Re: IML: Oil usage theories

["Steve B." <Imperial59@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Compression check months ago was OK, no blue smoke at cold start up (even 
> if sitting for days), no blue smoke at hard acceleration, or after idle - 
> just no blue smoke at all.  Idles and drives quite well, gets about 11 
> mpg.  Pulled the plugs yesterday after 3000 miles, and they were nicely 
> tanned/greyed, clean everywhere except wet oil on the threads.
>
> Dave had mentioned earlier that big block Mopars have a tendency to need 
> valve seals.  If that is what's indicated by the above evidence, I could 
> probably find the resources to pull the heads.


Dan:
You probably do need valve seals as most engines do at this age, but I don't 
think they are your problem.  You've seen the Chrysler minivans around town 
that look like mosquito foggers with all the blue smoke coming out the back? 
Well they aren't using the kind of oil you are using...

Failed valve seals let the oil in to the combustion chamber, if you were 
actually burning that much oil there would be clouds of oil behind you and 
those plugs would have been black clumps of goo instead of nice and brown. 
> From your description of the plugs it doesn't sound like you are burning 
much/any oil.

You most likely have a leak somewhere.  Valve cover gaskets (wet oil on the 
plug threads suggest they are leaking), oil pressure sending unit, rear main 
seal...  I don't know where it is but I don't think it is a valve seal 
problem.  Try putting some cardboard under the car and rev the engine to 
hiway rpm for a few minutes and see if you can see anything leaking.

             Steve B. 


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