High Mileage Jeep-Oil Drinker

[Kira]

Just for giggles, just pick a "hearty oil" and do that PCV valve.
You could see instantaneous results....and have 8 months of "data" to settle your nerves.
I'm with SC M, this Jeep has a ways to go.
1) You're not there, so the tantalizing prospect of experiencing the Valvoline Restore and Protect magic on a real and prompt schedule won't happen.
2) Quell the oil consumption and Mom's Jeep might just be easier to sell. With news of her immediate retirement, it could sell that very day....perhaps to another carrier who needs a vehicle fast.

 

[Slick3914]

I would try 10W-40 Maxlife

 

[wlk]

Castrol GTX High Mileage or Maxlife 10w40, or a 5w40 with HPL Engine Cleaner 40. Another option is Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 and a bottle of Schaeffer EP Moly.

 

[altaylar]

the chances are, there is already significant amount of wear on the engine, thicker oil could both protect better and consume less. engine consuming that much oil, you don't need to stress whether to go 30 weight or 40 weight, as you can change that mid OCI with the top ups.

in my opinion 20 weight is acceptable for the brand new engine, but the discussion should start with 30 grade for this vehicle, 40 being preferred. High milage oils are great too, usly on the higher end of a given grade in terms of viscosity, with some seal conditioners.
you can use super tech, 30 or 40 weight. I think both will help considerably with consumption

 

[Legs4Arms]

Saving this thread to see if the poor thing makes it 8 months. Also curious to know if it's a manual or A/T. If it's the auto I'd be very impressed that it too, has lasted this long seeing that kind of duty...

 

[K2K2]

5w-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect would be the better way to go,replace the pcv also a heavy 20w-50 may not be the best choice, possibly the engine maybe just wore out..those are hard miles

THIS.

Valvoline Restore and Protect. 4x 5,000 mile OCIs and keep it topped off.

Stop using the 20 grade CAFE oil and go back to what the engineers originally specified for the 3.7L - 5w30.

 

[gfh77665]

Negative temps are common there during the winter. They live in Northern Iowa.

0w or 5w-40 until the spring, 20w-50 for the rest of the 8 months.

 

[DanL13]

Saving this thread to see if the poor thing makes it 8 months. Also curious to know if it's a manual or A/T. If it's the auto I'd be very impressed that it too, has lasted this long seeing that kind of duty...

Auto and it’s been replaced twice since they’ve had it. Unknown history prior to that.

 

[4wd]

the chances are, there is already significant amount of wear on the engine, thicker oil could both protect better and consume less. engine consuming that much oil, you don't need to stress whether to go 30 weight or 40 weight, as you can change that mid OCI with the top ups.

in my opinion 20 weight is acceptable for the brand new engine, but the discussion should start with 30 grade for this vehicle, 40 being preferred. High milage oils are great too, usly on the higher end of a given grade in terms of viscosity, with some seal conditioners.
you can use super tech, 30 or 40 weight. I think both will help considerably with consumption

Yeah - gotta try to arrest the blow by …

 

[DanL13]

If its still running fine I would try to find the culprit and fix it.

Has the PCV been changed?

Do a leak down test. If its rings you might do some good with Valvoline Restore and Protect. If its valve guides probably not much hope but in that case thicker would help some.

8 months @ 100 miles a day mail carry is still a long run. Your still talking like 20,000 miles / running all day. Keep this up and it may not make it.

I believe the PCV was changed a couple years ago, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need it again though. He has consulted with his local independent mechanic and the apparent belief is to not spend much of anything on the old turd.

 

[SC Maintenance]

apparent belief is to not spend much of anything on the old turd.

Then someone needs to be planning on a new engine or car unless they’re quitting early.

Bad plan.

 

[DanL13]

Then someone needs to be planning on a new engine or car unless they’re quitting early.

Bad plan.

Disagree on it being a bad plan. It’s got roughly 300,000 of hard miles. Mail delivery since new in Iowa. It’s rotting apart on top of an engine issue. They can pick up an old Buick to finish out her time with and spend less than major engine repairs on a dilapidated old heap with the value of an old shoe.

 

[Japanese]

Negative temps are common there during the winter. They live in Northern Iowa.

In this case, don't use 20W-50 or 10W-40.

 

[altaylar]

In this case, don't use 20W-50 or 10W-40.

5w30 or 5w40 seems ideal.
I am not sure if Valvoline Restore and Protect worths it at this point, it will cost quite a bit with hat much topoff

 

[Kira]

It was a rattly "tetanus special" when you asked for advice.
You said you want to baby it for the 8 months...everyone in the world is on your Mom's vehicle's side.
Heck, two transmissions have gone in the thing.

If it needed tires, would you take it off the road?

Amateur...even professional PCV service wouldn't be too dear.

Go thick, take notes and get back to us.
You could witness some huge change.
Improvement could be immediate.

And there's no 'thick vs. thin' debate here. This should be downright fun.
(chant) 8 more months, 8 more months, 8 more months.......

pictures?

 

[DanL13]

It was a rattly "tetanus special" when you asked for advice.
You said you want to baby it for the 8 months...everyone in the world is on your Mom's vehicle's side.
Heck, two transmissions have gone in the thing.

If it needed tires, would you take it off the road?

Amateur...even professional PCV service wouldn't be too dear.

Go thick, take notes and get back to us.
You could witness some huge change.
Improvement could be immediate.

And there's no 'thick vs. thin' debate here. This should be downright fun.
(chant) 8 more months, 8 more months, 8 more months.......

pictures?

If it needed tires yeah it probably would get taken off the road, but it doesn’t. I trust the opinion of the mechanic they use and if he’s not recommending PCV service who am I to argue? They are thinking it’s rings. I don’t have pictures I live 6 hours away and rarely get “home”.

I called the old man earlier and suggested the Valvoline Restore and Protect. He’s worried it’ll clean too well but I pointed out at this point he’s got absolutely nothing to lose by giving it a shot at this point. I think he’s settled on doing top offs with 5w30 vrp for a bit and see what if anything changes. He did say he switched 100% to 5w30 and the consumption is less than it was on the 5w20 but still an exorbitant amount each day

 

[gfh77665]

If it needed tires yeah it probably would get taken off the road, but it doesn’t. I trust the opinion of the mechanic they use and if he’s not recommending PCV service who am I to argue? They are thinking it’s rings. I don’t have pictures I live 6 hours away and rarely get “home”.

I called the old man earlier and suggested the Valvoline Restore and Protect. He’s worried it’ll clean too well but I pointed out at this point he’s got absolutely nothing to lose by giving it a shot at this point. I think he’s settled on doing top offs with 5w30 vrp for a bit and see what if anything changes. He did say he switched 100% to 5w30 and the consumption is less than it was on the 5w20 but still an exorbitant amount each day

That certainly infers that greater viscosity may very well help.
5-40 til spring, 20-50 for the remainder of the 8 months.
A band-aid is all you need then the thing can RIP.

 

[Trav]

No puddles when parked, no signs of leaks. With as much oil as it’s going through a leak ought to be obvious

Some leaks are not always obvious, a leaking oil pressure sender will many times only leak with the engine running and under oil pressure and may just have small drips along the whole route. Worth a look see IMO, just pull the plug on it. if you see oil in the plug or the sender is wet it is leaking.

 

[addyguy]

RP 5W-30 sounds like a good way to go - slightly thicker than the 20-weight they were using, and might just clean up a bit to help with consumption.

 

[ATex7239]

The last thing a person who is about to retire should do is spend money to repair/replace a vehicle they are no longer going to need in retirement. Start collecting old or used oil anywhere you can and try to limp it along. Reach out to family, friends, neighbors, shops or whoever asking if they have old or used oil they’ll left you have or purchase. Or if you have to find something dirt cheap to replace it. Your mother’s pending retirement and subsequent financial health thereafter is the most important thing here in my opinion.