I haven't been keeping close tabs on exactly how much oil the car is using, and I don't have an odometer to judge it by, anyway. I put in close to 2 quarts today, and I've topped it off at less than 1 quart a couple of times. I'd guess I've gone less than 2k miles since getting the car back from the engine rebuild by HPP Racing. I started thinking through how oil might be getting into the motor: The coolant looks clean. The PCV and both valve covers are vented to atmosphere. Some oil makes it into the catch can, but not enough. The down tube from the PCV port is bone dry. There are some minor drips in the garage, but not enough to account for this level of oil loss. The only other way I can think of oil getting into the motor through the intake would be due to a leak in the turbo. So, I pulled the inlet piping from the turbo to the throttle body, and it was dry as a bone. So, the oil is not coming through the compressor.
So, I pulled the plugs tonight. I started with the driver's side and it definitely seems that bank is burning oil:
#5 plug:
#7 plug:
#8 plug:
You can see oil along the threads. I could even see a few drops on the ledge under the plug hole. I'm guessing that the oil is blowing by the threads, because I can't imagine it working its way in the other direction.
The passenger side 1-4 plugs all looked good. I didn't take a pic of #6. So, I guess I thought it was ok, but I'll take another look to verify.
I was glad that the passenger side looked clean, because I think it's likely that the bottom of the motor is fine and that the pistons/rings were probably done right, or else the other bank would also have the problem. It is also evident that it's not coming from the inlet. Does this mean valve stems? If so, is it likely to affect 3 out of 4 on the same head at the same time?
I've got a compression gauge, and will see what kinda readings it gives on the weekend. Any other ideas/help is appreciated. -Chris
So, I pulled the plugs tonight. I started with the driver's side and it definitely seems that bank is burning oil:
#5 plug:
#7 plug:
#8 plug:
You can see oil along the threads. I could even see a few drops on the ledge under the plug hole. I'm guessing that the oil is blowing by the threads, because I can't imagine it working its way in the other direction.
The passenger side 1-4 plugs all looked good. I didn't take a pic of #6. So, I guess I thought it was ok, but I'll take another look to verify.
I was glad that the passenger side looked clean, because I think it's likely that the bottom of the motor is fine and that the pistons/rings were probably done right, or else the other bank would also have the problem. It is also evident that it's not coming from the inlet. Does this mean valve stems? If so, is it likely to affect 3 out of 4 on the same head at the same time?
I've got a compression gauge, and will see what kinda readings it gives on the weekend. Any other ideas/help is appreciated. -Chris
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hmm not sure if tech.
