08 grand caravan has been low on oil (little over a qt) for 2 changes. No leak. No smoke. Where is oil?

Question

Alarm for low oil pressure lights and goes away once maybe twice at about the same time oil is to be changed. No oil on car underneath and no oil on white drop cloth put under car in the garage to check for leak. I would assume one of us would notice smoke or smell if oil did leak but onto something hot and then burnt away. The car has about 90000 miles on it. No other problems that I notice. Oil is clean on dipstick. I am tempted to add a quart at about 2000 miles into oil change and then continue oil change schedule (between 3500 and 4000 miles). Is there somewhere else I can check (or probably have checked) and is this a drop everything priority item or a keep an eye on problem?
Thank you for helpful advice.

Answer 1

Piston rings periodically unseat for a while, and the oil getting to the top ring causes it to re-seat. To cure this, I add a small amount (2 ounces) of clean motor oil to every tank of gasoline. This not only keeps the rings seated, but lubes the fuel pump inside the gas tank and prevents rust in the tank, too. My wife's Honda ws using a quart every 700 miles when we got (190,000 miles on the odometer) it 8 years ago. By just adding oil to the gas, it now just gets to the add line when I change at 3,000 miles (at 240,000 miles). Try it.

Answer 2

I would guess you are looking at wear. The engine is starting to get to much clearance somewhere and oil is getting into your chamber and being burned. The little bit of oil you are burning wouldn't be noticeable as smoke from the tailpipe. You could try switching to a high mile oil to see if it helps. At that kind of mileage though I am not surprised to see a little oil consumption.

Answer 3

pretty common for a car to use a quart of oil,between changes, I have a 03 durango 89000 great running rig, I have had it ten years have added a quart every couple months,since i have had it, Can always tell at startup if its low,lifters clatter,Only had two cars in 40 years of driving that never used some oil,Buick Centuries,had a 90 traded it in for a 94,both superb cars.My cuda i had in high school used oil,but it was old when i got it.

Answer 4

simple fact of the matter is that the engine is burning some of the oil. it is a fact of life and very normal. some oil gets past the piston rings and by the valve stem seals, that oil is consumed by the engine. a qt is the normal rate of consumption.