is it normal for 09 4.7l with 75000 k to be using a quart of oil between changes.. using mobil 1 synthetic 5w20..would it hurt to go to 5w30..thanks for any replies..

 

How many miles between oil changes?
Even at 3K, that doesn't seem to be excessive.

I had a 4.7 in another Ram. It blew a maniford gasket and burned oil at 1qt/500 miles. They replaced the gasket and it was good to go. I noticed about a pint to a quart down per oil change. This happened at about 30K miles, depended on city or highway driving, and 3K oil change interval.

 

I would try a different brand of 5w20 first. I have the 5.7 Hemi and I found that I had some oil consumption - maybe half a quart between oil changes - with Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 (very good oil) so I switched to Castrol Syntech 5w20 and oil consumption is essentially zero.

Even though many oils are classified as 5w20 some are "thicker" than others. I checked data sheets and the Castrol Syntech had a bit higher viscosity at operating temperature, and good volatility numbers so I switched. I'v used it for the past couple of oil changes and even with some boat towing and high speed driving there is little if any consumption. I have 91,000 km (55,000 miles) on my 2009.

I did my last oil change a week ago and decided to try Valvoline Synpower which has had good reviews. It was on sale so I thought I'd give it a try. Will be interesting to see if there is any effect on oil consumption.

 

I can't get 5w20 very easy in the UK or anywhere in Europe, seems to be a US only oil, so i am using 5w30 fully synthetic.....just done a round trip of 3,200 miles all on motorways at 80mph 90% of the time, hemi used a good full quart of oil

 

Skip the synthetic junk and use conventional, you'll use less oil. In any event 1 quart of 7 wouldn't be considered abnormal oil usage.

If you ever actually see 0 oil consumption then you have a serious problem or can't read a dipstick.

 

OJ, we usually see eye to eye on most topics but, I can read a dipstick and my '09 hemi does not use oil between changes. As a matter of fact, a couple of months ago, I towed a lightweight camping trailer (3500 lbs max) form Southern California, thru Nevada and Utah into Idaho and over to Wyoming and back for 2,900 miles. I changed the oil before I left (mobil1 5W20) and noted the dipstick level, I kept checking it and when I returned, it was on the same spot. While I agree that some motors use some oil some do not use much if any at all during the oil change interval. I would not worry even if I used 1 quart every oil change, which I do every 5,000 miles.

 

Synthetics have far less oil loss due to volatility issues(burn off) then conventional oils. Some more then others. It is usually in the spec sheet of the oil. Volatility that is. I don't change brands. I start a engine on one I like and stick with through my ownership of the vehicle. The last 15 years or so I have used Amsoil products only. I like the ease of buying and the quality of their products.

 

Seems impossible that an engine is not using any oil when you consider what the oil is used for. A certain amount of the oil has to get burned unless you have the tightest rings known to man.

Mine burns about 1/2-3/4 quart in 3000 miles, which is my normal change interval.

 

I never really had a situation of adding additional oil during a 3k duration, but I'd be willing to bet its down at least half a quart. I empty my oil catch-can every 1,500 miles, guessing that amounts to a little less then half a pint alone every 3k miles by itself.

 

Yes, engines use some oil but they also hide oil. When I change my oil, I pay attention at how much comes out. If I'm in a hurry, I open the drain plug and empty the pan, then I hurry and do the oil filter. If I take my time, I'll drain the pan and put the plug back in, I go away for about a beer and when I come back and drain the pan again, I get a lot of oil out. So even if the engine burned some, there is enough oil stored in the engine valleys and nooks that slowly drain to the pan so the dipstick reads about the same after milage as when fresh. In my engine the amount used is not noticeable by the dipstick.

Look, I have tried to measure the oil that comes out during an oil change but that is not an easy thing to do. I don't get as much out as I put in based on dumping the pan, but then there is about 1/2 a quart in the filter and some in the engine, so maybe my truck is using 1/2 a quart every oil change but the dipstick doesn't show it.