burning oil =( need oil change.. ?

[stratt134]

Man this sucks, I got a new job and have been driving to work about 20 miles each way at 3k + rpms, car has 100K miles, owned for about 2 years, awd 98 gsx, anyways...

The car has never been driven under these conditions, and now I notice that I get alot of blue smoke for at least 10 minutes when I start it up after being parked all day at work, after the killer drive of coarse.

I noticed that it has low oil pressure, and it idles at like 600 - 700 when it burns a LOT of oil. If I simply rev it up to like 1000 rpm, it hardly burns oil at all....

I think it has like 5w30 right now, so I am going to the store to get oil and a filter. I guess a standard Fram filter, and I'm thinking about going to 10w or 15w cause I'm in Houston and it is hot in the summer months.


Does anyone have any special advice for the burning oil bit? The oil in it is pretty black so I'm hoping that it is just really thin and burning... all advice is greatly appreciated, I don't know much about these engines.

Thanks, Sean

 

[Dsm78]

Your low oil pressure could be from bearing clearances, oil pump, etc. If you're burning oil it could be piston rings, valve seals, etc. Depending on how much oil you are burning I wouldn't worry about that as much as I would about oil pressure. You might end up finding out an engine rebuild will be in order or even a 6-bolt swap. It's all about how much money you want to spend and how bad the problems really are.

 

[stratt134]

eh... i hate rebuilds on fwd/awd cars . If there is a big problem, hopefully it is the bottom end. What is the going rate for a 6 bolt bottom end swap or a stroked bottom end? I don't have the 'down time' for a rebuild, new would be better... i think (until i see prices )

 

[Meh987]

Do a compression test before you start thinking about rebuilding things. Also, check the shaft play in the turbo. A friend of mine had shaft play in his and oil leaked into the exhaust turbine, putting clouds of blue smoke out!

 

[Nors]

eh... i hate rebuilds on fwd/awd cars . If there is a big problem, hopefully it is the bottom end. What is the going rate for a 6 bolt bottom end swap or a stroked bottom end? I don't have the 'down time' for a rebuild, new would be better... i think (until i see prices )

Check vendor section, stroker bottoms ends for about $2k.

 

[stratt134]

Man this really really really sucks, hard. I just changed the oil to 10w40 and a new fram filter. Engine sounds a little better, oil pressure is up.

Then the dreaded oil smoke, and TONS OF IT. Check this out though, it only happens if:

you let the car sit and idle for about 15 seconds, the entire time no smoke at all, then all of a sudden, ALL KINDS OF SMOKE just coming out everywhere, non stop.

If you get in the car and idle up to around 1200 - 1500 for about 5 seconds, the smoke clears out and is completely gone 100%, then let idle for about 15 seconds, tons of blue smoke again....

Would a head gasket act weird like this? Valves? Rings? I really hope it is the stock turbo/bearings in the turbo.

Anyone have any idea why it takes so long to smoke, and when it does it is a CRAP LOAD of smoke.... then idle up and clears out completely?!? MUCH appreciated, thx DSMTuners.com

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Does the smoke linger? Does it smoke on deceleration? What does it smel like? Pick up or borrow a compression checker and make sure you arent leaking oil onto a hot exhaust manifold or exhaust.

 

[Meh987]

I'd definitely check the shaft play in the turbo first. My friend's car had the EXACT same symptoms when his went. This could be a nice excuse to upgrade!

 

[stratt134]

OUCH!!!

Definetly no play whatsoever in the turbo =( I did see this oil sitting there though... I guess from the crank case thru the hose back into the intake?

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Wow that really hurts!!! Now I'm crawling back outside with my head down... carrying the dreaded compression tester.... don't wanna see the results... but I will post them soon I guess....

 

[Nors]

As asked up there does it smoke on decel? because right now its sounding like the vacuum at idle is sucking oil past the valve seals. Also, while the car sits oil will leak past and sit on top of the piston and that is why it smokes on start up.

 

[stratt134]

No smoke on immediate start up (so valve seals should be ok... right?)

No smoke on decel, no smoke ever gets noticed while driving, just after it sits with low idle for a few seconds then lots of smoke.

I noticed that the "filter" i installed between the intake and valve cover, as a oil filter i guess, is really old and clogged.... could it be causing excess pressure in the crank case or something?

I forgot to mention that it started doing this after I put some Lucas oil crap in there... guess that wasn't such a good idea...

 

[stratt134]

OK so I changed the oil and filter. For the first day or two it didn't smoke at all, but now it started back up...

It only does it when the idle drops real low and the oil pressure drops really really really low.

Also, when it starts, the oil pressure gauge bearly moves unless I rev the engine up... sounds like an old pump to me...

While i figure out a good time to fix it, will switching to a thicker oil help with the pressure problem on startup? At cruise it is perfect...

 

[silver bullit]

Done a compression test yet?

 

[stratt134]

heck no i'm scared to...

 

[silver bullit]

well you wont know for sure till you do its not that hard its not like your losing your virginity to an aids invested prostitute. Get it done and let us know so we can help.

 

[stratt134]

I just tried to do a compression test and realized that my little spark plug tool doesn't fit.

what size socket do I need for the mits. spark plugs?

 

[chetvram]

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