How much oil

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by andyv, Jul 20, 2018.

  1. No not what oil or how much does your engine hold but how much are you using?

    I just got back from a trip to France. Mostly at home I don’t take much notice and just top up every so often, but on long trips I’ve been paying more attention.

    Tom Wilson is saying rebuild if you are using more oil than a quart (US) per 500 miles. This is almost the same as 500 miles per litre. My bus (‘79 2 litre) is doing about 530 miles/litre, but it’s been like this for at least 5 years. It doesn’t smoke or drip and oil pressure is adequate according to Bentley, and the compression OK, and it ran totally trouble free, so my rebuild plans are once more on hold.

    So what are the rest of you getting? Feel free to brag.
     
  2. Bhubesi

    Bhubesi Supporter

    Are you sure you are not overfilling it?
    I fill mine with 4.4 pints, and it appears not to use any between oil changes (3000 miles max).
    Tony
     
    Pedro del monkeybike likes this.
  3. It's an interesting point. I discovered some time ago that if I put in 3 1/2 litres and a fresh filter it should reach the top mark on the dipstick. It actually only comes to the lower mark, so that's where I fill to. It did seem to go down quicker before I discovered this.
     
  4. :thinking: If it doesn't smoke or drip, the only other explanation is that someone is stealing it......... :thumbsup:
     
    andyv likes this.
  5. When I change mine I put in 3.5 litres including filling the filter before fitting and it's about spot on the full mark on the dipstick. I always measure out 3.5 litres and then after running up the engine for a few minutes to check for a leaky filter I let it cool down on level ground and then double check the dipstick. It doesn't need topping up between changes(usually annual), I must say 500 miles or so per litre sounds very excessive.
     
    andyv likes this.
  6. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    If the loss of oil is constant, over the long term its OK.
    My worst was 0.5L in 21 miles with a pinched rocker cover gasket.
    My old engine was about 0.5L for 200 miles dripped and smoked.
    This newer "rebuilt 28k miles since 2015" engine only loses oil slowly, except when I get the oil pressure switch dripping, last week that drip dropped 0.5L in 250 miles. I tightened it up but these Cornish lanes just dont push the engine, apart from the 25% gradients at 4500rpm and 20mph..
    I will find out on the way home and on the M27 commute next week.
     
    andyv likes this.
  7. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    This oil level thing is quite a topic ...i read in a manual ...cannot remember which one , check oil level after it has been running at operating temp wait 5 mins or so and check on your dip stick .
    Top up if necessary ....but i find the level is quite abit higher on the top mark ....say you check next morning cold as every last drop has drained back to the sump.
    so in theory if you check your oil level cold in the morning before you set off and it is say smack on level ...it still might need more oil .
     
    andyv likes this.
  8. Betty the Bay

    Betty the Bay Supporter

    Mine needs about 4.5l including filter to get up to the top mark on dipstick.
    I always seem to need to top up whilst on holiday......could be leaks....could be unlevel ground!
     
  9. I always thought it took 2.5 litres :thinking:
     
  10. Ohh I see
    I was thinking it was 1600:rolleyes:
     
  11. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I completed a thrash across the top of Dartmoor, 80 miles hard driving on the A30 and the oil maybe dropped 2mm on the dipstick. Mostly I think front oil seal with hot thin oil up to 113C .
    200 miles of Cornish lanes before that and basically no change with 90C oil. My 4L of oil from Trago Mills remains untouched.
     
    Faust likes this.
  12. This merits more attention I think. I had the oil at the lower dipstick line after topping up a couple of days ago. From previous experiments this is just 3 1/2 litres. Yesterday I turned the engine over just to get in and out of the garage and the level went down 1.5 cm. Two hours later it still hadn't quite got back to the starting point.

    But I still got through 2.7 litres of oil on my trip to France and it wasn't obviously leaking.
     
  13. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    But are they right by saying check oil after operating temp and wait 5 to 10 mins then check .....so anyone who checks oil level prior to a journey when cold is getting the wrong level reading ...all be it more convenient that way, rather than running it up then stop, wait then check.
    I check my oil quite alot as it passes a bit . One thing for sure is on long journeys it's consumption is quite good ...but on short sharp ones not so good .
     
  14. Don't forget you've got a flat "sump", so dip your oil when the van's level.
     
    nicktuft likes this.
  15. Having just changed piston rings, with consumption up to a full sump per 1000miles prior, I'm now getting this: an easy 120 miles at 50mph (3000rpm) -> No oil usage; 80 miles at 60 to 65 (3500 to 4000rpm) incl quite a few steepish hills, dropping to 45 and 3rd -> used about 900ml.

    Seems to be spraying out of somewhere on top of the engine...I see a fine mist on the outside of the fanshroud, so maybe the dizzy or perhaps the (new) fuel pump block-off needs nipping up.

    I think it just needs better crank case venting as I'm not convinced the hose I have going from the filler tower to one air cleaner is sufficient.

    P.
     
  16. Does sound like your crankcase pumping itself up. In my experience, you do need breathers that are approx the same area as the VW original (on a Type 1). I used 2 x 10mm ID breathers, one into each of the air filters.
     
  17. I completely agree...I've been plotting all weekend about possible designs for a home brew setup...currently it's 20mm out of the stock breather into a single 10mm fitting which, as you say isn't ideal.

    That and whereas the stock setup vents before the filter and currently the vent is after the filter...going to have to sort that too....

    P.
     
    snotty likes this.
  18. The thing is though that if you measure in the correct amount (3.5 litres in my case) and find a reference point after the engine has been turned over and the oil has been allowed to settle then that's where to aim for next time.

    Just for curiosity purposes (and you can tell this has been bugging me for a while) I calculated that if it was dripping out, it would only need to leave one drop of oil every 65 metres to lose a litre per 1000 km. That's based on an old medical unit which gives 16 drops/ml. It doesn't leave any residue on the garage floor so this seems improbable.
     

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