3200 oil usage

Author
Discussion

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Monday 6th December 2004
quotequote all
does anyone else notice the amount of oil the 3200 uses !!!!
ive done approx 1,000 miles and it needs topping up ?
am i naive or is this normal for a "supercar" !!

Andrew Richmond

1,510 posts

259 months

Monday 6th December 2004
quotequote all
Mine used hardly any...sorry!

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Monday 6th December 2004
quotequote all
Hi Andrew , thanks for response.

I Have owned mine for 3 weeks approx and this is the first time she has needed oil.

I have driven some 800 Miles some high revs some not !
Just getting used to her performance and the various power bands etc.

She refused to start up and then the "Check Oil" light came on ! Upon adding the maserati Oil she started no problem ! How weird is that !!!
Is there some electronic device to stop the engine ticking over so you dont damage her ?
Pete

chris_n

1,232 posts

264 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I don't think a little bit of oil usage is anything to be concerned about so long as it's not excessive. Mine certainly needs topping up every couple of weeks.

Chris

craigw

12,248 posts

288 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
mine doesnt seem to use much at all.fwiw.

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
thats put my mind at rest chris.
What oil do you use ?
ive just received oil from maserati "selenia" i think its called .
is there any alternatives that can mix with whats in the car ?
thanks
Pete

mr_tony

6,339 posts

275 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
re alternatives pete - the ferrari mechanicas told me that the shell branded oil 10W40 would be ok if you were 'caught short'. They did recommend sticking to the selenia though.

mine has used about 3 litres in the last year - doing around 10k miles in that time...

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Hi Mr Tony - thanks for your reply.

I was a little concerned when she needed half a litre last night but i guess its part of learning about the 3200 .

Ive not owned a car which requires this much oil after just 800 miles !

How come the 3200 uses so much oil ?
Its not a problem, im more curious than anything else!
as this is my first true high performance car i am on a learning curve and am interested to find out what the pitfalls of the car are as the dealers can tell you one thing but its not like finding out from "real" owners.

cheers
Pete

mr_tony

6,339 posts

275 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
seem to notice that mine uses oil hardest when working hardest.

e.g. around town and pootling about it won't consume very much if any, spend some time driving at high speed for sustained periods (and running really hot) and it seems to use oil.

Doesn't seem to be a problem - and 3 litres in 10k miles for me isn't much, my old merc c36 would drink that much in half that distance...

v12v8

1,153 posts

257 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
My car uses about 1 litre evrey 500 miles. 2 separate franchised dealers have advised that this level of usage is within tolerance. I even had my engine pressure tested (?) and was told it was in excellent condition.

I have had several turbo cars and they all use a lot of oil. Something to do with the the oil being used to lubricate the turbos (?).

May have this completely wrong tho'.

I would just (as a precaution) check round the car to make sure you are not losing oil (will be wet with oil round the engine and under the car) or burning it (generally a lot of soot over the back of the car). If you see either of these, get it down to the garage sharpish.

Am I right in guessing that you stopped for fuel and then when you started the car, the oil light came on?

Beasty

240 posts

289 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I get through a lot, about 2 litres in 3000 miles. The car is currently being serviced and I have asked whether it is normal. There are no leaks or other problems. I'll post if I learn anything.

McNab

1,627 posts

280 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Cars are different and driving styles are different. Turbos use more (slightly different tolerances), but by and large I think we got used to virtually nil oil consumption until the fairly recent leap forward in engine power.

From the sublime to the gorblimey, XK engines could use up to 5 litres per 1,000 miles if thrashed from day one, whereas 30 years later the average 'cooking' engine used almost none at all between services. Then came the turbo era, and even the bullet-proof Porsche Turbo could use a litre in 1,000 miles when new.

The figures quoted for Maseratis aren't a worry IMHO.

bad loser

259 posts

245 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I've just had to put some in, actually, and I wondered what the difference is between Selenia and other brands of oil.

I've used a 2 litre can of oil and done about 8k miles so that's not too bad, IMHO.

v12v8

1,153 posts

257 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Selenia have a tie up with the Fiat group - that is why it is recommended (moi, un cynic?).

Apparently Castrol have brought out a same spec oil which is just as good and half the price of Selenia Racing...

chris_n

1,232 posts

264 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
I'm sure Nick is right but I tend to use the Selenia "just to be on the safe side" - suppose this is what they're after when they do these tie-ups. I pick it up from my local Alfa dealer.

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
most of my journeys are local 5 to 10 miles.
i drive her twice a week for an hour to give her a good run but thats it .
just checked my milage and ive only driven 450 miles !
shocking for needing oil already .

chris_n

1,232 posts

264 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
Could it be that the majority of oil consumption is when the engine is cold before everything is warmed up to its proper operating tolerance, so lots of short journeys = more oil consumed? Sure someone will advise if I'm talking rubbish.

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th December 2004
quotequote all
that makes sense chris.
could well be that.
know I know other drivers have similar usage of oil, I am not worried . It seems to go with the ownership of the 3200.

BOBBO

14 posts

244 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
I have done 34000 miles and used 6 litres (extra) apart from servicing top ups. On long runs in the summer it doesnt use any but in the winter on short runs uses a bit, still cant complain at all.

Oil light sometimes comes on after opening fuel tank, something about level groun sensors.

Always stuck to Selinia so far but may try something else in the future.

maserati3200gt

Original Poster:

1,576 posts

240 months

Wednesday 8th December 2004
quotequote all
bobbo whats these level ground sensors ?
can you shed any more info on them as what you describe has happened here!
thanks.