Acceptable oil consumption?

[z31maniac]

What would be considered acceptable oil consumption for an M20?

I have been beating on my car pretty good for the last 1500 miles since the new diff and driveshaft, but the car has gone through 1/2-3/4 of a qt in that same time period. 99% positive the car no longer has any leaks, so I think its all usage vs leakage.

Motor is only approaching 129k miles. Guess I'll have a compression and leakdown test done when I take it in for the subframe bushings and RTABs.

[Stevie30]

Nothing to worry about. Oil is cheap compared to an engine rebuild. I bought my '89 with 145K on it. Used 1 qt, every 1.5K miles. It has 190K on it now and still uses i qt. every 1.5K miles. I drive it hard all the time.

[SpecM]

Mine uses 1/2 qrt, tops, between oil changes. 180-190k on mine

[StereoInstaller1]

I use about a pint every 2K miles at 280,000.

The car sees redline several times a day, every time I drive it. I suppose that combined with kicking the ass end around using the throttle on damn near every tight corner, breaking the tires loose several times daily, etc...might make me an "aggressive" driver.

I suggest you get under it with a flashlight with someone able to run the throttle and check shit out. Especially that pesky oil pressure sensor.

Just don't be a dumbass and die.

[z31maniac]

Rear main seal, oil pan gasket and oil pressure sensor are all fresh.

Oh well thankfully I finally found a decent shop.

[mikeedler]

I am pretty sure BMW still sees it as 1 liter per 1000 is acceptable-- have never seen anything at work and never see any new cars that use that much, but that was always the old saying anyways.

[z31maniac]

Checked the Bentley last night, 1 quart every 390 miles is considered acceptable. But that does seem awfully high.

I have a sneaking suspicion its the valve seals in my car.

[Gray S.]

I am unhappy when any of my cars burn ANY oil in between changes. If its more than half a quart I would rather rebuild. My 150,000 miles m42 doesnt burn a drop in 4000miles.

[gearheadE30]

My M42 with 210k burns almost no oil between changes either. Unfortunately it has started to leak badly around the cam cover because some fo the bolts are stripped.

[e30nub]

m42's ftw!

[Philo]

Yeah good thing you guys are running m42's. My m42 used next to nothing but now that i'm rocking an m20 in a different car. . . say goodbye to 1qt between changes.

[MR 325]

One quart per 3k oil change is considered perfectly normal in my eyes. Like said above, oil is cheaper than a rebuild! :)

[kev.skyline]

My M42 with 210k burns almost no oil between changes either. Unfortunately it has started to leak badly around the cam cover because some fo the bolts are stripped.

Ive got about 4 bolts holding mine down, the rest are just sitting in place. really pisses me off, goin to have to figure out a way of fixing it.

[SamE30e]

m42's ftw!

I just started driving my m42 and I gotta say QFT!

[napabavarian]

Checked the Bentley last night, 1 quart every 390 miles is considered acceptable. But that does seem awfully high.

I have a sneaking suspicion its the valve seals in my car.

That does seem high, general rule of thumb I learned years ago is 1 quart per 1000 miles, but my cabbie is closer to 1 quart per 300 miles :(