I get to see my TL about once a month or so, as my daughter uses it to run back and forth between Adelaide and Waikerie.

I check the oil every time she visits.

The car was bought at 136,000 km and now has 178,000 km. The oil was last changed 7,000 km ago.

Shock, horror, it was down near the bottom mark and took quite a bit of oil to bring it back up, close to 1L. (Nulon 10W-40)

Obviously is using more oil in country running these days. How fast will it get worse, and how bad will it get, anyone else noticed country driving using more oil as the engine ages?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Could just be a one off thing. Do you use a different oil brand/type each time? Some people say that can cause consumption. Lots of high revving, esp. going down a steep grade using a low gear to slow the car can cause oil to be sucked into the cylinders by the high vacuum. PCV system may not be seperating the oil properly causing it to be sucked into the intake. Could just be a good old fashioned oil leak as well.

full synthetic seems to disappear quicker

I get to see my TL about once a month or so, as my daughter uses it to run back and forth between Adelaide and Waikerie.

I check the oil every time she visits.

The car was bought at 136,000 km and now has 178,000 km. The oil was last changed 7,000 km ago.

Shock, horror, it was down near the bottom mark and took quite a bit of oil to bring it back up, close to 1L. (Nulon 10W-40)

Obviously is using more oil in country running these days. How fast will it get worse, and how bad will it get, anyone else noticed country driving using more oil as the engine ages?

One top up in 7,000ks sounds pretty good to me, my KH uses a lot more then that but its getting new valve stem oil seals in the next week.

Not sure if this is relevant in your case, but a decent country run after a lengthy period of city driving can result in a rapid decrease in the oil level as pollutants are evaporated out. It shouldn't keep doing it though, if the miles are all (or mainly) country.

Not sure if this is relevant in your case, but a decent country run after a lengthy period of city driving can result in a rapid decrease in the oil level as pollutants are evaporated out. It shouldn't keep doing it though, if the miles are all (or mainly) country.

Yeah, I know what you mean but this car has done mainly country km over the last few years.
I'm used to having to add about half a litre of oil in between oil changes of 15,000 km, so I will need to see what it is like when it gets to there. If it is near the bottom mark again when it is due for a change, I will stop using the semi synthetic Nulon 10w-40 and go back to the non synthetic 10W-40 Valvoline I've used before. If that doesn't help, I will go 20W-50 Valvoline - and show my daughter how to check and top up the oil. lol

I have a 2003 TL with 185,000kms and have used about 1L of oil per 10,000kms recently. So that useage probably ok for an mitsu engine with that sort of mileage.

I have a TL Wagon 250,000 uses one litre per 10,000 k,s as well. Seems pretty normal to me

I usually change mine every 5,000kms (approx), which equates to 8-12 months use in our family ...needless to say the level hardly changes.

Fully Synthetic...at least I know it doesn't evaporate.

I have a 2003 TL with 185,000kms and have used about 1L of oil per 10,000kms recently. So that useage probably ok for an mitsu engine with that sort of mileage.

Nice to know! I will need to keep an eye on it I guess. As long as it doesn't get worse too soon.

expect up to 2 litres between scheduled services . I thought initially not normal but apparently it is
mines done more Mileage than yours and is used on freeways just as much or more >so we live and learn

I have a KJ2 with 204,000km on it.
It used 1L per 2,000km give or take, however 8,000km after doing my valve stem seals it is still on MAX.

I believe the type of oil used makes a difference to how fast the valve stem seals degrade. I've read that Magnatec oil causes this, and my car had 70,000km worth of Magnatec (at least) on it.

Currently running Shell Helix Ultra 5w40

Valve stem seals would be the main culprit, I'd think.
I just need to keep an eye on it a bit more often, see if it increases is is a consistent consumption.

I have a KJ2 with 204,000km on it.
It used 1L per 2,000km give or take, however 8,000km after doing my valve stem seals it is still on MAX.

I believe the type of oil used makes a difference to how fast the valve stem seals degrade. I've read that Magnatec oil causes this, and my car had 70,000km worth of Magnatec (at least) on it.

Currently running Shell Helix Ultra 5w40

that's handy to know because my TW with about 175000 suddenly started. Can't say exactly but in the last 12 months, before that never had to top up including newcastle to darwin in 2013. Next timing belt I may take the heads off for a refurb

It's not a cheap or easy job to take the heads off and to be honest from a financial perspective burning $50 of oil a year will mean that it'll never be worthwhile to have it fixed.

You can (as I did) change the valve stem seals with the heads in place. It is tedious, takes a long time, however it is enjoyable and ultimately extremely satisfying.

Try Penrite full synthetic, HPR 15 for example.
This stuff doesn’t burn!
I put some in a Briggs and Stratton powered lawn mower which has a stuffed engine, blows clouds of smoke on normal cheap oil.
Absolutely none on the Penrite left over from the Magna oil change.
Level has remained the same for 6 months now, mower used weekly.
Mal sys it's good for valve stem seals too.

A 20 Cents worth of wisdom.... - used to have to add a splash of oil (100ml - 250ml) every other weekend to keep the level on my TJ up which I thought had no oil leaks - until I was told it dropped oil overnight on a driveway, much examination and found leaky distributor seal and now = zero drop so far. These engines have notoriously leaky cam, crank, and rocker cover seals, and as much of it seems to land on the exhaust you may not "see" the leaks and who cares about the smoke at the traffic lights, when you have to update your facebook status....