Oil Consumption Rate

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by zeleny, Feb 27, 2019.

Car Parts
  1. zeleny

    zeleny Full Access Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2012
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    What is the upper bound for the oil consumption rate of an SRT-10 engine?
     
  2. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Depends on viscosity, temperature, past maintenance, driving style, ambient temperature and other factors.
    Where is your truck at??
     
  3. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    How much oil is it using/leaking??
     
  4. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    I realize I didn’t start this discussion but I’m curious what your thoughts will be on my consumption rate.

    On average I add 1qt every 500mi. Sometimes a bit more and others a bit less, obviously depending on all the factors you mentioned earlier but in my case the driving style probably has more to do with it than any of the others. I have had to add as much as 1.5qts in 500mi.

    I live in North West TN, the truck currently has almost 112k mi, I use Mobile 1 0W-40 and I have since I bought it with 52k mi on it. Not knowing any past service history I changed all the fluids when I got home with it and have maintained 3k mi oils change intervals, 30k mi trans and diff service intervals, and brake fluid every 2yrs. I drive it daily with the occasional spirited launch/run through the gears. I’ve never been to a track with the truck but probably ran it just a hard on the road at times. With that said, I’m entering middle age with three little ones and rarely drive it with out one or all three at times so a lot of that was several years ago. Nevertheless, the oil consumption just keeps climbing as the miles accumulate. I’m fairly certain an engine build is in my near future!

    Sorry for the long post. I didn’t plan on sharing all that, it just evolved as I went! Lol If your still reading you must be board and free like me tonight!!
     
  5. zeleny

    zeleny Full Access Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2012
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    I’m in Los Angeles. A recent round trip to Las Vegas started at 44,867 and ended at 45,694 odometer miles, with the engine using up 1½ quarts of oil.
     
  6. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    I like long posts. The more information, the better.
    I could be crowned the long post King! People don't have to read a dang thing if they don't want to but it's there if they do.

    As odd as this sounds, have a GOOD look around your oil filler cap. Oil coming from there can be very hard to notice.
    The black o-rings in the filler cap get old and dry out.
    The new ones (like on the SRT-8 engines) are green and Viton and provide a much better seal over time.

    Start there if you have an original black one.

    It doesn't help that the dipsticks are also tough to read but it's great you top it up when needed (whatever the reason is).
     
  7. shorty

    shorty Full Access Member

    Messages:
    2,054
    Likes Received:
    36
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2012
    Location:
    Emory, Texas
    I have 155,000 miles on my truck and use Mobile 1 15-50. Have used 1.5 quarts per oil change every 3- 4,000 miles since the 15,000 mile mark when I bought the truck.
     
    THEWELSHM likes this.
  8. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    I apologize for using your post to gain some insight of my own. I’ve been adding ~2qts every 1k mi for some time now. I just check it every 500mi and add accordingly. It’s rarely less than 1qt in each 500mi interval.
     
  9. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    I don’t think the cap is leaking but I will certainly take a closer look. The only leak I have had (aside from leaky oil cooler lines when I purchased it) has been the valve cover gaskets. I replaced those last spring and had the valve covers powder coated as they were looking pretty bad. It was not a significant leak so it really didn’t change the oil consumption. Without any leaking and as black as the exhaust stays I can only assume it’s getting past the rings and exiting through the exhaust. I did install Tony’s catch can a couple years ago and it’s always full at the 3k mi interval.

    upload_2019-2-28_10-38-17.jpeg

    upload_2019-2-28_10-38-42.jpeg
     
  10. 505

    505 Full Access Member

    Messages:
    79
    Likes Received:
    42
    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2018
    Location:
    Orlando
    I've owned 3 of these trucks. All of them ALL of them used. There is TSB or whatever they call it where Dodge said something like 1 quart per 750 miles if the engine has so many miles and 1 quart per 500 miles if it had more miles - is considered normal. I would definitely consider 15/50. Or 20/50. And these engines run so much better with that heavier oil. Just my opinion. It seems like it keeps the variable lifters pumped up better. I run 20/50 and add maybe a quart per 3K miles. truck has 70K on clock.

    However if yours is drinking the oil, you may have something else going on.
     
    shorty likes this.
  11. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    I’ve come to expect some oil usage out of today’s higher performance engines. Every vehicle we have uses some and I’m ok with that. I definilty fall within the 1qt every 500mi, it just seems a bit excessive. Our other vehicles use .5-1qt in the 5k mi service interval I maintain them on. I would assume that 112k mi would be considered high mileage for this engine so I am probably right on track with what the manufacturer states as “normal”, even though there are much higher mileage examples out there like Shorty. I may give the heavier weight oil a try for a while and look into a fun tear down/rebuild some day. I appreciate the input and again, my apologies to you zeleny for hijacking your thread!
     
  12. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    It doesn't help that the dipsticks on these trucks can be kinda bitchy to read.
    Regardless of why the oil is leaving the sump check it regularly and keep it topped up.
    $10.00 a quart (or whatever you pay south of the border) once in a while is cheap insurance and cheap entertainment.

    I'm using 0-30 Mobil 1 which is pretty light and if I have to add a liter or so between oil changes, it's no big deal.
     
    GSJake likes this.
  13. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    CKjarr: Those valve covers look great!
     
  14. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    Agreed on the dipstick! When I first bought the truck I thought it was because it had an aftermarket viper head dipstick. I tried to find an OEM to replace it with but the more I read I realized a lot of folks had trouble getting an accurate read and there were apparently multiple dipsticks used. When I service the truck I have to add a full 9qts to get it to register at the top of the operating range.
     
  15. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    Thank you rottenronnie for the compliments and all the feedback! I will just keep adding oil until I decide to pull the trigger on a rebuild. Maybe when I have to add a quart every 250mi!!
     

    Attached Files:

    rottenronnie likes this.
  16. rottenronnie

    rottenronnie Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    4,177
    Likes Received:
    2,151
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Location:
    Calgary, Alberta
    Hello:

    I have a buddy on this forum (OldColt) that has a 2006 RC.
    His manual states 10 liters (10.5 U.S. quarts) which is wrong and puts these engines over full.
    That much oil just overpowers the crank-scraper, gets the oil airborne and will CAUSE them to burn oil.
    8 liters (8.5 U.S. quarts) is plenty and can be considered FULL.

    Just sayin'
     
    Psycho1122 likes this.
  17. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    That’s exactly the kind of info I was finding when searching for an OEM dipstick. My manual states that the oil capacity is 8.5 US Quarts. I use to be very precise with that but, after ~7yrs of ownership, I just make sure it falls somewhere in the operating range and roll on.
     
  18. THEWELSHM

    THEWELSHM Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    2,457
    Likes Received:
    82
    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2008
    Location:
    Brandon Florida
    on the original motor a quart every 3000 miles, on the new motor I changed oil about 800 miles ago , still full ( kind of surprising with new rebore)

    thewelshm
     
  19. shorty

    shorty Full Access Member

    Messages:
    2,054
    Likes Received:
    36
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2012
    Location:
    Emory, Texas
    If you can figure out how to PM me I would really appreciate the cost and what was done to your rebuild. Thanks my friend,
     
  20. ckjarr

    ckjarr Full Access Member

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    20
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2012
    Did I read that your original engine had something around 170k mi? If so, only adding 1qt every 3k mi is amazing compared to my ~6qts every 3k!!!
     
    THEWELSHM likes this.