Epic2112

The oil in my recently purchased 951 seems to be disapearing, does anyone else have the same problem (? or is this normal?). There are no leaks, and no smoke is coming out of the back. The previous owner, who had the car for 10 years, says that the car has always done this and there is nothing wrong with it, but I figured I'd ask here all the same. The car is a 1989 951 and the oil is mobil 1. Any ideas?

Ratcals

Mine burns a little oil too. Not that you can see it. I remember reading in the owner's manual some oil consumption is normal. The amount will vary depending on outside temperature, humidity and other environmental factors. Also the speed at which you drive will also affect oil consumption.


Mark

Randy_J

all 951's burn a little oil - some more than others, and if you drive it hard it burns even more oil. How much are you adding and how often? 1 qt / 1,000 miles in agressive city / hwy driving is what I get. Just make sure you're not getting the infamous "milkshake" - easy to check - just look in the coolant reservoir to see if there is any oil in there. If there is, that's another whole thread.

Epic2112

I've added almost two quarts in about 1000 miles, but it is a new toy, so I'm playing with it. These have also been almost all city miles, except maybe 40 - 50 of them. Also, when I got it the tires were bald, so on a couple of rainy nights I was sliding it around a lot in a huge paking lot near me that's empty at night. I was keeping the revs pretty high during that. Would that explain my huge oil loss? Now that I think about it, it does make sense.

Randy, the cooant reservoir is the one in the front, drivers side, that the pump runs after you shut off the car right?

dualblade

coolant reservoir is the yellowish plastic thing on drivers side with the silver cap

Epic2112

right that, that's what I meant.

Matt Sheppard

It's either going out your tailpipe or its collecting on your parking-space.

Seriously though, it's within factory spec to burn a qt per 1000 miles. Most burnt oil in a 951 is due to tubo blow-by. My first 951 could go through 1 qt in 40 miles if I was on boost a lot (hwy 330 up to Big Bear passing mustangs and vettes. . . ). Manageable, but I always checked it before I got in the car. Off boost, I could drive for 500 miles and it would maybe loose 1/2 a qt.

I just tore that engine down and the ring gaps and bores were still in new-spec. condition. Valve guides were all worn so some oil burnt that way, but the turbo shaft had hella play in it and my boost tubes were always wet - that's how it went w/ me.

A compression check and leak down will tell you the health of your rings and valve guides. If those look good, it's the turbo. My bet is on the turbo.

Graufuchs

Bring it out tom and ill show you round youll be a pro after a few hours..

Plus you can call me a poser for having a turbo nose...nah nah poo poo

Ahmet

Your turbos don't use oil... I come at night and take a quart away from you when you drive hard.
Ahmet

Epic2112

Ok poser, I'll be out there around 11

Epic2112

STOP THAT! That synthetic stuff is expensive.

Oh by the way, I have the same stereo as you do in your 951 in my M3, but my dad wired it in wrong so it sounds terrible.

Ahmet

Actually since then I've upgraded to a Blaupunkt mp3 player courtesy of some punks who broke into my car, some receipts and allstate... I did like that aiwa though, and it was the first aiwa I've seen that sounded good, worked, and looked good, and didn't break!
Ahmet.

Epic2112

yep, the one in my car hasn't broken yet either, but with Aiwas it always only a matter of time.

Justin Browning

Hey Guys,
Is it normal for the oil light and master caution light to light up a little when I get on it hard? I also burn a bit of oil, not sure how much, but I am also on the car a lot.

EDIT: I also have a month's worth of CARFAX if anyone needs it.

Ahmet

No, the light's not supposed to come on... You might want to switch to a thicker oil, cooler temp switch/thermostat, assuming there's not a more serious problem.

I know the early 944's supposed to be OK to do this after very hard driving on a hot day, however mine did this once in many days of tracking the car (and believe me that's harder than you can drive on the street) on a very very hot day, and for a short time. I've never seen my turbo go below 1.5bars indicated at idle, regardless of how I drive it.
Ahmet