[SHOtimes] oil usage and finding a leak

[Paul Nimz]

My '93 was using a quart every 700 miles.  I switched to Castrol GTX
HiMilage 10w30 oil and it now takes 2000 miles to use a quart.  Amazing and
the effect was immediate.

Paul Nimz
'97 TR
'93 EG mtx


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Niemiec" <chooey_chomp@hotmail.com>
To: <dmall@mwonline.net>
Cc: <Shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [SHOtimes] oil usage and finding a leak


> I topped it off for now. Seems it was about a quart low, maybe a little
> less. Fresh oil seems to be much much harder to see on the dipstick than
> used oil. I'll try the 3rd gear trick sometime, but probably not here in
> South Dakota---wind is basically nonstop here!
>
> Would you recommend switching to high mileage oil, or would that be a
futile
> attempt at reconditioning the seals? I'm also about due for the second
60k,
> but not until the summer rolls around. The first 60k included a valve
lash,
> according to the records. Supposing I find a leak on the pan seal, I guess
I
> will be replacing rod bearings.
>
> Dave
>
>
> >From: Donald Mallinson <dmall@mwonline.net>
> >To: David Niemiec <chooey_chomp@hotmail.com>
> >CC: Shotimes@autox.team.net
> >Subject: Re: [SHOtimes] oil usage and finding a leak
> >Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 18:32:24 -0500
> >
> >Any leak that would get rid of a quart in 1000 miles is going to be big
> >enough that you won't have trouble finding it.  Believe it or not, spots
> >under a car are so slow a leak, that they usually won't effect oil level
> >for WAY beyond the normal change interval.
> >
> >Take a quart of oil and just pour it on your garage floor some day (NOT!)
> >and see just how much oil a quart is when spilled!
> >
> >Chances are it is going out through the combustion chamber through the
> >valve seals.  You won't notice this much because of the catalytic
> >converters.  Best way to tell is if there is a puff upon cold startup.
Not
> >a white puff, but a nice blue/black puff.
> >
> >Also, get the car in say, third gear at 50-60 mph. Accellerate for 2-3
> >seconds at full throttle then back off and let the car slow down to maybe
> >45 and then get back on full throttle.  Do this on a day when then wind
is
> >calm. You probably will see a nice big puff from the exhaust.  A small
> >white or grey puff is normal, but darker bigger puff is usually valve
seals
> >or rings.
> >
> >Since the rings tend to last a long time, suspect the valve seals.
> >
> >Another truth, you can afford to buy oil a quart at a time for a LONG
time
> >before you will come close to spending a tiny percent of what it will
take
> >to fix the heads.
> >
> >New valve guides and seals aren't cheap and that is not counting the
labor
> >to get it apart and back together.
> >
> >Don Mallinson
> >
> >David Niemiec wrote:
> >>Okay, here's a problem for a car I actually own.
> >>
> >>My 1991 is using oil, sometimes in excess of a quart within 1000 miles
of
> >>each oil change. I can only afford to fill the oil at that rate for a
> >>short period of time. There is oil dripping slowly from underneath the
> >>pan, but I can't seem to locate its source yet because the drips are
> >>coming from scattered locations. There is no oil anywhere under the
> >>chassis, and I don't smell anything burning. There does seem to be some
> >>buildup where the hoses connect to the power steering reservoir, but not
> >>where they connect to the pump.
> >>
> >>How should I go about finding the leak? Should I degrease the underside
> >>and then run the car for a few minutes? Would the oil pan seal
replacement
> >>be a very hard job? Help.
> >>
> >>Dave
> >>
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> >
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