Action: Time should reduce car's oil consumption

I purchased a Nissan Sentra in December 2001 from AutoWay Nissan. Following the manufacturer's warranty specifications, I have taken it in for routine maintenance and oil changes. At 1,400 miles, I was a quart low on oil, which I topped with 5W30. I informed the dealership of this when I went in for the 3,000-mile oil change (it was a half-quart low at that time) and was told that it is well within specs to burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. It was the first I had heard of anything like this.

I also have found that the gas consumption is much higher than rated. I am getting 17 miles per gallon versus 24 in the city. Also, black soot is layered in the exhaust pipe. I had an oil consumption test done at the dealership at 4,735 miles. A quart of oil had to be added before it could be done. The test showed it was a quarter of a quart low after the test.

I called Nissan Corp. and asked if this was normal and, if so, to show me documentation, which it couldn't provide. I owned a 1987 Nissan pickup for 10 years, and it never burned a quart between oil changes. I am afraid that something is seriously wrong with my engine. I would appreciate any help or guidance. Andrew Venecia

Response: Steve Sturges, AutoWay Nissan's service director in Clearwater, said you purchased a 2002 Sentra SE-R on Dec. 22, 2001. On April 13, AutoWay Nissan inspected the reported oil consumption concern.

According to the paperwork you included with your complaint to Action, the car was inspected again by another Nissan dealership on June 11. Sturges said the SE-R is a high performance 4-cylinder engine.

Adding a quart of oil per 1,000 miles during the vehicle's break-in period is not unusual, he said. Higher oil use during the break-in period is to be expected and nothing about your vehicle's oil consumption raises red flags. The dealership that services your vehicle should monitor your oil use, which would normally reduce as the engine parts mate or wear together.

Your engine is covered under warranty by Nissan Motor Corp. USA for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Sturges said that if a manufacturing defect is determined to cause excessive oil consumption, your warranty would cover the repair completely as long as the vehicle was maintained properly.

Oil consumption is also affected by how you drive your car. If you drive it hard, it will use more oil, he said. (The same holds true of gas.) The engine of your 1987 Nissan pickup is radically different from that of your Nissan Sentra, and the oil consumption rates of the two cannot be compared. Sturges said that you are in good hands with AutoWay Nissan, the other Nissan dealership and Nissan Motor Co.

Rebate complaints

In a recent column, a reader requested help in recovering a refund that had been promised within six to eight weeks. I am experiencing the same problem in getting a refund of $140 that is now in its 14th week. Is there a government agency with which readers can register a complaint when companies fail to keep their promises and give a runaround when efforts are made to recover the rebate? John Price

Response: Two agencies come immediately to mind. Instate there's the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The division of consumer services serves as the state's clearinghouse for consumer information, protection and complaints. It also is responsible for a number of regulatory laws in such areas as motor vehicle repair shops, sellers of travel, telemarketing and so on. In addition, the division conducts investigations of violations that involve unfair and deceptive trade practices, plus laws that fall under its jurisdiction. To file a complaint, call toll-free 1-800-435-7352. Complaints may also be filed online at www.800helpfla.com.

At the federal level, the agency to contact is the Federal Trade Commission. Keep in mind that the agency does not become involved in individual disputes. It does, however, look for patterns of possible violations of the law, and information from consumers is vital to its law enforcement efforts. Call toll-free 1-877-382-4357. Complaints may also be filed online at www.ftc.gov.

- Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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