using oil?

My motor is dry as a bone for the most part, no valve cover leakage and from every inch of the head gaskets other than the very back of the motor( which I can't see) look perfect.  I'm using about 1 quart every 3000k, no issues other than when I've changed the oil the past few times I would need to top up if not changing it out.  Anyone elses Disco burn a little oil? 

So you are loosing a quart every 3000K, not sure what that works out to in mileage but it is somewhat unusual for a Rover. Manufactures don't consider an engine to be burning oil unless you are using 1 quart per 800 miles or less.
What do your plugs look like, how often do you change your oil and what oil and weight are you using?

If you think your burning oil your valve seals are bad or the oil rings on your piston(s). Burning oil isn't good for a cat.

Plugs are clean, I run castrol syntec 5w30 w/ a mobile 1 filter and change oil religiously every 3000k.  You're right, it isn't considered a problem by manufacturer standards but it still makes me curious.  I do have some valve tap at startup despite having done the ATF flush, induction cleaning, run the above oil and filter.  You might me onto something w/ the valve seals but I wouldn't think that would be likely?

Try driving down a long hill with your foot off the gas for a bit, when you go to give it more gas, see if you have any dark smoke come from the exhaust as a puff of smoke. If you do, you are loosing oil past the valve stems. Check your PCV tube to see if the oil seporator is plugged, may want to replace it.

might bump up to 10W30 and see. 5 is a little on the light side, plus running synthetic, you should be ok...

Ya I'd bump up to 10w30.

My '97 uses 2 quarts for the first 1500 miles after I change the oil and then not at all for the rest of the 3500 miles until I change it again.

Going from 5w30 to 10w30 will not have any effect, if you want to go thicker you'll need to go to 5w40 or 10w40, oil reaches operating temperature fairly quickly and that's the 2nd viscosity number.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Spike555

My '97 uses 2 quarts for the first 1500 miles after I change the oil and then not at all for the rest of the 3500 miles until I change it again.

 
Thats crazy.

Couple things come to mind:
1) Do you make a lot o short trips?
2) Are there any leaks (they can add up)
3) Does is smoke even a little when you start it up in the morning ...or after it sits a couple days. Have someone start it up and watch the tailpipe yourself.
4) Disco Mike was right about watching it going down a long hill. But I would add that you should follow in a car behind. Sometimes it's hard to see smoke inside the vehicle.
5) If you had a little of each issue listed above they could each contribute and you might not really know it. Oil seals are not too hard to do. If it's valve stem guides, it would be the right time to take the heads off and do the gaskets.
6) I wouldn't consider 1 qt per 3000 miles anything to worry about.
 
Mark G

I check the oil every Sat morning after it has sat over night. It is crazy that it uses so much in the first 1/3 of the fresh oil change and then not at all in the last 2/3's. It just blows my mind.
It doesnt smoke and leaks very little around the valve covers.
I use Mobil 1 15w50 Extended Life and change it every 5000 miles. Oh, and 170000 smiles on the clock.