normal for engine to use oil?

[pdq_bc]

wanting to know....
is it normal for the engine to use (burn) some oil?

have the gm engine (motorhome noted in the signature)
drove from vancouver to astoria the day before - no issues
yesterday, started the engine and there was text (where the engine usually tells me the average mpg);
"low engine oil level"
so, stopped after 2 miles, bought a quart of oil, and added it
re-started the engine and no text (back to the usual read out of average mpg)
note; the oil warning light never came on

drove to beverly beach in newport - no issues
having the oil changed tomorrow (at Steen's: highly recommend them - great service and $36.00 for an oil change)
current mileage is 9,200 miles (change it every 3,000 miles)

thanks for the comments and advice - it is appreciated
regards, pdq
(peter)

[TW]

I never had an engine use a lot of oil. Always get us from oilchange to oilchange without adding. We had over 40 cars, 4 MH's and 2 Delivery Trucks. I do not know anything about GM engines, if they use a bit of oil or not? 36.00 bucks sounds like a big Deal to the money they take in the Lower Mainland. That must be Westcoast Living expenses here?

TW

[az bound]

1 Quart every 1,000 miles is not unusual for the 8.1 L. According to Workhorse thats normal consumption.

[Perry White]

If it's using that much oil, the engine ain't right. It kind of tells me you don't have enough engine for your load. Don't care what Workhorse says.

[tvman44]

I had a engine that used a almost a quart every thousand miles and it ran great. I put 225,000 miles on that engine and the oil consumption stayed the same.

[Perry White]

Was it in an RV? Was it an 8.1? Let's here from 8.1 owners and how many miles they have on the maintenance free engines.

[pdq_bc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TW ...36.00 bucks sounds like a big Deal to the money they take in the Lower Mainland...

i think it is very good deal !!
was quoted $125.00 for an oil change at home (also from the vancouver area)

pdq

[pdq_bc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by az bound 1 Quart every 1,000 miles is not unusual for the 8.1 L. According to Workhorse thats normal consumption.

thanks Harold & Linda
pdq

[pdq_bc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvman44 I had a engine that used a almost a quart every thousand miles and it ran great...

my sister had a car that was exactly the same!

thus my post to the forum - as i wondered if one just needs to "add oil" on occasion (that is: this engine AND being a motorhome)

have not previously had an engine (car nor truck) that this was the situation

thanks everyone
and yes - interested in hearing from others and their experience with the 8.1 engine

regards, pdq

[Perry White]

Did you check the oil with the dipstick? Sounds like you just use the low oil gauge. That's not good.

[Mekanic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perry White Did you check the oil with the dipstick? Sounds like you just use the low oil gauge. That's not good.

Very true. The lube oil is the coolant and the ONLY thing that will cool the rod and main bearings. Running a engine low on oil will casue the oil to be hotter than usual.

A quart to 1k miles is not unusual at all. the oil that is consumed is what lubes the cylinder walls and rings.
I know of no company that would lift a finger to fix a engine using 1 quart per 1k Nor would I ask them to.

[two2go]

I add a quart about every 2000 mi. Using 5w-30, with that thinner hot viscosity (30 vs. 40 on older engines), I would consider that normal. 32k miles on it now. My old Dodge Durango with 5.2L did about the same for 100k miles and is still going strong.
Pull the dipstick. That sucker is looooong.

[mfire1339]

I add oil to mine only at oil change or engine change time.

[Luckiest Dre]

Had a Ford pickup with a Diesel that would require at least 1 or two quarts added between oil changes. Checked with Ford and their comment was, are you using Ford brand oil, if so we will do nothing until you use it for at least 1 oil change. I did and the oil use stopped! Surprised me but I always used Fords oil in that engine until I sold it with well over 100,000 and it never used oil again.