oil consumption

[gfl@cc.bellcore.com (grant f lenahan)]

> They very carefully don't tell you what might be considered normal
> consumption: IE 1/2 Quart per 1,000 miles? 2,000 miles? 3,000 miles? My guess
> is that anything upto a quart every 3,500 miles under high speed Interstate
> driving conditions in summer is probably OK.

Audi does spec consumption (too conservatively in my book) at
up to 1 Qt/1000mi.

My experience is that normal usage on a good engine can be WAY
more than 1/3500mi.  My ex 4000q (now sold and runnign fine) 
was approaching 200k, good compression, and ALWAYS burned about
1 qt per oil change (2500-3000 miles).  My 90q20v burns about
1/3000+, but this is the lowest of any car I've owned.

My brand NEW A6Q burns about 1/1500, down from 1/750 when
really new.  It's now a grand old lady with nearly 6,000 miles
on the clock :-)

My advice?  Take a chill pill, there's little connection between
oil usage and engine health.  Just watch out for a drastic CHANGE -
that spells trouble.

Grant