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Oil weight gurus - Need help please.

TCG Member 5219

TCG Elite Member
Mar 22, 2005
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So I got this aging 09 caravan with the hideous 3300 on board. And its been consuming oil at a rapid rate since 60k miles. 101k miles currently. And intermittently as it gets low, on cold starts it would make the obligatory metal clattering to let me know its upset. I then add oil and go about my week. It takes 5w20, and I was told to up the viscosity to 10w30 to see if that would slow down the consumption. Well it made things worse. The van would cold start EVERYTIME with the metal clattering like it was out of oil, but after inspecting the dip stick, it was still full. So I figured the 10w was too heavy and switched back to 5w. So back to normal.


Now, last weekend I decided to switch over to the standard Mobil 1 5w20 to see if that would help. Well since then, on every start, it starts like its out of oil. Again checking the dipstick shows its full. No problems there. Not sure whats going on now, or if I should switch back to the dyno oil and keep feeding its habit. Please if anyone knows more about this as to why its doing this, help me out.

And yes I switched back to ZXmustang.
 

Gone_2022

TCG Elite Member
Sep 4, 2013
13,094
7,525
How much oil is the engine using? What are you considering a rapid rate? If you answer and say 2-3 quarts every 1000 miles. Well then changing oil viscosity isnt going to help that clatter. The damage may already have been done and your only masking the issue.
 

Eagle

Nemo me impune lacessit
Moderator
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Mar 1, 2008
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Woodsticks, IL
Next up is, how does it consume the oil? Burning it? Leaking?

This also sounds about right:

every Chrysler product i service burns oil even my own I'm an auto tech for 20 years now low mileage cars should not burn three qts of oil in 3000 thousand miles its not normal my brother has a Pacifica with the same problem it burns a qt every 600 miles or so and he a had to replace the cat because the ash from the oil clogged it up My Town and Country is burning almost a qt and a half every thousand miles and I only have 30000 miles on it i think the 5w20 oil is to thin and the synthetic properties of it don't allow the rings to seat properly causing blow by You can use regular 5w30 to slow it down but they still burn it my 300000 mile honda never burned a drop but the new ones do almost any car built in the last decade burns oil its a shame
 

TCG Member 5219

TCG Elite Member
Mar 22, 2005
12,447
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Yeah no oil pressure gauge. So Im stuck on that. And it drinks about a quart every 1k miles. And chrystler says thats normal for 100k mile 3300s. So no traction there short of tearing it down and putting in new rings. And I cant seem to tell where the hell the oil is going. No leaks whatsoever. And no blue smoke. Its like its just disappearing.
[MENTION=340]Eagle[/MENTION] the quote you posted is like business as usual for aging dodge and chrysler minivans. Im not real concerned about it consuming oil, but the low oil clattering that used to be there only when it got low, happens all the time now since the mobil 1 5w20 went in this weekend.

So would you go heavier 10w or lighter 0w to get it going faster to limit the cold start, or in this case every start damage thats happening? Im so lost as to what to do. We need to keep this thing for a while longer.
 

TCG Member 5219

TCG Elite Member
Mar 22, 2005
12,447
18
Yeah I think I might try 10w30. And I tried 5w30 but that was worse for some reason. All has been conventional up to the last change this weekend too. This sucks. I tried saving some money by changing it myself at home, not Im going to need to re-do it again. Another $40 gone. Fucking van. I considered seafoaming it for a minute, but Im pretty sure that shit is snake oil no pun intended.
 

TCG Member 5219

TCG Elite Member
Mar 22, 2005
12,447
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Why not try a 5w30? Or 0w30. Also are you using a high mileage oil?

Oh and no I wasnt using HM. I did want the mobil 1 Extended Performance oil, but it was sold out at all the local walmarts. BTW, a 5qt jug was just $28.99 for all the Mobil 1 oils and weights. Compared to $45 at all the other stores. Got the synthetic filter from there too for $6.
 

TCG Member 5219

TCG Elite Member
Mar 22, 2005
12,447
18
::Marvel Mystery Oil::

Try some of this to help with the noise. I'm very skeptical of things like this and think it's all snake oil, but this stuff does legit help. As for the consumption have you changed your PVC valve?

I have not changed it. Got the van 2 years ago with 60K on it. At 101k now, so as far as I know its been atleast 41k miles since it was and I assume more.
 

wolfe

in black sheep's clothing
Jun 2, 2008
17,632
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Si Oh Em Pee Tee Oh En
Ill check that stuff out. Is it like the shit that Carol Shelby used to hock?

I don't know. I read where hot rod used it on a motor where they had a lifter noise they couldn't get rid of. Then I tried it in my old neon because it had a tick when it first started. It went right away when I used it. Now if something is mechanically wrong it won't fix it, but it does seem to keep stuff lubricated so it doesn't knock/tick on start up.
 

RICH17

Dr. Pussy Slayer, MD
TCG Premium
Nov 14, 2008
26,707
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The 007
Real Name
Adam Rich
Change to Rottela Diesel oil. James keeps telling me the high zinc in it works wonders on our old push rod engines. I use the 10w30 gallons from mendards and they're only 12 bucks or so. I kept using it in the grand am as well:rofl: This 4 cylinder takes 6.2 quarts so the cheaper the better
 

10sec

I haz dat teddy bear smile.
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Jul 26, 2008
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Why not try a 5w30? Or 0w30. Also are you using a high mileage oil?

This. Why run 10w30 when you can run 0w30?

Change to Rottela Diesel oil. James keeps telling me the high zinc in it works wonders on our old push rod engines. I use the 10w30 gallons from mendards and they're only 12 bucks or so. I kept using it in the grand am as well:rofl: This 4 cylinder takes 6.2 quarts so the cheaper the better

:ugh: Those should only take 4.5qts with the filter... You got the right dipstick in there?
 
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