart every 1000K. Mostly freeway driving. Never see any white smoke, smells a little oily from time-to-time, despite no drips or apparent wet spots on the motor. Glad to know this kind of oil consumption is "normal". Can the oil consumption be eradicated, or is it not worth the time?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you're implying this kind of oil consumption might not necessarily suggest something is wrong with the car?

Post by **850 LPT** » 29 Mar 2016, 11:47

abscate wrote:or does that mark me for the Cheapest guy on MVS??

To answer your question: yes

Honestly Steve, topping off with used oil just doesn't sound like the right thing to do although it is probably ok.
Here is another idea too: Why don't you change the oil in the Beetle every other season to actually make good use of it?

Post by **dosbricks** » 29 Mar 2016, 13:38

Since the '99 is not all that much fun to drive (all that stick waggling during boost), then used oil is probably good enough for it.

Post by **scot850** » 29 Mar 2016, 16:00

Yes you are a cheapskate (and that is coming from a Scotsman!!).

Other things to consider with old oil is possible leak-down of fuel into the oil from a little used car, condensation particularly over colder months.

Synthetic will naturally resist this better than dino.

You do the right thing in using the car regularly and giving it a good long run is better than a series of short runs.

As you do such a small mileage, why not just use dino or semi-synth to reduce cost?

In the end it is your car, so do what you are comfortable with and karma will be your answer!

Neil.