Ok guys... Sad to say I came real close to blowing my motor recently. I went to do an oil change at around 4500 miles(usually do it at 3000), checked my oil level and the dipstick came out bone dry... Not sure how much was left in, I'm guessing a little over 2 quarts. I feel like such a girl(no offense ladies) for not check it regularly but.. I figured I only have 20,000 miles, not dripping anywhere.... I looked all around while I was under there and didn't notice any leaks.. Is it possible that due to my mods and aggressive driving I'm just burning that much? I figure its around a 1/2 quart a month or so...
yeah....mine's down a quart usually when i hit the 1,500 mile marker after an oil change and i get it changed at about 2,000 miles.....
that's sounds possible, i used to burn close to that much and then i switched to the penzoil synth... i don't burn quite as much now.
I think this thread came up on another forum, but a lot of the other people including myself have been saying the same thing. I think boxer engines are notorius for this. It may be the way the case is sealed. I have this same problem on a super beetle also.
this is what used to happen to me. but i was under the imperssion that the older the oil the less thick it is. the 2.0 has high oil pressure on warm up (90+ if you push it first thing). this pressure made mine leak a lil bit while i would drive the car cold by comming out the seal to the oil filter and burning on the header. im sure mine was burning some to. i change every 2,300 just so i didnt have to fill or mess with it.
My does this too I change oil every 3,000 I changed the PCV valve it help, supose too due that every 15,000 or so if you are at 20,000 maybe think about it, don't know just my 2 cents.
Lets not forget about blow-by. This is a reality. Some have debated whether this really happens. I was at a seminar on Wed. with a production rep from BorgWarner Turbo's and he confirmed that it is a common problem among all classes of vehicles (diesel and gasoline). The seal between the compressor and exhaust side of the turbo is very simple and has not had much improvement since the design of almost all turbos. I have also heard of a lot of guys collecting a lot of oil from the compressor side using the catch cans. The oil in the catch can probably doesn't amount to the oil we notice lost every change, but it just adds to the cause. This may be something that we all want to invest in considering oil in your intercooler is really bad.
Thanks 4 the responses guys, good to hear I'm not the only one... Just glad I didn't try to push it farther than 4500... could've been posting a thread about a dead motor! I will change my pcv valve soon. Hey Clemson, what good does an oil catch can do? Like I said, I didn't see anything wet underneath when changing the oil...I figured I'm burning it. Are you saying I could be leaking at that seal?
There is a seal on the turbo between the compressor and the exhaust side, this lubricates the shaft that connects the exhaust air to the incoming intake air. It leaks on ALL turbos, so what happens is the oil that leaks to the compressor side actually gets into the y-pipe over time. It can eventually start to clog the intercooler. So the catch can just connects a set of hoses to the bottom of the y-pipe to collect the oil that leaked onto the compressor side before it gets to the intercooler. The oil just flows into a little container (catch can) that can be dumped periodically. This is a catch can I found on ebay and there is a brief description of the negatives of this oil. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33742&item=8038329605
Yep, most y pipes I pull off have some oil in there. Its natural on a turobcharged engine. I do not really forsee a catch can as a necessity as there are plenty of high milaged stock WRX's running around just fine.
"So the catch can just connects a set of hoses to the bottom of the y-pipe to collect the oil that leaked " I didnt connect my dual catch cans that way Is this a better way (above)
I have never installed one myself. I need to get one. So you are probably correct about how to install it. I was just trying to make a good stab at it.