220,000 kms and is a 93 NA. My main problem is loss of oil

[slider85]

My car has over 220,000 kms and is a 93 NA. My main problem is loss of oil. In two days the oil on the dipstick has gone from full to half-way down. I have been topping it up for a little while now. A few days ago I checked the spark plugs and they weren't covered in oil but there was a little around the threads. But, i have had the valve cover and spark plug gaskets changed about 10,000k ago. Here are my questions:

1) what could be causing the loss of oil? there are no oil stains on driveway, no clear leaks, and it is not giving off blue or black exhaust. should I look into getting headgasket and other seals and gaskets changed or what?
2) NGK Iridium plugs, checked them after about 5000k's and they have that white appearance, why? just had my t-belt stuff done so timing should be fine. Are the Iridiums in the wrong heat range or anything for my NA?

sorry for the length but I want to know why my car is burning oil so nothing bad happens. And also, i recently went back to school and I have to drive on the freeway for about 20 mins. at about 120km/h. The oil seems to go down after that drive.

 

[Slipstream]

Don't bump your posts. As far as the mystery oil goes, check your coolant for oil and your oil for coolant. Other than that, double check for smoke and leaks, don't rely on driveway drips too heavily, it may only leak under pressure...so throw it up on jack stands crawl under it and get someone to give it some juice.

 

[Defiant]

Follow the car while someone else drives it. You may be burning much more oil than you'd ever suspect.

 

[slider85]

if it only leaks under pressure what would that point to? bad piston rings, bad seals, or what? where specifically should I look? I plan on finding out the cost of a headgasket replacement and others if needed.

 

[Defiant]

If it smokes while running, it's engine wear. Under decelleration is valve guides, under acceleration is rings, very roughly.

 

[Slipstream]

Unfortuneately leaking under pressure doesn't point to anything specifically. I mentioned it because I've seen several cases where a car didn't show any signs of leaks when it was under low oil pressure, but when the oil pressure is increased (reving the engine) an oil leak quickly became apparent.

When the oil pressure is low it sometimes doesn't have the pressure needed to force itself through say poorly sealed bolt threads (my oil pressure sensor is one recent example of this). However, when the oil pressure was higher it would leak past the threads. I could let it idle all day and it wouldn't leave a drop on the driveway, but as soon as it was revved up it would develop the "drip, drip drip" syndrome. The theory however applies to all the seals in the engine so take a look.

Worse case scenario you can use a uv dye specifically designed for use in oil and a black light...that will either confirm a leak or rule it out. Put the dye in, run the car to hell and back close to nighttime. Bring it back, stick the black light under the hood and under the chasis. If no leak is found then you're burning it...and a lot of it by the sound of things.

Did you check the coolant for oil and the oil for coolant yet?

 

[slider85]

when checking the oil, if bubbles appear on the dipstick what does that mean? what's the best way to check the coolant? and, if I had the engine basically taken apart and had things changed, would that cost a lot of money or what?

 

[Slipstream]

To check the coolant:
Grab a clean bucket or other clean container that will hold all the coolant in the car.
Jack up the front end, put the bucket under the radiator drain valve.
Unscrew the valve, and let the coolant drain.
After it is empty retighten the valve.
Check the bucket for oil mixed in the coolant.
If there isn't any oil, just put the coolant back in (or put in fresh if it's time to change it out anyway).
If there is oil, congratulations you just found your leak, and you need a new headgasket.


It would cost a small mint to rip the engine apart and have it completely rebuilt, and is probably overkill.

Go spend $15 on a Chiltons manual for the car....best investment you'll make.

 

[slider85]

i have a manual already. What does bubbles on the dipstick indicate? because I just checked and there are bubbles. I just looked in the overflow reservoir for the coolant and it didn't appear to have oil in it. should I just look into doing the headgasket because the car is at 225,000 kms? And, when they do the headgasket they can look and possibly replace other things.

 

[Defiant]

i have a manual already. What does bubbles on the dipstick indicate? because I just checked and there are bubbles.

Your leaking head gasket is blowing water into the oil.

 

[FireyIce01]

Your leaking head gasket is blowing water into the oil.

I concur. Is the oil milky? Sounds like a head gasket... check your water... it's prolly a bit low too...

 

[slider85]

another question. if my oil is leaking into the coolant, wouldn't my temperature go up? the needle on the temp gauge doesn't even move past halfway right now.

 

[Slipstream]

another question. if my oil is leaking into the coolant, wouldn't my temperature go up? the needle on the temp gauge doesn't even move past halfway right now.

That completely depends on how much coolant is displaced by the oil.

 

[slider85]

update. checked for smoke and there is none under acceleration or deceleration. still losing some oil. bubbles still appear on dipstick but I'm not losing coolant and there seems to be no oil in the coolant reservoir. not sure anymore if it is a headgasket, maybe just leaking somewhere that I can't see.

Is there a gasket or something around the oil filter location that can be checked and changed? I remember reading something like that on here before. Anyways, i am going to do a compression test soon and check for leaks. thanks for the help.

 

[slider85]

if oil is slipping past the rings or valves somewhere, what can be done about that? would I have to tear the engine apart just to stop from burning some oil? probably, right?

 

[90EagleTalonTSi]

slider85, I'm having the same exact problem. I'm going to do all the troubleshooting you've done so far on my 90 talon (180,000 miles) and keep this thread updated.


The only thing I've noticed different from your problem is that the moisture water that leaks out of my exhaust appears to be with a drop or two of oil. I have yet to fully confirm this because my car is 1990 with original exhaust and its black in itself. I hope you get the issue resolved and post us the resolution!

 

[slider85]

well I did a compression test and it was 178,181,178,178, so I think it may just be old age or a small leak under pressure. My mechanic recommended switching from 10W30 to 15W40 oil to see if it helps.