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Hi
My van is burning oil at an unusual rate.
The van is a Nissan Caravan with a petrol engine.
We have been using a 10W30 oil for a very long time until all of a sudden we noticed the oil level was low.
We checked for spills and found none.
We have then been recommended to increase oil viscosity to 15W40 and so we did, yet the situation did not improve.
we then moved all the way up to a 20W50 and the van is now responding well.
Here are my questions?

How serious of a problem is when an engine starts burning oil at an unusual rate?
How likely is that the 20W50 has fixed the problem?

Many thanks
Daniele

A heavier oil will often alleviate the effect but will never fully address the cause of the issue which may include a ( Worn engine / Internal parts ), you should look for a permanent solution if you plan on keeping the van for a long time.