JTS Oil Consumption

colcol · June 28, 2015, 08:17:09 PM

Unlike BMTroubleyou's, the JTS has a good old fashioned dipstick, that is painted bright yellow, positioned at the front of the motor, don't trust electronic oil level indicators, just check it every week, when you do the coolant level, washer bottle and tyre pressures.
A sudden drop of oil could mean with spirited driving, you could be burning all the oil dilution out of the oil, check it over the next few weeks to see if it drops further.
Checking the oil level every week is not annoying, its called preventative maintenance, seizing an engine is much more annoying, like the newer models, have a litre of oil in the boot, Colin.

Craig_m67 · June 28, 2015, 11:33:44 PM

Quote from: colcol on June 28, 2015, 08:17:09 PM
Unlike BMTroubleyou's, the JTS has a good old fashioned dipstick, that is painted bright yellow, positioned at the front of the motor, don't trust electronic oil level indicators, just check it every week, when you do the coolant level, washer bottle and tyre pressures.
A sudden drop of oil could mean with spirited driving, you could be burning all the oil dilution out of the oil, check it over the next few weeks to see if it drops further.
Checking the oil level every week is not annoying, its called preventative maintenance, seizing an engine is much more annoying, like the newer models, have a litre of oil in the boot, Colin.

It was a simple question, really didn't need your usual flair of passive aggressive sarcasm.

For what it's worth (and your education), my 156 indicates the oil level via the centre display unit on startup. I had assumed they all did.

Neil Choi · June 29, 2015, 07:29:13 AM

What??? Relax.

And anyway, how come when put a line between lines, it always adds another once sent to the forum, answer that.

Wonder if a Toyota Camry has an electronic oil level indicator.

Evan Bottcher · June 29, 2015, 07:47:17 AM

Quote from: Craig_m67 on June 28, 2015, 11:33:44 PM
It was a simple question, really didn't need your usual flair of passive aggressive sarcasm.

Time to check your meds, Craig. Your paranoia is showing.

Let it go,
Let it out,
Let it all unravel,
Let it free
And it will be
A path on which to travel.
(Leunig)

Potsie · June 29, 2015, 01:54:40 PM

I reckon Colin's 156 would also have an electronic 'oil meter' on startup. My 159 does. Unlike uncle Colcol I don't like to check my oil level manually (but I do have a squiz at tyre pressures, coolant, brake, and power steering fluid levels every time I fill up). The reason I don't like to check my oil level manually is: 1. The electronic readout has never been wrong and 2. The last time I checked to oil level with the dipstick, I pulled it out too hard and somehow managed to 'stretch' the dipstick 'coil of metal' close to where it meets the yellow bit that you pull on. Then again, I am a mechanical incompetent, unlike most of you guys.

Chewing 2l of oil every 1000k's does seem like a lot to me though - Neil seems on the money with his description of JTS. Potsie.

105junior · June 30, 2015, 05:08:22 PM

Since I have a small collection of cars 6 including 3 alfas I've become addicted to checking dipsticks (it's particularly annoying to my wife) as I have a few friends and other people I know who have destroyed engines due to not checking oil levels, one being a ferrari 308 gt4, and 2 105 coupes.

colcol · June 30, 2015, 08:40:24 PM

Back in the days when Dinosaurs walked the earth, uncle col worked at an engine reconditioner and about 80% of engines that we got to fix were caused by running out of oil or and coolant, and a few times selling a changeover engine and the purchaser not putting oil in it, because if you put oil in an engine and transport it and the engine is stored on its side, the engine sicks up all its oil on the floor / boot / ute / van, Colin.

Garibaldi · June 30, 2015, 09:07:28 PM

Col, I don't get why you wouldn't check the oil weekly. I can't understand why people would think that an engine doesn't use any oil between services and there is no need to open the bonnet, regardless of the type of vehicle they drive. It is true that modern cars don't use as much oil as older ones but that does not mean that you don't need to check it. It is it just poor education or a case of "I don't care" until they seize the motor and then they start to care in a big way as it usually costs them a lot of money.

colcol · June 30, 2015, 09:41:26 PM

I have found that new cars use more oil than old ones, due to thinner oils, back in the olden days, we used 20-30 oil in the winter and 30-40 oil in the summer, now the oils are 5-50, 10-40, 10-60, that is quite thin to get fuel consumption low with low friction and instant oil pressure on startup.
And then there is Direct Injection, with high pressure injectors washing the oil off the bores and very thin pistons rings for low friction wearing out shortly and not scraping the oil off the bores, but letting the oil burn as in Just Two Strokes.
Then the motor seizes and its bloody Alfa Romeo's always breaking down.
Gary, why are we talking about oil again?, Colin.

Craig_m67 · June 30, 2015, 10:09:58 PM

Quote from: Craig_m67 on June 28, 2015, 11:38:09 AM
Does this model not have an oil level indicator on startup?
Or can't it be trusted?

Checking the oil every week would get annoying, no wonder so many get lunched

I don't disagree with anything anybody said, but then that wasn't my question...

colcol · June 30, 2015, 11:34:28 PM

My 156 JTS 2002 model does not have an oil level level check on start up, but should, someone said that the previous model the 155 did??.
I don't trust these devices anyway, the 33 had a oil level check on startup, which was variable to say the least!, Colin.

Garibaldi · July 01, 2015, 10:31:20 AM

Quote from: colcol on June 30, 2015, 09:41:26 PM
I have found that new cars use more oil than old ones, due to thinner oils, back in the olden days, we used 20-30 oil in the winter and 30-40 oil in the summer, now the oils are 5-50, 10-40, 10-60, that is quite thin to get fuel consumption low with low friction and instant oil pressure on startup.
And then there is Direct Injection, with high pressure injectors washing the oil off the bores and very thin pistons rings for low friction wearing out shortly and not scraping the oil off the bores, but letting the oil burn as in Just Two Strokes.
Then the motor seizes and its bloody Alfa Romeo's always breaking down.
Gary, why are we talking about oil again?, Colin.

That's because we love oil Colin as it is the lifeblood of our engines.

colcol · July 07, 2015, 08:46:13 PM

Its not the Camry's that are the problem, its just the leisurely way they are all being driven by the owners.
What did the grey army drive before Camry's???, the Toyota Corona and before that, Austin 1800's, [the land crab], Colin.

dc_cudi · July 08, 2015, 06:49:49 AM

Bit of a delayed reply. From what I am aware my JTS does have an electronic indicator but its useless, only ever comes on when im pushing it around a corner. At the moment i am using Penrite 25w-70 to try and lower oil consumption which has helped a bit. The guy at autobarn was extremely surprised when i told him this, he said if it was him he would have gone with the 10w-60 and tried using some additives that are designed for older engines which burn oil etc, what are peoples thoughts on this? would this be a better option? Might just have to try it to see how it works.

Garibaldi · July 08, 2015, 09:20:16 AM

Quote from: colcol on July 07, 2015, 08:46:13 PM
Its not the Camry's that are the problem, its just the leisurely way they are all being driven by the owners.
What did the grey army drive before Camry's???, the Toyota Corona and before that, Austin 1800's, [the land crab], Colin.

Col, you are right, you can actually drive a Camry quite hard. I have frightened a few people, I don't think they could believe what they were seeing. Camrys don't have Alfa like handling but they are not bad for what they are.