Oil consumption (again, I know... I searched)
 

Hello-

I have a question for you guys:

I've done some searching on here regarding oil consumption, and found numbers that relate to normalish street driving (where they said 17mpg relates to about 1qt/1700mi). And, I've done some searching that relates to track driving where it's 1-1.5qt/3hr.

The problem is that I'm about halfway in between, and don't know exactly what to think.

I last topped off the oil level in my car about 400-450mi ago. Since then, I've done almost exclusively canyon carving driving up in the hills... in other words, nearly constant very spirited driving. No highways and hitting WOT all the time. Today, as I was coming back home, the oil level light started flickering on occasion... and I checked - it's not the sensor, it's definately low!

There doesn't appear to be any giant leak spots underneath (although my search was not exhaustive). There are no clouds of blue smoke I can see behind me as I drive and floor it. When I start in the morning, there is one puff of blue smoke that lasts about 2-3 sec, and that's it. The engine is bone stock.

Is this normal, or do I need to be more exhaustive in my search for leaks?

Thanks!

Take care,
Shad

not normal... you've got a leak somewhere. search harder for the leaks :).

If the undeside of the car shows no signs of oil leaks then you're not leaking. That means the oil is either leaking into the turbos and out the exhaust or possibly getting sucked into the intake via the filler tube. Those of us who race are familier with the problem and have discussed it at length .