Wondering what kind of oil and/or additives I could use to minimize oil burning in my 86 caprice with the 305 engine. The motor has been run out of oil a couple times, run low on oil a lot, run overfull on oil, run too long on OCI's and also overheated a couple times. It's currently using about 1qt every 300-400 miles with 10w30. It leaks a lot, but also has visible blue smoke under medium to hard acceleration. Compression is still around 155-160psi every cylinder but obviously the only way I'm going to help the problem is some really thick oil. What would you recommend? I currently am due for an oil change and I'm putting Rotella 15w40 in, but once the weather warms up a bit I'm thinking of 20w50 or heavier or maybe an additive that will thicken it up a lot too. It hasn't been really cold lately but it did get below 0F the last couple mornings so not sure how cold i can go and still start, the car has no block heater. I need to drive this car another 3 months or so at least.
need bandaid for extremely high oil consumption
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I'd go for the 20w-50 as soon as possible. Get it in the High Mileage formula if you can. I don't know if any of those off the shelf additives would help or not. I think there is one out there that is supposed to stop oil burning or at least claims to do so.
With that much oil consumption, you may as well just dump in the cheapest 15w40 you can find. No need to spend 3 bucks or more per quart if it's gone in 300 miles. Heck, try some of that stop smoke stuff too if you want. Go for the cheap stuff from Walmart or something. I mean, if you're only going to keep it another 3 months, and with your oil consumption, why bother spending a lot of money on it?
wonder if the rings will get unstuck with all the fresh Rotella
Driveway sealer by the 5 gal. bucket?
I don't know if its a ring issue or just valve guides are screwed? Obviously compression rings are all Ok but that doesn't mean the oil rings aren't screwed. The oil pressure hasn't lowered enough to set off the idiot light and the engine itself is still quieter than most newer engines. Just has the slightest hint of a lifter tick starting at idle, and some valve guide noise at 2000-2500rpm steady.
Several things can cause high oil usage. The rings can really be worn and not scraping the oil off the cylinder walls properly. Also bearings can be worn and spraying too much oil at the cylinder walls. Valve guides can be worn and letting too much oil drip through.
The engine has been abused and your just postponing doing something serious with it. Nothing will fix this significantly and some of the products that cut oil consumption will in the end cause more engine wear.
The engine has been abused and your just postponing doing something serious with it. Nothing will fix this significantly and some of the products that cut oil consumption will in the end cause more engine wear.
If the goal is just to get another 3 months or so I would just keep putting Rotella or Esso XD-3 15w40 HDEO in.
Since you are in Canada you should be able to get either of these oils at good prices. My recollection was that last time I looked, Rotella was $13.99 for a 4Litre jug at CDN Tire and XD-3 15w40 was under $12 per 4 litre at Walmart.
If you want to try and clean it and see if that helps try Auto-RX.
Since you are in Canada you should be able to get either of these oils at good prices. My recollection was that last time I looked, Rotella was $13.99 for a 4Litre jug at CDN Tire and XD-3 15w40 was under $12 per 4 litre at Walmart.
If you want to try and clean it and see if that helps try Auto-RX.
Like I said earlier, if he's only keeping it another 3 months, why bother putting more costly oil into it? Just go to Walmart and get their Tech2000 15W40 or Canadian Tire's autolab 15W40 and use that until it's time for another car or a motor swap. Why spend more than ya have to if the car is only going to be around another 3 months or so, right?
I'm with 55. Least expensive 15w40 you can find. Although, be careful if it goes much below 15°F(-10°C). Don't waste your money on the snake oil stuff.
20W-50, have used it in old leaky SB chevys before. Just keep adding oil at every fillup (but check when cold at initial startup is best).
Look for leaks, the old-style (pre-86 or 87) valve cover gaskets could leak like crazy, ez to fix (non-centerbolt covers).
Look for leaks, the old-style (pre-86 or 87) valve cover gaskets could leak like crazy, ez to fix (non-centerbolt covers).
I didn't realize it but it was -20c the other day when I started the car up in the morning. Lucky I hadn't switched over to the heavy stuff yet. I think it's leaking around the oil pan which is almost rusted through as well. Not leaking from the valve covers though.
Then start with a cheap 10w40, or a cheap 10w30 HDEO if you can find it. Maybe by April, you can use the 15w40 as add.
I would give a pint of Schaeffer's #132 and one of the heavier oils mentioned a try. Me likie the #132.
To be honest, a quart every 300-400 miles is not really terrible. Bad, yes, but not the end of the world. My guess is with a little care that engine will continue to run as it is for quite some time.
Use a decent store brand 10w40 or 20w50 and continue to change the oil on a regular basis. I doubt you will see your usage go down much if switching to anything heavier.
Use a decent store brand 10w40 or 20w50 and continue to change the oil on a regular basis. I doubt you will see your usage go down much if switching to anything heavier.
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