What should i try next?

[hisilver]

99 Ram 5.9L. 128,000 miles. This truck leaks no oil, but it burns it like crazy. We've tried Mobil 1 10w30, Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 and Pennzoil conventional. It will drink about a qt. every 400 miles. I am thinking to try MaxLife next, and if that does not work get a bosch distance plus filter and just top off for the rest of its life.
Any recom. for an oil that may help this problem? Would a 10w40 be worth a try? Cats are toast anyway.

 

[zrxkawboy]

Some have had success with AutoRX, but 1 qt/400 mi is pretty bad.

 

[Patman]

Yikes, I would recommend an engine rebuild!

At this point I don't think any oil is really going to change the consumption too much, so I'd just buy the cheapest oil you could find and keep topping it up until you scrap the truck or get the engine fixed.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: hisilver
99 Ram 5.9L. 128,000 miles. This truck leaks no oil, but it burns it like crazy. We've tried Mobil 1 10w30, Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 and Pennzoil conventional. It will drink about a qt. every 400 miles. I am thinking to try MaxLife next, and if that does not work get a bosch distance plus filter and just top off for the rest of its life.
Any recom. for an oil that may help this problem? Would a 10w40 be worth a try? Cats are toast anyway.

How long do you run each oil? Switching oils often causes consumption to spike. You may be switching before it has a chance to level off each time.

 

[hisilver]

Because of the sketchy history of the maintainence, We have been trying to clean it up internally using mostly synthetics for around 3000 to 4000 miles per OCI.
I never thought of changing brands would nullify the positive effects of the previous oil. I think I will try maxlife for at least two or three OCIs and see if that takes hold. Do they make a 40wt.?

 

[caravanmike]

have you made sure the plenum gasket (on bottom of intake manifold) is sealed? if it isn't the LA series motor will burn alot of oil. i think hughes makes a fix for it or you can just reseal it and get another 128k out of it. mike

 

[hisilver]

Ill have to research that plenum gasket you speak of. Thanks.

 

[FL_Rob]

valve guides?stuck rings?if its a plenum seal good god man...spend a weekend straight through with a helper,get-r-done.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: caravanmike
have you made sure the plenum gasket (on bottom of intake manifold) is sealed? if it isn't the LA series motor will burn alot of oil. i think hughes makes a fix for it or you can just reseal it and get another 128k out of it. mike


Good point and a common problem on these engines.

 

[Gary Allan]

When you say "burns" ..is this a visible thing... or do you mean "consumes"?

 

[hisilver]

It consumes i guess. there is a little white smoke out the tail pipe when warming up, and it has fouled many a spark plug. But again no noticable drips or leaks on the engine or on the ground after sitting for days.

 

[Warstud]

White smoke is an indication of burning coolant.

 

[hardcore302]

if you can't fix it, run a thicker high mileage oil, and might as well try an oil additive (stop leak)...