Those are good oil consumption figures for that mileage. On our engines, it is usually the valve seals that wear, so at around 200K the consumption goes up. Especially when the manifold vacuum is high and the engine is relatively cool (such as driving short distances around town).

Long highway trips at 2000+ rpm are actually good for the engine. The valves get turned in their seats, the carbon burns off, the extra warm oil disolves sludge, the very hot oil vapors clean the PCV system, and everything works better for a while.

It is not the brand of engine oil that matters, it is how you treat the engine. It needs to be exercised.

When the consumption gets to 1 quart/1,000 miles or worse, it is too late for the engine to 'fix' itself on a road trip. Too much damage has been done and a good mechanical repair is the only solution.

Moral: Drive it like you hate it!

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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

Count your blessings. Our '95 is now using about a quart every 800 miles.

Crazy consumption, but the funny thing is that it doesn't drip and unless it is sitting idling for 10 minutes, you'd never think it burns any. Even the plugs look ok.

I'm thinking that someone siphons it out during the week.
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"Differences of opinions should be tolerated, but not if they're too different" - Sharon Craig

While I don't have a technical answer or guess I'd imagine the relatively higher mileage is a factor, what oil are you using?

My 98XC was using about 1 qt over 5k miles, with about 215k on the clock. I was using Mobil 1 0w40.

Steve