While driving to a park yesterday I noticed the oil pressure light come on for just a second. I got to the park, did my hike and when I started to leave I checked the level. Oil wasn't even touching the dipstick from what I could tell. I drove it home as long as the oil pressure light stayed off. When I got it home I fortunately had some mobil-1 ready cos i was going to do an oil change this weekend. I put a quart in and tested the level - not even touching still. I went ahead and poured two more quarts in and it was at the top of the full level then. 3 quarts. It has been < 6000 miles since I changed the oil (I try to do the 3000 mile change but sometimes it goes over). I haven't noticed any oil patches on my driveway recently. Today I took the car in to a Jiffy Lube and had them examine it. They found nothing and no build-up anywhere to indicate it was leaking. They did notice (and I've noticed it too when I've been underneath the car) that there is a fine line of oil all around the oil pan. So, maybe a gasket needs changing, I don't know.
I'm going to keep a sharp eye out all week and see what's up. It's never done this before but once last year I did tell my dad when i did a change at his place that it seems like less oil came out of the pan than what I put in.
There is no visible smoke of any sort coming out of the tailpipe. My car has alway had stellar emissions from the testing facility. I have 129,000 miles on this car. I intended to get 300,000. I drive it gingerly to maximize gas mileage. I do regular oil changes and have just recently started doing them myself so that I can step up and use synthetic stuff and a better quality oil filter.
It's raining here today but as soon as it dries up I'm putting the car on the ramps and run it a bit as see if anything comes out. I'd like to hear theories or suggestions on where to look for possible leaks. Thanks a bunch.