oil preasure loss trouble shooting

[Street 2G]

ok im having serious problems and i was wondering if you guys had some input on the issue. first off the car is smoking white smoke very bad, but strangly it only does when the car is going 0 to 5 miles per hour. now the real problem im having is when im driving the car, when i turn, the oil presure drops drematicly, and then returns to normal when i straighten up the wheel. it makes a strange sound as the wheel is turned too. it kinda sounds like if you were to run a quarter down a guitar string. the car does not over heat or stall out at all. any thoughts would be a great help thanx.

 

[DSM_PWR]

Smoke can be caused by many things... Are you physically loosing oil? Like are you ever low on oil?

The turning of the wheel sounds like your low on power steering fluid but i doubt that...

 

[VelocitàPaola]

I wouldn't drive that car until you figure out what the problem is. Have you checked your oil level? Is there any oil in the coolant reservoir? What about a compression test? If so, what about a leak-down test?

 

[Street 2G]

Smoke can be caused by many things... Are you physically loosing oil? Like are you ever low on oil?

The turning of the wheel sounds like your low on power steering fluid but i doubt that...

i am loosing oil, in fact i put about a quart in every week or two and its low again about a week later!

 

[Street 2G]

I wouldn't drive that car until you figure out what the problem is. Have you checked your oil level? Is there any oil in the coolant reservoir? What about a compression test? If so, what about a leak-down test?

oilo level verys by day! i fill it up, then it goes back down by weeks end, the car idels fine and doesnt overheat though, no compression or leakdown test have been completed yet but will within the next two days! the main problem i have is that its the only car i own and i need to drive it to get to work, so i kinda have to drive it daily! so in other words im kinda in a pickle here!

 

[DSM_PWR]

Just as i thought,

Just like VelocitàPaola said, do a
*Compression check (Can rent one from autozone)
*Leak down test

Most likely your valve stem seals are leaking but it could be as simple as an oil leak

I definetly dont recommend driving it because if so, the smoke will end up being the least of your problems...

 

[Street 2G]

how would i go about doing a leak down test?

 

[snowborder714]

You need a leak down tester (not sure if you can rent these) and an air compressor.
http://www.geocities.com/dsmgrrrl/FAQs/leakdown.htm

 

[DSM_PWR]

You can either buy one (which is a good investment)

Or take it to any local auto shop that has one...

 

[Street 2G]

were could i get one at?

 

[Locke]

You can purchase one from Summit, Snap-on, Mac, where ever, or you could make one, or you could just do a "poor man's leak down test" by adding a few pounds of air to a cylinder with the valves closed and listening for any leaks (listen at oil cap, exhaust, intake, around head gasket, and look for bubbles under radiator cap. Obviously there is no metering with this method, but it does help you find cylinder leaks, if you have any.

 

[snowborder714]

I got mine from Harbor Freight. Probably not the best tool, but it seemed to work fine.

 

[Street 2G]

thanx for the help guys i will post up in a day or two about the tests so you guys can tell me what you think.