944Ross

Sea Foam (or MMO, or any other treatment) won't do any good if the engine is just plain worn. On Saturns (and apparently Nissans) the viscosity improvers in multigrade oils (especially wide range oils like 10w40) can collect on hot oil rings, and keep them from springing in and out freely, and oil consumption skyrockets. On Saturns, the compression rings still work fine, a cylinder leakdown test will show everything fine, partly because the compression rings are soaked in oil.

Like any oil discussion, there are going to be people who swear by it and people who swear at it. I've never been a fan of pouring anything into the carb or intake manifold, can you say "hydraulic lock-up"?

FRporscheman

I do remember reading about Saturns and the problem with the oil rings, so I thought something similar may be happening with my car. I put some seafoam in the oil and made a 230 mile trip. I want to change the oil tomorrow. I only used half of the bottle, and I was planning on using the other half in a spray bottle to spray it into the intake... would it be better used down the spark plug holes? If I pour seafoam in the spark plug holes, won't the seafoam just collect at the bottom of the cylinders? I think this trick works well for vertical motors but maybe not for a 944...?

In the 944 I use Castrol 20w-50 regular. The car is sporadically used for long road trips, and sometimes when I top off the oil, I don't have Castrol on hand so I just put in what I can find (Shell, Amsoil, w/e). Obviously I always use a Mahle filter though.

I drive the car in a variety of manners... Sometimes I'm riding the crap out of it, sometimes I'm moseying along. But I never rev over 6k and I always wait for it to warm up before revving over 4k.

The engine bay is dry and dusty. The only places that are wet are the PS and the oil pan (a little). There is no belly pan on the car so if anything was dripping I would notice immediately.

FRporscheman

This car has been devouring oil for the last year, so I started hunting after leaks by taking off the belly pan. Man, I have fixed so many leak sources it's not even funny. The oil pan had 4 bolts missing and other bolts loose... the rear cam cap was missing 1 bolt and the other 2 were loose... the front cam seal was puking oil... it eats less oil now, but throw me a bone.

xsboost90

rings are toast- i had an n/a that consumed alot of oil on the track mostly. About a quart every half hour session. I had the head rebuilt, new bearings and all seals after a rod bearing go, but didnt do rings- still used the same amount of oil on the track. Time for rings.

FRporscheman

Is there any way to confirm the condition of the rings, either good or toast? I have done rings once before on a 968, it's a job I'd prefer to avoid! So, leakdown test?

If the rings were bad, wouldn't my HC emissions be too high to pass CA smog?

peanut

ermmmmm.....? did'nt you see my post then ?

You could try a compression test to check the rings and valve guides,its cheap simple DIY and very diagnostic

I'd strongly suggest that you get it done by someone who knows how to do a compression test properly and knows how to interpret the results

Darwantae951

Spencer

FR, you can do a basic compression test dry and wet and see if it improves.

944Ross

But it won't tell you the condition of the oil control rings, only the compression rings.

FRporscheman

Sorry, it was late at night and I just glossed over most of the posts. I went back and read it all.

Thanks to everyone for your input and wisdom.

I will try a cold and hot compression test. I will also try a cold and hot leakdown test. I can do it myself. But like 944Ross said, it won't give me a definitive answer on the oil control rings. Either way, it can give me some info to work with. I'm sure whatever it is, a rebuild is in the future. Now I'm starting to have all these ideas about engine swaps and conversions. If I'm putting a 951 engine in my 968, I could put the 968 engine in the 944! Or just put the 951 engine in the 944! Or just buy a 951 lol.

peanut

maybe not but a compression test (along with other diagnostics like spark plugs ,stethoscope etc) will give an experienced engineer an insight into the general condition of the engine including valves and its free

If the engine is that tired it will need a rebuild anyway .A little oil burnt is nothing to get excited about on a 20 year old car.

FRporscheman

I maintain the hell out of all my cars and expect them to run well forever. My 1982 mercedes has 298k miles, and it eats WAY less oil than the 944. Of course it is something to get excited about.

I don't mind dumping more and more oil into the engine for now. I am worried if it is eating the oil internally, then it will certainly kill my catalytic converter soon. I'd rather rebuild the engine a few years early than have to buy a new cat AND still need to rebuild the engine.

peanut

gee and there is me thinking that it was a 20yearold + car

if you feel that strongly about it i suggest you take your car to a Porsche specialist and get it checked over properly.

That way you won't be relying on speculation from other members based on your limited observations .

944Ross

A quart between oil changes is "a little oil burnt", a quart every 500 miles is a sign of approaching wear limits.

FRporscheman

My observations are just as limited as a "specialist's". There is nothing he/she could observe or deduce that I can not. So I think I'll stick to other members' speculation for now, as it gives me great ideas on what to do next, aside from taking it to a "specialist".

M758

valve stem seals and/or rings.

How much oil is in the intake boot?