[Shotimes] Oil Usage

[Zach Leahy]

Yeah Don is right on, there is no magic cure for oil use, and
primarily in SHO's it's through the valvetrain.  I redid mine at 160k
with the rest of the motor and it is very conservative on oil usage (1
qt per change depends on how I drive).  Without going in and checking
valve guides and seals there is no way to improve the oil consumption.

Having the valves re-done while a daunting job, really does not carry
an obscenly large price tag IF you R+R the heads, cams, tappets etc.
yourself.  Your costs will be a couple hundred in seals/gaskets and
then about probably about 500 to do the actual valve work, depending
on the parts price, and if all the guides are bad.  If you get into it
and find a lot of bad guides, it may be worth considering picking up a
newer set of heads from a know good engine.  I had mine (guides)
checked, and they were fine at 160k, so I still have original
valves/guides.  I had the shop put in new seals and do a nice valve
grind job and deck the heads flat.  The engine ran nice and strong
after that, course it was basically like new with the reworked heads,
new rings and bearings in the lower end, all the wear parts replaced.

Sorry I can't tell you it's an easy thing, it's just not.  I recommend
Don's approach, just keep putting oil in it.

Z

On 8/17/05, Donald Mallinson <dmall@mwonline.net> wrote:
> Heavy oil useage is almost always through the valve stems/seals.  Old
> car oils won't help here, because what happens is the valve stems wear
> the guides, the valves rock in the guide and wallow out the seal.  Even
> new seals won't help for more than a few hundred miles.  It could also
> be use through the rings, but that is less common.
> 
> Either way, unless you want to spend a lot of money to solve the
> problem, it is best just to use a regular oil, forget those additives,
> they don't work (STP, etc Etc).  Just use regular oil add it at regular
> intervals.  Switching to synthetic won't help any, but synthetic does
> tend to evaporate less than conventional oils, but this won't be
> anything you can measure at high oil use rates.  If you had used
> synthetic all along, it might not have happened.
> 
> So just keep adding oil, change and put on a new filter at regular
> intervals and live with it, or pay to have the engine re-done, maybe
> just the heads.
> 
> Don Mallinson
> 
> Beisler Jonathon wrote:
> 
> >The past few months, my SHO has been burning oil excessively.  Since I have
> >owned the car, it has usually ended up a quart low after 3000 miles if I
> >didn't check it between oil changes.  A few months ago, I was going up a steep
> >on ramp at fun speeds and the Check Oil light came on.  I freaked at first
> >because I was thinking of "that other oil light."  Anyway, I pulled off,
> >checked the oil and according to the dipstick was only about a quart low.  But
> >this was the first time the light came on.  Yesterday it came on and I was
> >almost two quarts low.  So my oil consumption has doubled.  I have tried all
> >the "old car" dino oils and none of them really slow the oil loss.  So, what
> >are my options?  It doesn't have any leaks, unless the oil is evaporating and
> >it also doesn't blow any oil smoke.  Does anyone think that a synthetic might
> >help?  My first car burned a quart a week, so I'm not too concerned, but back
> >then that car was a beater, I'd like to keep this SHO on the road.
> >Thanks,
> >JB
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