Greetings Everyone:
Very much in love with my used 2002 Jag VDP (non Nikasil) with 82,000 miles. Promise I will post a pic soon. The car is just a stunner. After driving for a month, have noticed something...the car seems to be burning oil at a rate I'm not used to...about a quart every 1,500 miles, this in the face of the following:
1) Checked out by a great Jag specialist for compression, as part of his assessment of the car, who also replaced leaky valve cover gaskets, and there are no other leaks of any kind
2) Passed California emissions with flying colors...super clean on emissions
3) Runs smooth as silk, silent idle
4) Oil not soiling between changes...very clean
5) Car is averaging 20 to 21 MPG in mixed driving (I'm a gentle driver) and that includes using A/C
...are there seals that are internal that need replacing (valve stem?)...I havent brought it up to my mechanic...figured I would at the next service. Should I be worried? The engine doesn't sound or feel tired...thanks for your input.

 

Possible valve stem seals are worn, or valve guides are worn, or bad piston rings. Check the spark plugs and post a pic of them.

 

That is a little high, but not something to throw money at. Some of the Techs would probably suggest adding a qt. of Restore. If you're using 5W30, consider 10W40 for your next change.

 

Assuming that you have not changed the oil yet, it may be that there was a lot of blow-by in the oil,, maybe due to a lot of short runs before you bought the car, and that is now evaporating, lowering the oil level. I would give it another one or two thousand miles, checking the oil regularly, to see what happens. If oil usage is high, try heavier oil, as previous poster suggested.
In the words of Douglas Adams and corporal Jones (dads army)

Don't Panic

Even if it does continue to use oil, the car has been checked out and runs nicely, so you are not likely to have a catastrophic failure, just factor it in to the running costs.

 

Thanks Everyone:
I will keep you posted on what happens.