Burning oil

[Taxman10]

I have an 02 Altima with a V6. I burn about quart of oil a week (maybe a little less). It's been this way, for at least 5 or 6 years. Maybe not quite a quart/week 5 years ago, but it was definitely 1/2 quart.

Anyway....any suggestions on fixing? There's no leaking oil under the car, and the engine itself looks "clean" (i.e. oil isn't leaking out of the head gasket) and no engine smoke. It's got 136k miles. Should I just let it go, and keep filling it up?

I've been using 10W/40 this summer. The owners manual says use 30 or 40.

[tskeeter]

Tax, a little internet research indicates that excessive oil consumption is very common with the 02 Altimas. The only cause I saw cited was oil leaking around valve stems. This is an expensive repair. Given the mileage on your car, and the fact that years of excessive oil consumption could have damaged exhaust system components, such as catalytic converters, I think in your shoes I'd just keep topping off the oil. The additional oil will probably cost a lot less than repairing the motor.

By the way, I'd start putting my spare cash aside for a new car, too. Sounds like you're getting to the point where you could need one is a year or so.

[Taxman10]

Sept 26, 2011 11:48:48 GMT -5 tskeeter said:

Tax, a little internet research indicates that excessive oil consumption is very common with the 02 Altimas. The only cause I saw cited was oil leaking around valve stems. This is an expensive repair. Given the mileage on your car, and the fact that years of excessive oil consumption could have damaged exhaust system components, such as catalytic converters, I think in your shoes I'd just keep topping off the oil. The additional oil will probably cost a lot less than repairing the motor.

By the way, I'd start putting my spare cash aside for a new car, too. Sounds like you're getting to the point where you could need one is a year or so.

Yeah - I know the 4 cylinders had major problems, but I didn't see as much info regarding the 6. Does adding anything like Alemite CD2 help or hurt or have no effect?? It doesn't really have any dark exhaust that I've noticed and it's getting inspected wednesday. I'll ask my mechanic too.

Thanks!

[Taxman10]

Sept 26, 2011 12:35:46 GMT -5 @rj said:

Sept 26, 2011 10:38:05 GMT -5 Taxman10 said:

I have an 02 Altima with a V6. I burn about quart of oil a week (maybe a little less). It's been this way, for at least 5 or 6 years. Maybe not quite a quart/week 5 years ago, but it was definitely 1/2 quart.

Anyway....any suggestions on fixing? There's no leaking oil under the car, and the engine itself looks "clean" (i.e. oil isn't leaking out of the head gasket) and no engine smoke. It's got 136k miles. Should I just let it go, and keep filling it up?

I've been using 10W/40 this summer. The owners manual says use 30 or 40.

What brand of oil are you using?

WalMart - high mileage or Quaker State. I don't know what the garage puts in when they change it?

[Taxman10]

Sept 26, 2011 14:14:57 GMT -5 @rj said:

Sept 26, 2011 12:45:04 GMT -5 Taxman10 said:

WalMart - high mileage or Quaker State. I don't know what the garage puts in when they change it?

Start using a good oil like Valvoline and see what happeneds

High Mileage? NextGen? conventional?? does it matter??

what about additives - would they just be a waste of $$??