losing 0.8 qt for every 5500 KM

[kickster]

My engine seals are leaking oil ever since I put in ASMOIL 5W40. so far I have gone 5500KM and added about 0.8qt of oil. I have found one of the major sources of oil leak (valve cover gasket) and it is not fixed. I still have a leak from rear seal but it is way less than before.

Do you guys think it is worth the fix or should I just leave it as is?

I figure I will be adding 1qt for every 10,000KM which does not sound too bad!

 

[Matt_S]

If you do the gasket yourself, it might be worth it. The job is pretty easy on most engines, but can be an SOB sometimes, depending on inline or V, longitudinal or transverse and the other stuff you have to remove to get the valve cover off. Your oil usage is pretty low though. The way I see it, it's mostly a cosmetic issue, as long as you keep the oil level up.

 

[Ray H]

You're "using" oil at the rate of less than 1/4 qt. every thousand miles. This is nil for all intents and purposes. It takes little oil in the wrong place to appear alarming. The extra "slipperiness" of the synthetic is likely responsible for the seepage. If there's ester in the Amsoil, the seals may well swell and reseal in time if they haven't already.

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ray H:
You're "using" oil at the rate of less than 1/4 qt. every thousand miles. This is nil for all intents and purposes.

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I wouldn't consider it nil at all, that would mean if you did a 10,000 mile interval you would be adding 2.5 quarts of makeup oil! To me, nil would mean you'd add less than 1/4 of a quart every 10k, not 1/4 quart every 1k.

 

[moribundman]

I'd be worried where the oil is dripping. As an Audi owner I'm painfully aware of how pesky oil leaks can be. I've had oil drip on electric connectors, boots, exhaust manifold, and on boths cats. It was the valley pan gasket and the valve cover gaskets. Working on an oil-smeared car is not a pleasure. 0.8 quarts is enough to coat the whole undercarriage. I'd fix the leak or leaks.

 

[chinee]

Remember the Oil Life Study... "More than anything, what this shows is the incredible effect top-up oil has on the longevity of the motor oil." So adding make-oil shouldn't be a bad thing. However, I've never liked having any sort of leak, especially if it soils my clean garage floor. And as said above... working in a dirty, greasy engine bay is NEVER fun.

 

[Ray H]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
I wouldn't consider it nil at all, that would mean if you did a 10,000 mile interval you would be adding 2.5 quarts of makeup oil!

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Your point? The general rule of thumb for automakers is that less than 1 quart of oil consumption per thousand miles is neither excessive nor warrantable. If kickster's traced the major loss to the valve cover gasket, the solution's obvious. (Darned Amsoil - it cleaned the gunk sealing the valve cover out and exposed a failed or shrunken gasket. I can't help but wonder what a bit of judicious snugging of the fasteners would accomplish...

)

[ September 13, 2004, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]

 

[kickster]

I have already fixed the valve cover gasket but it is still leaking from rear seal. I am not going to replace that seal unless I remove the transmission. The leak is limited to few drops per day so I am not worried too much.

I think It is losing about 1 Qt per 5000KM now

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ray H:

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
I wouldn't consider it nil at all, that would mean if you did a 10,000 mile interval you would be adding 2.5 quarts of makeup oil!

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Your point?

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My point is, that kind of consumption can not be construed as being "nil" My wife's car uses no noticeable amount of oil whatsoever in 8000km intervals. That is nil.