Rep Power: 0

Ok, so I am burning oil. The car has 225,000 miles on it, and bought it at 220,000. I am not 100% sure how much I am burning, but after about 3700 miles, when I took turns or braked hard, the oil light would come on, so I added a quart. Changed the oil at 4000, burn oil there. I am not sure what oil was in it when I bought it, but I changed to mobil 1 on the first change. I heard this might of been a mistake, as you should do 3 changes with semi synthetic before going full because of seals. I am a car noob, so don't laugh when I didn't get a compression test done before I bought it. I think the piston rings have gone bad, but that is just what I have been reading. Any suggestions? I think I might order a compression tester. Any tips on what one to buy? What kind of numbers should I be looking for? Thanks for the help.

 
Rep Power: 313

Synthetic oil is more likely to leak than convention and you are free to change over as you will (back and forth etc. as much as u want as fast as u want). If your burning that much it sounds serious, possibly piston rings or a head gasket unfortunatly. Even synthetic wont burn if the car is functioning properly and this is too hard to diagnose over the internet Get a proper checkover by a mechanic or do it yourself if you have the ability.

 
Rep Power: 0

Any idea what compression numbers I should look for to see out of a compression test? I did have my foot in the car for the first few thousand miles, so I have let it off quite a bit, hoping to curb the oil habit the engine seems to have.

 
Rep Power: 313

Compression numbers vary from car to car... It's more important that compression is even across the board than it is what the actual numbers are.... such as 160/160/160/160 and 180/180/175/180 are both ok. But 140/180/180/180 something is wrong with cylinder #1.