1 qt Oil loss per OCI, too much?

SFHLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:42 pm

I did my third oil change on the CRD. On my second change I noticed it seemed to have gotten lower, but hadn't mark my dipstick after purchase so I couldn't know exactly how much.

This time, based on how much I was able to pull out, I'd estimate I lost about a quart of oil in 6250 miles (I pulled out about 6.5 quarts but had topped it up with maybe a quart during that OCI). I marked the dipstick this time so I can more accurately monitor. As far as I can tell there are no drops actually dripping from the car. But there is some oily residue around the area above the oil pan (didn't take the time to look too closely, but it looked like something transmission related, right at the connecting point between two large pieces). I am not sure if it is motor oil or transmission fluid, etc.

First of all, how much oil loss is "normal" for an OCI? Where should I start looking and where are possible oil leak weakpoints on this engine?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:24 pm

A loss of one quart of oil for every 6000 miles is not horrible, but obviously its going somewhere.
That oil you see down around the engine oil pan is not from the transmission. Its from the engine. It could be a rear main seal leak but most likely its from the turbo oil drain pipe.
Both those seals are such a pain in the but to replace that I wouldnt worry about them. Just check your oil every now and then and top off as necessary.
The other likely place for oil loss is out of the crank case vent (CCV). Its just a small amount that comes out as a fine mist. There is really nothing you can do about it. But you can install a provent to collect that oil and prevent the oil from collecting in your intake hoses and intercooler.

SFHLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:30 pm

flash7210 wrote:

A loss of one quart of oil for every 6000 miles is not horrible, but obviously its going somewhere.
That oil you see down around the engine oil pan is not from the transmission. Its from the engine. It could be a rear main seal leak but most likely its from the turbo oil drain pipe.
Both those seals are such a pain in the but to replace that I wouldnt worry about them. Just check your oil every now and then and top off as necessary.
The other likely place for oil loss is out of the crank case vent (CCV). Its just a small amount that comes out as a fine mist. There is really nothing you can do about it. But you can install a provent to collect that oil and prevent the oil from collecting in your intake hoses and intercooler.

Ok thanks for confirming, I had a feeling it was possibly rear main seal since I've heard that mentioned quite a bit, but just wasn't sure where I'd see the oil from that. I haven't heard of the turbo oil drain pipe. Where is it and what does it do?

Is there any way to know which one it could be? How can I get a look at either of those from under or over the car or with a mirror?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:18 pm

I thought my rear main seal had been leaking for a long time. But when I had my engine apart, replacing the cylinder head, I decided to install a new turbo oil drain pipe and seal.
Once I had everything back together and running again, the oil leak stopped.
So it never was the rear main seal. It was the turbo oil drain tube the whole time.

You would have to crawl underneath and use some brake cleaner and a rag to clean the oily areas underneath.
Then go back and check afer a couple days of driving to see where the oil is coming out of.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:39 am

Pull your air box to turbo hose and see if it's cracked just in front of the turbo as that could be where the visible oil is coming from. Otherwise degrease your engine, no high pressure water spray, and keep an eye on where oil appears. That amount of loss in 6K miles is not bad.

MOSFET · **Joined:** Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:40 pm **Posts:** 295

Does the oil ever go below the Min mark on the dipstick?

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SFHLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:59 am

MOSFET wrote:

Does the oil ever go below the Min mark on the dipstick?

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Yes, it has. But the dipstick isn't exactly accurate either. Why do you ask?

1 qt Oil loss per OCI, too much?

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