The great oil mystery

[trainguy1989]

I recently took a trip to Kansas City to look at a 91 SHO bumper that turned out to be a piece of crap. I did an oil change about 1000 miles before the trip and it never occurred to me the check the oil level before leaving. After I was done running errands in KC, I started to head back to Wichita, Ks. I started the car and noticed a light on the dash I have never seen on in any of my SHO's, the check oil light. The oil pressure light never came on. So I pop the hood to find I was 2 quarts low. I look under the car and everything is dry. The car burns no oil. Look at the antifreeze to see if is mixing with oil and find nothing. KC is only 286 miles from Wichita. It was also about 100 degrees out. Before leaving KC I put 2 quarts in it and drive home. I did not lose any on the way home. What could have happened to all my oil? It is just mind boggling to me. Just looking for ideas!

Thanks,
David

 

[sperold]

My 89 SHO will go through any synthetic oil about as fast as you can pour it in (well almost).... with no smoke or puddles, or any sign of where it is going.
When I put in regular oil..... no consumption.
I have found that a more viscous synthetic stays in longer, if that helps.
If you find out what the issue is with your car, let me know so that I can do the same.

 

[trainguy1989]

My 89 SHO will go through any synthetic oil about as fast as you can pour it in (well almost).... with no smoke or puddles, or any sign of where it is going.
When I put in regular oil..... no consumption.
I have found that a more viscous synthetic stays in longer, if that helps.
If you find out what the issue is with your car, let me know so that I can do the same.

Funny you mention that. I run 10W30 Mobile 1.

 

[HotRodKid]

one way or another its making it into the combustion chambers just slow enough that it doesn't create a noticeable smoke. Either past the rings or out the breather system.

remember, smoke from burning just about ANYTHING is a sign of incomplete combustion, NOT what your burning.

 

[trainguy1989]

one way or another its making it into the combustion chambers just slow enough that it doesn't create a noticeable smoke. Either past the rings or out the breather system.

remember, smoke from burning just about ANYTHING is a sign of incomplete combustion, NOT what your burning.

Now that I think about it, if I open my oil cap or pull the dip stick, I get some smoke coming out of there.

 

[jmpSHO2nd]

I always check my oil every 1000 miles.

 

[rubydist]

Now that I think about it, if I open my oil cap or pull the dip stick, I get some smoke coming out of there.

on the SHO engine (and most others) that indicates excessive blowby, which is caused by sticky rings. sticky rings will result in burning oil, different amounts at different times due to how much the pistons have expanded v. how much the bores have expanded due to temperature.

I would start with some AutoRx (follow directions carefully) to see if you can loosen up the rings, if that does not work then you will need to pull heads and pull pistons and physically clean up the ring grooves.

 

[SHOZ123]

Get two bottles of AutoRX. It will stop most of the mystery loss over 10k miles or so.

 

[shooff82]

That's going to suck if you have to yank the heads! You know, I still have that 3.2 layin around! Lol!
Not to highjack your thread, but, what exactly does eveyone feel about full syn anyway? Shotimes says not to use it because the lashcaps are one specific hardness less than the cams and it slows down wear too much. But I thought that was the idea. Am I missing something? The articles on Shotimes is the only thing keeping me from buying full syn(besides the price). Any thoughts?

 

[rubydist]

My red 94 has run Mobil1 since I got it in 94 and it runs great. no lash issues, no wear issues, its a good investment, imho.

 

[SHOZ123]

My '93 went through a quart every 700 miles or so. Didn't leak a drop but there was slight smoke on startup. But at night with someone behind me if I got on it the blue smoke really showed up.

I used two bottles of Auto-RX over a 10k mile period and the oil consumption dropped to near nothing. The performance and fuel mileage got better too. Must have been carbon packed around the rings.

 

[trainguy1989]

on the SHO engine (and most others) that indicates excessive blowby, which is caused by sticky rings. sticky rings will result in burning oil, different amounts at different times due to how much the pistons have expanded v. how much the bores have expanded due to temperature.

I would start with some AutoRx (follow directions carefully) to see if you can loosen up the rings, if that does not work then you will need to pull heads and pull pistons and physically clean up the ring grooves.

When I do a cylinder balance test I get a code 90(All cylinders contributing equally. Could I still get this code with blow by? I will buy some AutoRx. What instructions should I follow off this list:
http://www.auto-rx.com/instructions.shtml
Thanks,
David

 

[sperold]

When you added the 2 quarts in Kansas City, did you use the synthethic or regular oil?

I am going to try the AutoRX if that is the common recommendation. Others talk about Seafoam...... is this another alternative if I can't find AutoRX?
Just so that I know what I am getting into, does this AuoRX go in the gas or the oil, and if it can go both places.... which one gets the good results.

 

[frosho]

I wouldn't bother with SeaFoam... Use the AutoRX. It goes in the oil, just follow the instructions.

 

[trainguy1989]

When you added the 2 quarts in Kansas City, did you use the synthethic or regular oil?

I am going to try the AutoRX if that is the common recommendation. Others talk about Seafoam...... is this another alternative if I can't find AutoRX?
Just so that I know what I am getting into, does this AuoRX go in the gas or the oil, and if it can go both places.... which one gets the good results.

I used what I already had in the car, Moblie 1 10W30. I don't like mixing oil. Man, I hope that AutoRx can fix my 160,000 mi engine. From what I hear most of you guys have had successful results with it. You can only get online through their website right?

 

[frosho]

You can only get online through their website right?

I believe so.

 

[LJRuddy]

Just reading the thread title, I thought this was going to be about the gulf oil spill.



Needless to say, I am a disappoint.

 

[rubydist]

When I do a cylinder balance test I get a code 90(All cylinders contributing equally. Could I still get this code with blow by? I will buy some AutoRx. What instructions should I follow off this list:
http://www.auto-rx.com/instructions.shtml
Thanks,
David

yes, they can all have sticky rings, so the cylinder balance is okay - it sounds like the engine runs okay, just enough extra blowby to use more oil than it should

I would follow the instructions for "oil burning engines" on their site.

you can only get AutoRx from them - no retailers sell it.

in my experience, SeaFoam is not nearly as effective as AutoRx.

 

[moobypets]

wow at 27 $ us a bottle plus shipping wow

 

[lincster2]

oil burner

My junkyard engine runs o.k. but it burns about a quart every 600 miles or so. I've ordered a few bottles of this auto-RX stuff...won't know if it's any good till another 6,000 miles ... was wondering if the 60K service would stop oil loss? There's also a possiblity that the valve stem seals are hardened.... The Auto-rx web site says something about it's ablitily to soften- make pliable rubber seals. Will report back on my results in 6,000 miles ...about 3 months from now.