Hi guys, I just sign up on this forum and I hope you can help me I v recently bought Mazda 6 with 1.8l petrol engine.
The car has done 69 k miles and it s a 2004 model.
Since I v bought the car I v done nearly 2000 miles.
When I bought the car the garage from where I bought it had done a full service.
So since I bought the car and since I v done nearly 2000 miles oil level has droped from 100% (max) to about 80% of oil on the dipstick.
So my question is, is this kind of oil consumption normal or should I be worried about it??
Plus there is no sign of oil leaks under the engine bay at all and the exhaust seams to be normal, there is no black and thick sludge on the exhaust tip that usually would be there if engine was burning lot of oil.

P.S. I have one more question is this engine Mazda engine or Ford engine, cause some people have been telling me that this engine is Ford engine that is used in Mondeo as well?

 

Some oil consumption is absolutely normal (and desirable), in fact, if all you're seeing is a 20% swing between the upper and lower hash marks on the dip stick, then not only is your engine doing pretty well, it is almost dead-on where it should be. Think about it this way, many manufacturers say that one quart per 1,000 miles is the minimum threshold before they declare an engine problem, however, your engine sounds like it will go roughly 10,000 miles before using a single quart of oil.

As for your engine being a Ford engine, my guess is that it is, however, since we don't get 1.8 liter engines here in the States, I cannot be 100% sure. FWIW, the 2.0 liter engine in my Mazda3 has FoMoCo stamped all over it, including on the dip stick.

 

Hi, thank you for your reply
I v just checked the oil level this morning, and it s showing that it s excatly a quarter less from maximum, and I v done around 1768 miles since the oil change.
So the oil droped even a bit less since Wendsay when I checked it last time and I v done only around 200 miles or so.
I dont know really but this doesnt sound good to me at all????

 

It sounds just fine to me. Stop obsessing about it, keep an eye on the level, and top it off when it gets to the lower hash mark. Believe it or not, your engine sounds like it operating exactly as designed.

 

OK, now lets get real. Forget the percentages and lets have it in liters, quarts, pints or whatever per 1000 miles or kilometers. Next find out if that engine is a Ford or a Mazda (by the part # tag on the block somewhere).
Next, how long was that beauty sitting out neglected on the dealer's lot? Long enough for the PCV or oil control rings to have gotten gummed up, and seals dried out perhaps?
Next, how about smoke on cold start? Left overnight, any leakage via the valve guides will drizzle into the cylinders and give a typical blue burst to the exhaust smoke on start up.
Next, pull the spark plugs after a good run, and look at the cones around the electrodes; if they're a sort of tan/ reddish brown, and all of about the same coloration, the engine is sound. If they're sooty, you are either consuming oil or running rich.
Next, pull the PCV and shake it; it should give a sharp clicking rattle. If it doesn't, it's gummed or sooted and should be replaced. Finally, you might want to dose the engine with a light machine oil to clean the piston ring gaps. Pull the plugs, pour a few tablespoons of oil into the cylinders with the engine still warm, crank a few turns and leave it in overnight. In the morning, crank the engine for about 30 seconds (without the plugs), to loosen things up a bit, then put the plugs back and drive.
After 1000 miles or so, do an oil and filter change. Only then should you concern yourself about oil consumption, and you should start with static and dynamic compression checks.
For the record, maintained Japanese engines at 65000 miles normally do not require top ups between oil changes. Fords on the other hand, for the same mileage may need 1/2 liter per 500 - 1000 miles.

 

Hi I m not sure at the moment is this engine Ford or Mazda engine, but as soon as I get to the car I will check the tag and let you know.
Second of all I don't really know for how long was the car sitting at the dealer lot but I ll try to check that.
Regarding the blue smoke on the start up I checked that already and there is no blue smoke at all from the exhaust.

If the PCV valve is blocked and it s not functioning properly would there be any other sign of that except burning oil issue??
I don't really have much mechanic experience and I couldn't locate the pcv valve inside the engine compartment.

 

Hi I guess I ll have to stop worrying so much about it, but I ll still have to keep an eye on the oil level for a while now.

 

If you really want to stop worrying about it, pull the PCV. Its a plastic thingamajig in the form of a right angled pipe. The narrow (horizontal) part is connected to a small hose. The fat (vertical part plugs into a large grommet stuck into the valve cover, sort of where the counterweight would be on a pressure cooker lid. You just pull off the tube and pry the body out of the grommet, then see if it rattles.
No blue burst from the exhaust on startup is a very good sign, now if you'll just remove the sparkplugs and check for the tan the tip color, you should then just set your mind at ease and enjoy your car.

 

Your car is fine....happy driving!

 

I v just arranged with my mechanic to bring him the car on Thursday morning to check all the breathing system and he said he ll do an emission test as well and computer diagnostic. I ll probably mention him to check plugs as well when he s there already.
So I ll just wait now and see what he ll say on Thursday.
Thanks for all the reply's and advises guys
I ll let ye know what he says when he check s the system.