This winter I exclusively used a less well known oil, Texaco Ursa, 10W30. And to my surprise, it did not burn one drop of oil. Some people told me this what too light though.

So, when winter ended, I changed to Delvac. It burnt through Delvac in an odd fashion, so next oil change I switched back to what I originally used: Chevron Delo-400. And I check today, with approx 1500 (half of the interval) it has burnt oil down the the "time to fill up" line. I have been driving faster, around 80 as opposed to 65, could this be causing more oil usage. Its not a lot...around 1/2-5/8 of quart or so. But it weirds me out when an oil most people in US have never heard of doesn't burn at all, while 2 out of the big three dino oils burn.

Hmmm

Is that Ursa a synthetic or semisynthetic? If so, you will burn less off the cylinder walls and it probably won't slide down the valve guide seals as easily, either.

I had the same experience with the work van -- if I put Mobil 1 in it rather than the "normal" Shell Rotella (we have a Shell credit card for the vehicles), the oil consumption dropped to zero. After an oil change, it was right back up to a quart in 1500 or so, with a little blue puff on startup cold. Probably not worth changing the valve guide seals (I certainly don't want to!).

10W30 is fine for winter driving as the oil temp won't be all that high. I'd use something a bit heavier in the summer.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Ursa is a full fledged dino oil. But somehow, I had really good luck with it.

Kyle,
Maybe you can find the Ursa in a 15w-40 grade for summer? My buddy runs Ursa 40w in his 8-71TI Detroit Diesels. It burns anything else you put in it but the Ursa stays topped up. Weird. Oh yeah, the Detroits take 15 gallons of oil EACH! RT

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I want to think that maybe changing three different oil formulations (Delo, Ursa, Delvac)/driving at 85+ for a span of 15 minutes may have been the reason. I topped it off, and it took about 1/2 a quart to put it halfway up the "safe zone" between low and overfilled. If this is the oil consumption I have to put up with, I am happy. I think it may have something to do with changing between these two different types of oils.

Yes the Ursa is absolutely brilliant, but the place I get it from only has 10w30. Its funny: I pay 6.17 for a gallon of Delo-400, and it burns half a quart. I pay 4.99 for a gallon of 10w30 Ursa (lighter weight... should burn MORE...) and it stays there rock hard.

Veird....

Edit: And for those who doubt it's credibility, the 10W30 is rated for these applications...the short list:

Cummins CES 20078, 20076
DDC/MTU Series 2000/4000 Type 1
EMA LRG –1
MTU Category 1
Mack EO-N Premium Plus, EO-M PLUS, EO-M, EO-L PLUS, EO-L
MAN M271
Mercedes Benz 228.1
Volvo VDS