oil usage with deisel engines

Just some more info

What sort of car are you driving?

Even still diesel engines do use oil as a natural process. I believe toyota has an allowance of up to 1 litre per 10,000km. It also depends on how hard you are driving and the load you are towing.

Is it a Nissan? If so what model & year?

I agree it may appear excessive, but a lot of manufacturers will tell you that falls into their tolerence. A pint of oil in the old money for what seems a pretty intensive drive probably isn't over the top. Keeping an eye on it back at normal driving will give you a better idea. Speaking to Toyota Landcruiser 200 owners today and they would be happy if that was only how much oil their truck used. It only has 20,000klms on it.

If you have been pottering around town for some time before doing this trip it could just be burn off of condensates from idling along.

Lots of vehicles do that when run hard after a long time of just mucking about.

Other than that is it due for an oil change.

I had a Nissan Bluebird diesel that used no oil for first 4000k and then used a pint a 1000 till it was changed.

My 4.2 Litre GU never needs a top up between changes. It is just coming up to 200,000km on the clock.

Duncs

I have a 2.8td GQ and it never uses oil. After every trip or 5000km's (which ever comes first) I replace the oil. The level is still exactly the same (though rather black :) ).
Something definately isn't right IMHO.

makes sense. My GQ is only used for trips away on the open road.