2000 Intrigue - 113k - Burns Oil - Synthetic?

[b19980610]

I have 2000 Olds Intrigue with 113,000 miles. It burns about a quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so. It has done this ever since I have had it (bought it with 38,000.) I live in Chicago and currently using Castrol GTX 5W30.

Would it make sense to switch to "high mileage" oil, or to synthetic oil?
Would it burn less, and is there any downside to switching?

Thanks for your time.

[LittleHoov]

basically every 3.5 engine ive ever heard about, including my own, burns a little oil, a quart every 3000 miles would be far more acceptable though, so you might benefit from something a little thicker.

Synthetic oil is usually even thinner than conventional oil if im not mistaken, so that may not help your problem at all. All in all I wouldnt let the fact it burns oil bother you, most every Northstar V8 ever created burns oil, and so do the engines derived from them, such as the 3.5. They burn some oil simply as part of normal operation, just keep an eye on it and accept it I say.

[kmohr3]

I wonder if some of these 3.5 's might have a valve guide seal problem? Once I saw my 2002 blow a little puff of oil smoke when starting it. However I have about 60,000 miles on it and it doesn't lose any oil between oil changes. I always change the oil at 3,000 miles and use Valvoline 5w30.

[GTP Dad]

High mileage oil may be a benefit especially if it is a valve seal issue. You may also want to try a can of Restore. I use it and it works great. It is designed to fill in scratches in the cylinder walls and if you have a ring seal issue this will help.

[panzer dragoon]

Synthetic oil is usually even thinner than conventional oil if im not mistaken, so that may not help your problem at all.

A synthetic oil like Mobile 1 is very consistant, a conventional oil is really a mix of oils. Conventional oils may have more burn off due to more volatile particles being burned off or evaporating. Oil loss is not always a bad thing either = it should be happening somewhat. These other oils maybe sucking in condensation/gasses etc keeping their oil level constant = you can tell by the way the oil looks, feels and smells when an oil is bad.

With a really loose engine (piston slap etc) you may want to goto a heavier oil. I had a Dodge 360 engine than ran 30W or 20W-50. With a newer high-tech engine like the LX5 (3.5L Intrigue + Aurora) you can't raally use a heavier oil because it's designed for a very thin oil 5W-30. I would maybe go straight 10W Mobile 1 synthetic (or maybe/maybe even 15W Synthetic as a max). Originally these LX5 engines were labeled for 10W-30 oil -I think, then they changed it to 5W-30.

If your used oil looks almost brand new = you are doing good even thought you are losing some.

Search this forum: Some people swear that their LX5 doesn't burn oil when they set the oil height 1/2-1Quart low on the dipstick. I have not tried this since my cars burns about 1quart every 3k-4k miles = good indicator that I need an oil change when the engine oil light starts to flash.

[Rolm]

Move upto a 10-30 oil if i is still burning move upto 15-40, That should slow the oil burning, Always stick to a name brand oil. Oh yaw stay away from synthetic oils. later

[Jimmy Olsen]

Originally Posted by b19980610

I have 2000 Olds Intrigue with 113,000 miles. It burns about a quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so. It has done this ever since I have had it (bought it with 38,000.) I live in Chicago and currently using Castrol GTX 5W30.

Would it make sense to switch to "high mileage" oil, or to synthetic oil?
Would it burn less, and is there any downside to switching?

Thanks for your time.

I would not do a darn thing. I use 10-30W Castrol. All of the MS oils today have a good percentage of synthetic oil in them to start with. I see nothing wrong with the 3.5L northstar burning some oil, probably helps lub the upper cylinder area.

Recently took a 5k road trip with my '99 Intrigue. The engine needed a quart after 1200 miles. It also used a quart for the remaining 3800 miles. This tells me that the oil as it is used "thickens" and isn't used as quickly.

[panzer dragoon]

Originally Posted by b19980610

I have 2000 Olds Intrigue with 113,000 miles. It burns about a quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so. It has done this ever since I have had it (bought it with 38,000.) I live in Chicago and currently using Castrol GTX 5W30.
Would it make sense to switch to "high mileage" oil, or to synthetic oil?
Would it burn less, and is there any downside to switching?
Thanks for your time.

Since you live in Chicago and it is getting colder, give Mobile 1 synthetic a try. Your car should warm up a little faster. You will probably have less oil burn off also.

If you live in Canada or anyplace cold, -definately give Mobile 1/Amsoil synthetic a try. Works great in clean older engines (use an engine oil/sludge cleaner in the old oil first before the swap to synthetic) that have a difficulty turning over in the cold. The Intrigue is really a great starting car and heats up fast = so you really don't see the difference. In an older style V8 you can really see the difference in the winter.

[notimprezed]

I switched to mobil 1 5w-30 at about 126,000. My 3.5 used to burn about 1.5-2 quarts every 3000 miles or so. After a week on mobil 1 (about 250 miles including one 140 mile freeway trip) the low oil light came on and I was over a quart low. I topped it off and about 2 weeks (300 miles) later checked the oil when getting gas and was about 1/2 quart low. A week later it was 1/2 quart low again but I didnt top it off because the gas station wanted $8 for mobile 1. Forgot about it until my next fill up 2 weeks later (I check every fillup since it tends to burn) and it was still 1/2 quart low, same spot on dipstick as 2 weeks previous. I still didnt top it off because it didnt seem to have burned down anymore then before. That was over 2 months ago and it still sits at 1/2 quart low. Since burning off 2 quarts of mobile 1 within 500 miles of the change it hasent burned off any. At 1st I thought it was a mistake to change to synthetic when it burned off rapidly but now it doesnt seem to be burning oil at all anymore. I figure initial burn off was because I switched at high mileage.

[Jimmy Olsen]

Originally Posted by notimprezed

I switched to mobil 1 5w-30 at about 126,000. My 3.5 used to burn about 1.5-2 quarts every 3000 miles or so. After a week on mobil 1 (about 250 miles including one 140 mile freeway trip) the low oil light came on and I was over a quart low. I topped it off and about 2 weeks (300 miles) later checked the oil when getting gas and was about 1/2 quart low. A week later it was 1/2 quart low again but I didnt top it off because the gas station wanted $8 for mobile 1. Forgot about it until my next fill up 2 weeks later (I check every fillup since it tends to burn) and it was still 1/2 quart low, same spot on dipstick as 2 weeks previous. I still didnt top it off because it didnt seem to have burned down anymore then before. That was over 2 months ago and it still sits at 1/2 quart low. Since burning off 2 quarts of mobile 1 within 500 miles of the change it hasent burned off any. At 1st I thought it was a mistake to change to synthetic when it burned off rapidly but now it doesnt seem to be burning oil at all anymore. I figure initial burn off was because I switched at high mileage.

It will be interesting to see if you have the burn-off of 1.5 qt's every time you change your oil.

[canatto]

High-mile oils? I don't feel I like them.

Mine is a 2000GLS, and I'm not surprised about your oil consumption. I live in Toronto Canada and my winters are as warm as yours I believe. I switched to Mobil 1 supersynth 5w30 at about 60k miles 3 years ago, and the oil consumption seemed to have reduced since the switch. I can tell because the left over from my top up oil between changes has increased gradually, and then stablized. I change oil myself (and all other maintenance/repairs as well as long as a hoist is not absolutely required) and I do it twice a year. The car has 106k miles on the odometer now, so far no issues with the engine and the oil at all. I pick up my Miobil 1 at Wal-mart, usually by the road when I travel to the States. They are a lot less expensive than they are in Canada.

We did quite a bit of long haul, a trip to Orlando FL, number of trips to NYC, Chicago, Ottawa, and Montreal, beside everyday commuting, and the car has been holding up pretty well. My wife and I are opera addicted and we drive to NYC and Chicago several times a year. (just came back from a trip to Chicago for Trovatore and Salome last weekend, was caught in the storm last Friday and just managed to make it to the Lyric Opera on time.)

Originally Posted by b19980610

I have 2000 Olds Intrigue with 113,000 miles. It burns about a quart of oil every 1,500 miles or so. It has done this ever since I have had it (bought it with 38,000.) I live in Chicago and currently using Castrol GTX 5W30.

Would it make sense to switch to "high mileage" oil, or to synthetic oil?
Would it burn less, and is there any downside to switching?

Thanks for your time.