Strange Oil Consumption

Crazy Dazz · 16-08-2020, 12:17 AM

We have a Nissan Pulsar that has been in the family for several years. It is a 2005 Model, one of the last Japanese Pulsars. It has the QG18DE engine.

Apart from (the known problem of) cooking the crank-angle sensor, its has never missed a beat. But from the day we got it, it has had a weird oil consumption problem. It had done about 75kk when we got it, and now I think is up around 120.
It doesn't smoke, or leak, and shows no signs of burning oil.

Because of this issue, we took to checking the oil daily. It will go for weeks of regular driving without the level dropping. Then suddenly slurp a couple of litres is as many days.
It's not my car, so I can't tie the use to any particular mode of driving.
It's an automatic so doesn't get over-revved.

Now this engine IS notorious for its high consumption. 0.5L/kkm is considered common (and if you consider that the engine only holds 2.5L, then there's a problem.) But I can't find any actually explanation for the high use, or the bizarre pattern.

Any thoughts or ideas on what I should investigate, are most welcome.