E240 using lots of oil

[zaratimeout]

I have a 1998 E240 V6 avantgarde. Admittedly, I m doing around 20k a year in it. I have a 6 month service through independant. But I m finding my oil low light on every month or so?? I m using around 1 litre every 4-6 weeks/1500 miles. No smoking and had it serviced not so long since and checked for any leaks but none....
Is it about to die? Or is it just an old car needing oil? I m using Mobil Super S (or something like that) - it was the recommended one to use.

 

[nickcc101]

Can only think of three ways the oil could be going, leaking, burning or going into the cooling system. If you have no leaks and no sign of oil in the coolant then it can only be burning it. How many miles has the engine done ?

 

[Roger Jones]

What oil spec. is recommended in the handbook or service book and are you meeting it? 20k a year is a healthy number (i.e. better than 2k a year) and nothing to worry about. MB seem to reckon a litre per 1000km is the point at which it's worth worrying, at least on older cars.

 

[stevesey]

How far apart have the service intervals been historically? I guessing 10K recently by the service intervals you quote - which IMHO is too long for a semi-synth (like Mobil Super S). Rings may be a little gummed up resulting the in the oil consumption going up. I'd suggest coming down to 6K oil changes (with a proper service at 12K) over time this may start to clean things up.

Also how often do you red-line the engine - every how and again helps to free up/prevent gummed rings etc.

You my find this thread interesting.

 

[zaratimeout]

thanks all. Have only had the car 10 months so has had a full service and due MOT end June so will have another service then. It has done 93k now and everything else ok. Not "red-lined" it yet, will give it a try though thanks.

 

[stevesey]

Not "red-lined" it yet, will give it a try though thanks.

Had mine for 20 months now and done 35K miles in it (134K on the clock now). First time I red-lined it (overtaking a moped) I was shocked by the view in the mirror - these days I look in the mirror the view is perfectly clear. 3 monthly oil changes at 6K are a bit of pain when you are clocking up the miles, but I think they have contributed to cleaning things up.

 

[Dieselman]

Drain the oil, fill with flushing oil and run for a while then drain, fill with cheap mineral oil and run it quite hard for 5,000 miles, then drain and refill with synthetic oil.

The bores are probably glazed and this should clean them up.