# Excessive Oil Consumption **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** altima, oil\ **Created:** [December 26, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683 "2007-12-26T16:19:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teamohall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@teamohall](https://community.cartalk.com/u/teamohall)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/1 "2007-12-26T16:19:21Z")
Have a 2004 Nissan Altime 3.5 SE which was involved in a rather nice front end collision just a little over a year ago. Have just past 77K miles and noticed I am using about 1 qt per 1000 miles. Have a few spots in the garage but the dealer states that they find no leaks and some oil consumption is normal per the owners manual (they were nice enough to even xerox the page). I contend that 1 qt per 1000 is too much regardless of what the manual states. Am I being overly cautious on this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/2 "2007-12-26T16:27:19Z")
You may not like it, but a 1 qt/1000 miles of oil consumption is normal according to the auto manufacturer. And they’re the ones that made the engine. So if the spec they wrote says this is normal, what are ya gonna do? Tester ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/3 "2007-12-26T17:09:11Z")
If you are out of warranty topping oil every other fuel fillup is the cheapest and easiest solution to the nag. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/4 "2007-12-26T18:24:36Z")
Agre; if there are no leaks and no blue smoke, just add more oil. Years ago all cars used 1 quart per 1000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/5 "2007-12-26T19:01:58Z")
Yup! Neither your nor I might like that rate of consumption, but 1 qt. per 1000 miles is considered to be normal consumption by almost all car companies. And, in retrospect, I just wish that my '74 Volvo did that well! ---
**Author:** ![shadetree51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@shadetree51](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadetree51)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/6 "2007-12-30T01:24:11Z")
Consider switching from 5/30 if you are using it to 10/30 or 10/40 it might reduce the oil usage . ---
**Author:** ![MrPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MrPhil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MrPhil)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-oil-consumption/8683/7 "2007-12-30T19:23:14Z")
If the car suddenly started using this much oil just after the frontal collision, it’s not impossible that the crankshaft bearings or seals were damaged. If it was more gradual, it could well fall within “normal” oil use due to wear and tear (it’s being burned, not dripped), and the collision had nothing to do with it. If no one can find a leak, you’ll probably just have to grin and bear it.