Rally Guy

Got my eye on a bit of a project car - '90 S2 with 255k kms.

It's going in to PPI Friday - but the CO and PM (Previous Mechanic) state that it's consuming a fair bit of oil. The estimated rate is about 1L per 3000kms or so. Maybe more. There are apparnely no leaks and the car does not smoke.

Two questions then:

1. Is this oil consumption rate screaming "rebuild!"

2. Where is the oil going?

Thanks in advance.

This car is very reasonably priced and I can do 90% of the restoration work myself - so the "exposure" in buying this car "seems" minimal.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

RK

Jeff928S4

My head was recently rebuilt and my car still burns about 1/2 a litre every 3000 klms or so. In between oil changes, I used one litre of oil - I change the oil every 5000 klms.

944S Boyeee

pete944

I can't answer that because my car has a nice little oil leak.
With that many miles on the clock a full rebuild couldn't hurt. At minimum you should do belts, rollers, chain tensioner, front seals, waterpump, rod bearings, and rings. That is just about a full rebuild, isn't it?

Rally Guy

He he he - yeah - exactly.

I will be doing belts and rollers for sure - just to be safe. Would "prefer" not to get too deep into the engine for now - not sure how long I'll keep the car.

There may very well be a "little leak" somewhere too - which I'd almost prefer - certainly easier to fix than re doing the top end - or more.

I've heard reports of S2's with 300k+ kms and still going strong. If I can get 50K kms more on this car - then I'd be thrilled.

RK

pete944

I have 175,500 miles on my S2. I think that's pretty close to 300,000KM. The bottom end of the engine is all original to my knowledge. The head, cams, and chain were all replaced due to a timing belt incident in the past. I plan to do the rod bearings soon just as a precaution. I'm shooting for 500,000 miles out of this car.

Rally Guy

Pete - how's YOUR oil consumption? Yeah 175 is about 280k kms.

Thanks,

RK

Tom R.

Pete,
Thats about a full rebuild. Thats about the full rebuild I spent 6grand on last month.

pete944

I haven't had the car very long and with the leak I really can't be sure how much oil it's using, if any. I didn't have to add any on the 1200 mile drive from Denver to Ohio.

Jfrahm

I have noticed S2's use oil if you drive them hard, especially in hot weather (gee, ya think?) So consider the conditions. I don't think having to add some between oil changes indicates a problem, for example I would think nothing of having to add 1/2 liter once or twice in 6-8k km's. Twice that amount would have me concerned but possibly not to the point where I'd fix it until I had a good reason (low oil pressure for example.)

Maybe they are using a lightweight oil? If you buy it try Mobil 1 15w-50.

-Joel.

Fishey

My s2 even under the HARDEST of driving used 0-oil before rearoilseal leak...


pete were is your leak?