Oil Consumption..WHERE?
#1
Slowest Progress Ever
Thread Starter
iTrader: (26)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,028
Total Cats: 304
Oil Consumption..WHERE?
I bought my car in March of last year with 103,000 miles on it. It would take 1 quart of oil (Castrol GTX 5w-30) between oil changes. Now it has 123,000 miles on it and a mild turbo setup, and oil consumption rose to 2 or more quarts between oil changes. My car doesn't leak, or smoke that I can see. Where is the oil going? Is it being burnt up due to bad rings? Or could this be a problem with the head? How do I determine the cause?
#2
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,339
Total Cats: 6,793
Based on the character of your observation, I presume that the oil is not leaking out from the engine externally.
The most common causes of internal oil consumption would be, in no particular order:
1- Worn rings
2- Faulty valve seals
3- Faulty PCV system
Rings can be diagnosed to some degree of accuracy by performing a compression test. If compression is initially low but increases significantly after introducing a small amount of oil through the plug hole, then rings are suspect.
There's no test that I'm aware of for valve seals, but a defect in this area will usually be accompanied by the production of bluish smoke just after the engine has been started after resting for a period of time.
It is possible that a fault in the crankcase ventilation system can lead to increased oil consumption, either directly through the intake, or indirectly by permitting crankcase pressure to decrease the sealing efficiency of the rings.
I would start with a compression test. It's quick, easy, and informative.
The most common causes of internal oil consumption would be, in no particular order:
1- Worn rings
2- Faulty valve seals
3- Faulty PCV system
Rings can be diagnosed to some degree of accuracy by performing a compression test. If compression is initially low but increases significantly after introducing a small amount of oil through the plug hole, then rings are suspect.
There's no test that I'm aware of for valve seals, but a defect in this area will usually be accompanied by the production of bluish smoke just after the engine has been started after resting for a period of time.
It is possible that a fault in the crankcase ventilation system can lead to increased oil consumption, either directly through the intake, or indirectly by permitting crankcase pressure to decrease the sealing efficiency of the rings.
I would start with a compression test. It's quick, easy, and informative.
#3
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 1,369
Total Cats: -1
Based on the character of your observation, I presume that the oil is not leaking out from the engine externally.
The most common causes of internal oil consumption would be, in no particular order:
1- Worn rings
2- Faulty valve seals
3- Faulty PCV system
Rings can be diagnosed to some degree of accuracy by performing a compression test. If compression is initially low but increases significant after introducing a small amount of oil through the plug hole, then rings are suspect.
There's no test that I'm aware of for valve seals, but a defect in this area will usually be accompanied by the production of bluish smoke just after the engine has been started after resting for a period of time.
It is possible that a fault in the crankcase ventilation system can lead to increased oil consumption, either directly through the intake, or indirectly by permitting crankcase pressure to decrease the sealing efficiency of the rings.
I would start with a compression test. It's quick, easy, and informative.
The most common causes of internal oil consumption would be, in no particular order:
1- Worn rings
2- Faulty valve seals
3- Faulty PCV system
Rings can be diagnosed to some degree of accuracy by performing a compression test. If compression is initially low but increases significant after introducing a small amount of oil through the plug hole, then rings are suspect.
There's no test that I'm aware of for valve seals, but a defect in this area will usually be accompanied by the production of bluish smoke just after the engine has been started after resting for a period of time.
It is possible that a fault in the crankcase ventilation system can lead to increased oil consumption, either directly through the intake, or indirectly by permitting crankcase pressure to decrease the sealing efficiency of the rings.
I would start with a compression test. It's quick, easy, and informative.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Zaphod
MEGAsquirt
47
10-26-2018 11:00 PM
stoves
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
5
04-21-2016 03:00 PM
JesseTheNoob
DIY Turbo Discussion
15
09-30-2015 02:44 PM