Oil consumption

[Alexane]

Hello all,
I have a ds3 dsport, 2011 with a 67000 km on it.
I have measured the oil consumption of the engine and it found out that it uses 1 litre for about 1750 km.
No visible leaks and no blue smoke out of the exhaust pipe. With that said, i do smell burnt oil when i drive the car on high revs.

Has anyone experienced high oil consumption in these engines? What can i do to fix it?

thank you,
Alex.

[Czar]

The oil consumption of 1 litre of engine oil to 1000 miles is regarded as normal and is within tolerable limits for the THP engine, as for a repair, unless you are willing to undertake or pay for an engine overhaul/rebuild, just enjoy driving your car, and always keep a litre of engine oil in the car, or at home, and check your oil level every week, without fail.

[pmatil]

Tha sounds a bit high. Mine doesn't consume almost any oil between services. I do drive really few km but after 1000 miles still the same amount in the dipstick.

Also, what oil brand do you use? A few years ago the dealer switched to Shell oil and it triggered a significant oil consumption. Been using Mobil oil before that and no problems. Last year the dealer told me that Citroen had forbidden the use of any other oil than Total. No problems with that either.

[Alexane]

Im using Total 5-30.

[Chris_Blue]

One of my DS3 Dsports used none, the other used none for 6 months, then about 5 litres the next 6 months, then no more next 6 months

You tell me.....? (Facepalm icon here please)

[Alexane]

I care less about the oil consumption itself. Im afraid that burning the oil may cause engine problems.

[StevenRB45]

Unless you're seeing signs like blue smoke from the exhaust or fouled spark plugs I wouldn't be too concerned. As others have said its normal for these to use some oil I'd only be concerned if it suddenly increased in consumption.

[Chris_Blue]

Thing is, if the ol isnt being burnt, and youre not loosing/dropping it, where does it go

If its being burnt it must be leaving deposits behind, and if its dropping out somewhere that would only get worse

[Alexane]

Of course its getting burnt. Where else would it go?

[StevenRB45]

I agree you are probably burning it but because it is at a healthy level (less than 1ml per km in ops case) you won't notice. You need to be burning far more than that to see the classic burning oil symptoms.

Fact is the Mazda uses no oil ever..but the exhaust still has deposits in how could you tell which deposits are from normal combustion and which ones are from burning oil when it's at such a low level.

[marinipersonal]

Had the same issue with my RCZ. Same engine. 1 litre every 2 or 3 months. 3 or 4 k miles. Didn't notice any consumption from the DS3 and it's the same THP. Possibly a random matter.

[Chris_Blue]

Had the same issue with my RCZ. Same engine. 1 litre every 2 or 3 months. 3 or 4 k miles. Didn't notice any consumption from the DS3 and it's the same THP. Possibly a random matter.

Hows the RCZ versus DS3 comparison going?

[Czar]

Let me try explain as to why some engines consume oil and others do not.

In the case of the THP engines, shared between Citroen, Peugeot and BMW MINI, these engines have a relatively high CR (compression ratio) 10.5:1 and 11.0:1 in the DS3R they also run a high pressure charge system, 0.8 bar -1.3 bar giving very high cylinder pressure loadings.

The working temperature tolerance of the piston/s the piston rings and the cylinder liner is the key to sealing the combustion cylinder pressures from bypassing the sealing capabilities of the piston rings into the crankcase, known as blow by, the more blow by (combustion pressure) bleeds into the crankcase, the more oil in the crankcase and sump, is lifted (windage) some of this suspended oil is forced back up the cylinder wall, tracking its way around the piston rings, some of which can and does find its way to the very top of the piston, to be burnt during the combustion process.

The greater the blow by (windage) more so before the engine reaches optimum working temperature, (short journeys) the more oil is trapped in the piston ring reliefs (cutouts) where the piston rings seat, this trapped oil solidifies (gumming) causing the piston rings to stop rotating, yes that's right, the piston rings rotate continuously during the Pistons stroke cycles, the cause of the piston rings rotation is heat harmonic vibration.

When the piston rings rotation stops, it's due to gumming, suspended oil which has been blown up the cylinder wall from blow by (windage) and burnt into the piston reliefs (just in the same way of carbonisation of the inlet valves) this gumming reduces the sealing efficiency of the piston rings, hence allowing more blow by of the combustion pressure, resulting in more oil being blown up the cylinder liner wall into the combustion process to be burnt.

Sometimes, the greater the piston mean speed, the higher RPM, can actually free up the otherwise stuck piston rings, so they start to rotate again sealing up against the cylinder pressures, as they normally would, that said, once we encounter piston ring gumming, for best results, the engine needs to come apart for a refresh.

We've touched upon windage and gumming of the piston rings, the more windage we have the more crankcase pressure, this puts greater strain of the PVC entrapment valleys and valves, adding to the carbonisation of the inlet valves, and oil passing into the combustion chamber this way to be burnt too.

Summary; short journeys with vehicles where the engine rarely gets to optimum operating temperatures will suffer carbonisation of the inlet valves and piston ring gumming, in a shorter space of time/mileage than a vehicle which has long journeys and a decent amount of spirited driving !!

[marinipersonal]

Hows the RCZ versus DS3 comparison going?

I'm just waiting few more months and after replacing the OEM tyres with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 orPilot Super Sport will be able to push a bit more. But them again, don't know which tyre I'll be choosing yet.
So far, the RCZ gives you a lot of confidence. Lower car, wider tyres. The DS3 feels much more alive. And considering i didn't lowered the suspension or anything, the stability is good. Just need proper tyres, I reckon.

[Chris_Blue]

I had pilot Sport 3s on my DS3 after the Bridgestones gave me a few scary moments when cornering on country roads

Pilot sports were great

Saying that, Ive Bridgestones on my current motor and they seem ok, alth it is 4wd