European guy dreaming at a VX --- some Questions

[Maddawg]

115K on mine runs better than any other v6 ive owned (aside from the oil issue)

How much oil are you using, if you don't mind? Is that common around here?

[evillecutter]

How much oil are you using, if you don't mind? Is that common around here?

i use at least a quart for every 1k miles and i change my oil about every 2k miles because it always looks like it needs it - filter every two changes - seems to be a commom problem there are a few different threads about it on this site - something to do with the pistons not having enough drain holes for the oil to circulate so it gets vaporized and goes out the exhaust - i believe the 3.5l is the same motor on the outside as the 3.2l just bigger pistons for more horsepower and torque - obviously the engineers didnt do near enough testing on the 3.5l - i think quite a few people might have blown their motors thinking the vx was invincible or from not checking the oil and gave the 3.5l a bad name but other then the oil problem i havent found any issues that i wouldnt have on any 13 year old used v6

[Maddawg]

i use at least a quart for every 1k miles and i change my oil about every 2k miles because it always looks like it needs it - filter every two changes - seems to be a commom problem there are a few different threads about it on this site - something to do with the pistons not having enough drain holes for the oil to circulate so it gets vaporized and goes out the exhaust - i believe the 3.5l is the same motor on the outside as the 3.2l just bigger pistons for more horsepower and torque - obviously the engineers didnt do near enough testing on the 3.5l - i think quite a few people might have blown their motors thinking the vx was invincible or from not checking the oil and gave the 3.5l a bad name but other then the oil problem i havent found any issues that i wouldnt have on any 13 year old used v6

That's interesting. Thanks Eville, My VX uses exactly the same oil amount every 1000 mi. I just set the odometer to 0 and check it again at 999. I was thinking maybe it was valve guides, because I don't see any evidence of smoke, but I do get a black residue on my exhast pipe tip.
My 2002 Axiom has the same engine but I don't get any oil usage between changes, but its only got 30,000 mi. on it so far. Is it something that developed over time with the VX or was it evident from the beginning?