Engine oil not leaking but decreasing

[villageidiotY2K]

Hi folks, I changed engine oil for my nissan almera turbo last october but low engine oil message shows up on the dashboard and after checking the dip stick it’s on the low.

Anyone know what’s causing this?

it’s not leaking from the oil pan.

It’s been around 4 months and I’ve driven only like 2000km.

 

engine oil brand is pt 20 (pt gas station brand) , I think lower viscosity compared to sae 40 used for my pick up

 

is it due to the cold weather?

[Moonlover]

What is the age and the milage of the vehicle?

 

Is the exhaust smoky?

[OneMoreFarang]

There are a couple of reasons why you might lose oil.

And as far as I know different cars have different typical reasons, especially for that car, why they lose oil.

For that reason, I suggest you find a specialist for your car.

If you want to invest more of your time then maybe look for an online forum for especially your car (not just cars in general) and look what you can find.

 

It's easy for mechanics to point out that you have to do this or that repair. And maybe after you did it, the problem is still there. Be careful how you spend your money on that one.

[novacova]

29 minutes ago, villageidiotY2K said:

Anyone know what’s causing this?

it’s not leaking from the oil pan.

Most commonly is the piston oil rings are worn or sticking by gunk.

[novacova]

Sticking oil rings usually can be easily fixed by removing the spark plugs and pouring a couple few ounces of solvent such as carb cleaner or something like Sea Foam in the cylinders and leave it for a eight hours or so, then place a rag over the plug ports and then turn the engine to flush the solvent, repeat if necessary and change the engine oil before running the engine.

[steve187]

oil should be 0w20, if its going down, then it is going somewhere, if no visible signs then its being burnt in the engine, or going in the coolant

[blaze master]

6 minutes ago, steve187 said:

oil should be 0w20, if its going down, then it is going somewhere, if no visible signs then its being burnt in the engine, or going in the coolant

 

This. Oil is more than likely leaking into the engine.

[DaRoadrunner]

Could be head gasket leak. Open the radiator reservoir cap. View the light reflected in the coolant. Is there a rainbow coloured oil slick floating on top of the water?

 

Remove oil filler cap and oil dipstick. Any signs of a creamy emulsion?

 

Look for smoke and steam coming out of the exhaust.

 

Run an engine compression test.

 

I don't know about PT 20 oil but a turbo runs at high temperatures, ordinary oil breaks down and fails to protect the engine. Turbo engines need synthetic oil which can maintain its molecular structure under heat and load. Shell synthetic is a good choice.

[HighPriority]

If you also changed the oil filter, you may have had air in the filter which after running the engine will result in the oil level dropping initially but stabilizing.

Is the level continuing to fall or is it stable ?

If it’s stable just top it up and off you go. 

[3NUMBAS]

Change the copper gasket at the drain plug every year

[villageidiotY2K]

Car is 4 years old bought as brand new.

25k mileage and there’s no smoky exhaust.

no milky emulsion in the radiator or stuck at oil dip stick.

As I googled maybe it’s burning in the engine and need to change the pcv valve?

 

I had the oil changed on October at a new store that just opened back then called autobacs. Mechanics looked like kids and not even wearing the stores uniform

 

and things like nova suggested I ain’t a mechanic and I can’t even jack up the car. So yeah 

 

just out of curiosity, should u get the car towed if the oil is in the radiator?

[Gobbler]

7 hours ago, villageidiotY2K said:

is it due to the cold weather?

Did you take it to Japan?

[ardsong]

for lubrication oil you better stay with the renowned names of the common brands, Shell, Esso etc. PT is a trading firm with stations to sell fuels and apparently also oils. I would never use PT lub oil , as you donot know where they bought the stuff nor do you know the quality of the lub oil. You engine is to precious to damage it with a low quality lub oil. For fuel PT is fine, as the fuels have to comply with a certain quality standard, for lub oils?