[Johnson]

I have been using a little oil latley. My last run on oil I added a quart right before I got my oil change just to be sure. This Oil run I am just shy of 2,000 miles about and its about a pint low.

Checked the cap and its starting to turn white moisture goop look.

I have not seen any oil drips at all. It doesnt run hot. A few nights i have put some cardbord underneath it to see. nothing comes up. I havent been checkin the mileage because its winter and its not gonna be that great anyway.

Kinda Frustrated, just when ya think you could pay the loan off on the sucker, sh*t hits the fan.. Gotta love it!

Anyone have Idea's

[bumpin96monte]

Top swap while you've already got 95% of it apart anyways?

[3800power]

bumpin96monte, on 07 February 2010 - 03:51 PM, said:

Top swap while you've already got 95% of it apart anyways?

x2, just get it over with already. Replacing valve seals is really easy to do with the heads off. Put some 1.9s and and SSAC headers on while you are at it.

[Johnson]

well, I wasnt thinkin abou that now.. just trying to find out whats wrong and then go from there... I got bunch of hopsital bills and school loans that I am getting killed on so, this issue didnt help any!

But Do you think the valve seals are leaking?

[3800power]

Johnson, on 07 February 2010 - 04:45 PM, said:

But Do you think the valve seals are leaking?

Well, if the piston rings are shot, throw the motor out.

[me6894]

I highly doubt you need headgaskets. It's winter, just because you see some white sh*t on your oil cap doesn't mean its coolant, its actually usually just from moisture. I bet if you lift the car up and actually look under it you'll find a small leak somewhere. If not then I would suspect valve seals long before headgaskets or worn rings.

If you really think its the headgasket, do a compression test and find out. But if coolant an oil are mixing, the coolant would be getting into the oil making the level higher, not lower.

A pint ever 2000 miles is low enough where its probably something minor like valve cover gaskets leaking and the oil burning off before it hits the ground, or LIM gaskets, or the oil pan gasket.

This post has been edited by me6894: 07 February 2010 - 05:13 PM

[Johnson]

ok, I am getting it checked out tomorrow.. but my biggest thing is.. where is the oil going? It shouldent be using any oil with that low of miles

[me6894]

me6894, on 07 February 2010 - 05:11 PM, said:

I bet if you lift the car up and actually look under it you'll find a small leak somewhere. If not then I would suspect valve seals long before headgaskets or worn rings.


A pint ever 2000 miles is low enough where its probably something minor like valve cover gaskets leaking and the oil burning off before it hits the ground, or LIM gaskets, or the oil pan gasket.

Johnson, on 07 February 2010 - 05:14 PM, said:

ok, I am getting it checked out tomorrow.. but my biggest thing is.. where is the oil going? It shouldent be using any oil with that low of miles

[3800power]

me6894, on 07 February 2010 - 05:11 PM, said:

or LIM gaskets

Never heard of burning oil due to the LIM gaskets. Guess it is possible though.

[me6894]

3800power, on 08 February 2010 - 01:56 AM, said:

me6894, on 07 February 2010 - 05:11 PM, said:

or LIM gaskets

Never heard of burning oil due to the LIM gaskets. Guess it is possible though.

Not burning oil, but oil leaking.

[ChibiBlackSheep]

x2 on it possibly being LIM or UIM. Valve covers should be easy to see.

But I wouldn't say head-gasket, just not as common on the 3.8

[Dbl_D718]

Not to thread-jack, but how would you test the valve seals to know if they're leaking or not? And what's required to change them with the heads on the car?

[3800power]

Dbl_D718, on 08 February 2010 - 11:06 AM, said:

Not to thread-jack, but how would you test the valve seals to know if they're leaking or not? And what's required to change them with the heads on the car?

You have to pressurize each cylinder, compress the valve spring, take the locks off take the spring off, and you can get to the valve seal there.

[Johnson]

Well, I took it in to have it looked at. It was a little wet around the oil pan. He didnt think it was that big of a deal. Well.. my ADD doesnt like to have a car that leaks oil. SO he said he would try to put a pcv valve in.. It has been sitting for 3 days, I just checked it today, I will check it in a couple days to see if it goes anywhere. I only have 1800 miles on this oil change and its below the 3rd dot on the dipstick.. it was below the second hole earlier in the week before.. So that rate kinda scares me..

Any Help!

[me6894]

Quote

SO he said he would try to put a pcv valve in

Wtf good is that gonna do? If your oil pan is leaking then you need to replace the gasket.

[Johnson]

me6894, on 15 February 2010 - 08:33 PM, said:

Quote

SO he said he would try to put a pcv valve in

Wtf good is that gonna do? If your oil pan is leaking then you need to replace the gasket.

yeah, Im not really sure what that was gonna do. I really dislike the way he has been treating me on this oil issue. Just thinks its no big deal. That car should not use a drop of oil with only 73,000 miles

How much of a pain is it to replace that gasket?

[me6894]

You have to support the motor while you lower the passenger side of the cradle and try to slide the pan out. You will also need a gasket for the pickup tube.

This is unless of course you are pulling the motor for something (such as a cam) which would make it 10x easier.