Low oil but no oil leaks
 

Hey all.

I just got back from a quick drive down to the shops (granny style) and as I pulled into my driveway the oil light came on. I checked my oil and it's next to empty.

It is over due for a service (which I've decided to do tomorrow) but since I don't have leaks how the hell did I end up with next to no oil left?

P.S. I'm no mechanic and don't pretend to be.

Does your car blow smoke? If yes, what colour?

It could be as bad as worn piston rings. Or as simple as blown oil seals on the turbo causing oil to leak into the intake or exhaust and burn off.

Umm, I don't think it blows tons of smoke but the exhaust tip always ends up black.

// edited to add: i.e. if I look out my review mirror as I accelerate I don't see any smoke.

A black exhaust tip is normal.

Top up the oil and check on it daily. Keep a note of how much oil it uses. Anything up to 500ml of oil use between services (5000km) would be acceptable to me.

See if you can go for a drive with a mate in a car behind you. Get him to note any smoke and its colour. A little bit of black smoke is normal when you go full throttle.
Grey or white smoke once the car is warmed up is not good.

I've had the car for 4 years (third owner - previous owners looked after it too) and it's never done this. Usually ~500ml between services.

It is [i]well[/i] over a service though (like 20,000k - it's the first time, I swear :/)

20,000 KLMS? Sounds like normal consumption but it should have been serviced a couple of times in that time frame!

In the words of Darryn Hinch.... SHAME!

That's what I'm starting to think, fatboy. Hopefully my car lives longer than him (too soon?).

I've made the executive decision to service my car tomorrow and go into work on Friday instead.

Thanks for your advise, guys.

what car is it?
could be broken ringlands...

05 wrx.

Shit. I just checked my logs. Last time I serviced it was in February (40,000k ago).

I should be locked up for that.