Oil Consumption

[Guest]

Can anyone give me some idea of oil consumptions to be expected when running a Boxster S. I probably do about 6,000 miles a year and drive it fairly hard when I am in it but seem to be getting through 1 litre top up packs too swiftly which worries me a little. I don't appear to have any leaks judging by the garage floor, the RMS was done last year and as far as I know not a problem now. I've put two litres in since it's 24K service last March.

This may be a how long is a piece of string question but I need reassurance that my out of warranty engine isn't having problems.

 

[peterfrost]

Dai_lemma,
Hi-my 2001 Boxster S used only about 1/4-1/2 litre /1000mls even with a track day.
My current 03 S has used 1/2-3/4 litre in 6000mls including one gruelling track day at Bedford autodrome.We also did 2050mls in a week on a Porsche alpine tour and it used
nothing measurable.
They do vary,I think the journeys make a difference.
Do you get a puff of blue smoke on start up?This is quite normal.
I'd say 1000/litre was Ok,Porsche I'd guess 500/litre
regards
peter

 

[Guest]

Hi. Getting through very little oil in my 2001 my Boxster S. Last service was about 5000 enthusiastic miles ago and level has barely moved.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies, clearly it can vary a lot so whilst I may be unlucky to have one which uses a bit more than others, it doesn't necessarily spell disaster....hopefully![8|]

 

[tim court]

Since I had the rear main oil seal replaced (996 C4) the oil consumption has been nil in 12000 miles.

Yes nil - the level has moved about 2mm on the dipstick. I drive the car as if my ex-wife is due to have it repossed the next day.

Your usage sounds a bit excessive to me. Get your OPC to check your seals IMHO.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Without wanting to tempt fate...

In 24000 miles including a few Nurburgring trips, 2 days at Spa, and driving over many, many Alps, I have only needed to put about a 1/4 of a Litre in (before my 1st Nurburgring visit - just to be safe[])

However Porsche do state in the handbook that what most would consider a very high consumption (can't remember exactly what!) is perfectly acceptable.

Check the handbook, and get it checked out if you are worried. Let us know what they say?

 

[akwaugh]

White smoke - seems like they all do it, both mine (986 and 987) do it.
A bit scary at first but you get used to it.

Your oil consumption seems high though. I can't recall the last time (over at least 6000 miles) I stuck any in, though I'm probably near the point now as I have lost a bar on the dash meter.

 

[ianfiat]

From new my 987 lost about 0.5 L of oil in the first 6 months- hasn't used a drop since.

 

[SidewaysSteve]

For the record white smoke on startup is generally just condensation in the exhaust system burning off. Oil burns blue not white.

If you flick throuigh your handbook near the back with all the fuel consumption data etc theres actually a paragraph about oil consumption and from memory its actually quite a big number ! Im sure its something like 500ml every 1000 miles but you would have to check for yourself.

I just remember seeing it and thinking "damn thats a lot of oil usage !" LOL

Its normal for performance engines to burn oil in normal operation, but obviously there is a limit and as said that limit is noted in the back of the owners manual

 

[ColonelMoon]

When I bought my 987 it was 9 months old and I have covered 7000 miles in the last 14 months and my dash oil reading hasn't dropped at all.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the helpful advice guys - much appreciated

 

[Ian Mills]

Not sure you've got the right advice, my 987S reached the stage of going from max to min in 5/600 miles. Obvious visual signs were white/blue! smoke on start up and similar smoke when accelerating after a spell on a gentle throttle or overrun. The exhaust tail pipes are sooty black. I have just got the car back from OPC Nottm. who have changed the oil separator, under warranty, I am now checking the results. Suggest a trip to you local OPC would be appropriate. My earlier 2.5 and 3.2S never required any oil in approx 50k miles between them.

 

[nwhear]

"From new my 987 lost about 0.5 L of oil in the first 6 months- hasn't used a drop since".

Same with my 2.9.

 

[Guest]

OPC Bournemouth told me that a litre every 650 miles is within tolerance. However, I've now used 6 litres+ in 2,500 miles, so it's definitely going in to be looked at now. They say they'll fill it to a specified level and get me to do a defined mileage to work out the consumption accurately, but it's clearly far too high. It doesn't seem to affect the performance, but the cloud of white smoke on start-up is really embarrassing!

 

[Guest]

Glad I persisted. After pressing for a formal consumption test, the OPC finally looked inside my engine with a camera and accepted there was a problem with some 'scarring on the cylinders and valves'. Just had the engine rebuilt from the crank upwards - under warranty, thank god! There's now a minor issue with the electrics that it will have to go back in for (and an occassional metallic clank - think someone left a tool in the engine bay that's causing an intermittent short and audible pulse!), but the smoking has been completely cured.