Ok, it seems that I'm burning massive amounts of oil. I do get a little of the dreaded smoke under acceleration and have to fill with at least a 1/2 a quart every 700-1000 miles. I decided it's time to diagnose this problem. What are the main causes of burning oil (rings, seals, gaskets...where?)?

Also I'm really in the mood to rebuild an engine and I don't want to rebuild the saturn engine. If anyone has a spare 944 engine that they would like to ship to me for $500 or less (I know I probably dreaming).....zipcode 07076. I'd perfer it to be a long block fairly good condition because I'm cheap, 17 years old and don't want to spend too much.

But the main idea of the post is to diagnose the oil burning problem.

Bryan

 

Probably rings if you are burning oil.

 

Valve Guides can also cause this, your's seams a bit excessive for valve guides, but it's worth mentioning.

I agree with Chris, rings.

 

Are you sure its not just leaking from the engine seals?

 

There's no noticable leakage and no puddles. This just happened suddenly like within the last 2-3 weeks. I just did an oil change so maybe this will solve my problem, doubt it, but I can hope. I think I'll be better off rebuilding another engine while driving with this one. This is my only daily driver so I can't have too much down time.

 

Compression and leakdown test. That will let ya know. Good luck!

 

Good idea. I noticed that everyone that has problems that a compression test will figure out never thinks of doing it. Mayeb it's because we've gotten so involved in finding the solution little things slip our minds.

Anyway enough with my rambling, tommorow after I get my liscense back I'm going to buy the compression tester thing (don't remember what it's called), but I know Buy-Wise sells it *real auto-parts store*.

 

Well maybe its more like 1/2 a quart every 500 miles. I'll have to check it again after 500 miles since I did the oil change today. 400 miles to go.

 

My '85 in the sig. is going thru about that much oil in 500 or less right now. It will leave a huge cloud of blue smoke when decelerating under compression. It was a donor engine from a parts car that I didn't do a compression check on prior to buying it (mistake). It would foul out #2 spark plug after about 2K miles or less (broken rings/badly scored). Compression check went like 150 to 182 IIRCC, added a squirt of oil to each cylinder and redo comp. check again, they pumped up a lot. RINGS are shot in mine, but the head isn't far behind. Total rebuild would be logical choice for this engine. I've already got the original engine from this car ready to be rebuilt sitting in my garage....if I ever get done messing with the '83. Good luck!

 

Odd that it happened suddenly in the last few weeks.
You may possibly have a scored cylinder wall.

 

That was one of the reasons I want to rebuild another engine. A freshly rebuilt engine will make me happy anyway.

 

A quart every 700 miles is NOT a big deal, I use a liter in one track day.

Because you say you're cheap, you should first buy a compression tester. It will save you money the rest of your life.

Let us know what your numbers are.

 

yeah, and he said half a quart i think. My volvo station wagon does a quart every 700 miles, and teh shop said that is what they all take.

 

I would rebuild your own engine, forget your engine pipe dream!

- Julie

 

1/2 for 700-1000 isn't that bad. I think I do half every 1000 miles and no smoke comes out just some black smoke because the cat decided to jump off and trade places with a pipe.