help with oil system

[fatmcrat]

Ok so I got this 99 eclipse rs with about 160k on the clock. It runs good with no major driveability issues. The car will go fairly fast(for a automatic anyways). It is pretty clean on the inside and doesn't need a lot of cosmetic work except a front bumper

onto the bad stuff
So I changed the oil in the car 2 weeks ago when i bought it. used regular castrol gtx 10w30. It had a burning oil smell when i got it but it was barely noticeable. The car had been sitting for a while with a bad waterpump. My friend bought it and replaced the pump/timing belt, headgasket, cam seals both main's and oil pump gasket, thermostat and new coolant. i figured it was just jellied oil. well now it smells more and I was going to change the oil tomorrow and sub. a quart of lucas in with it. Being my first eclipse i have been told 5w30, 5w40, 10w30, 10w40. Not sure which is recommended for a high mileage eclipse engine. I will get the castrol high mileage oil. I figure i just got work piston rings. I am not in a place to rebuild right now. I think the engine is running hot, but the temp gauge is good. I was told that they just run hotter that other cars. the gauge will climb when going up a hill or idling for a few minutes, but always goes back down. I put dye in to check for leaks and can find nothing. Last night I took off my oil cap and smoke was coming out(not a whole lot tho) The gauge was fine. I have plans to do some mods such as a header, high flow cat, better breathing muffler, and a intake. I was almost tempted to put a high end oil cooler on it and upgrade the electric fan. Also thinking about changing the coolant to 60/40 instead of 50/50. you guys(and gals maybe) know more about these engines then i do so please help me figure this out. I will look into rebuilding next year but I can't get by with one car for me and the wife right now.

 

[turbo_rookie]

sounds to me like rings. seems like your rings are letting oil past the pistons. my grandpa had a ford festiva that had this problem. you probably have alot of blow by also. his rings were bad and let oil past the pistons causing it to burn the oil hence the smell, had TONS of blow by, and always had smoke coming out of the oil cap after driving it.

 

[Gruff511]

you need to do a leak down test. does smoke come out your exhaust? if your burning oil it can be the piston rings or you have leaky valves.

 

[DSM1G90]

Get rid of the Lucas!

10w/30 is good enough for a tired motor.

I bet you have valve guides that are tired along with tired rings.

You must be an NT with a 420A Dodge motor being an RS.