Burning oil....how to stop

[siazul]

hey guys,

The 87 325is I recently purchased seems to burn thru oil pretty quickly, Ill add half a quart and maybe 600-800 miles later the light is on again and I have to add another half to one quart. I know this is an older car but is there a fix or is it just something I have to live with?

Im not a mechanic so I don't know too much about engines, just the basics. Can you guys point me in the right direction so I can figure out what to fix? Im not afraid to get my hands dirty if I have to, Ive installed catback exhaust, CAI, throttle bodies (basic bolt ons on a couple of hondas) and thats about it lol.

any help is appreciated.

[Cabriolet]

blown head gasket... check for oil in water or your piston rings are shot, either way not an expensive job, but a LOT of work.

[siazul]

Ok did some quick research and saw its the gasket that sits between the engine block and the cylinder head. That seems much easier than replacing the piston rings, if they are shot, even though both options will require lots of work.

Im not sure what you mean by check for oil in water? I think I saw a comment on another forum while searching that if there's oil in the intake then its most likely the piston rings, does that sound about right?

also, I want to check first if its the head gasket, any recommendations on how to clean, what to use on the engine so I can check for leaks?

Thanks

[Fleksta]

Are you sure its burning it and not leaking? Bad oil pan gaskets are very common on these cars as they age.

[StereoInstaller1]

Hoo boy.

OK, start with a compression check. You can buy all the crap you need for about $20. Might not be the most accurate, but it will get you some knowledge.

Test each cylinder before and after adding 1 tsp. of motor oil to each cylinder, you will need this info later anyway.

If you aren't seeing black smoke, or have oil that looks like chocolate milkshake (just check your dipstick and pull your oil cap, you will know) you likely have a leak that only shows up under pressure, like a really common one: oil pressure sending unit.

Get it up in the air RUNNING with your eyeballs and a flashlight under it. Don't be an idiot and kill yourself though. That would look bad on R3V.

Luke

[siazul]

Are you sure its burning it and not leaking? Bad oil pan gaskets are very common on these cars as they age.

Ok you might be on to something, the oil pan is pretty dirty with oil and dirt.

Any suggestions on how to give the engine compartment a quick cleaning so I can check it out after a short drive and look for the leak?

Im thinking of taking it to the local carwash, spraying some degreaser on the engine and spraying it down after letting it soak for a bit. Of course Ill cover the electrical components, Sound good??

[siazul]

Hoo boy.

OK, start with a compression check. You can buy all the crap you need for about $20. Might not be the most accurate, but it will get you some knowledge.

Test each cylinder before and after adding 1 tsp. of motor oil to each cylinder, you will need this info later anyway.

If you aren't seeing black smoke, or have oil that looks like chocolate milkshake (just check your dipstick and pull your oil cap, you will know) you likely have a leak that only shows up under pressure, like a really common one: oil pressure sending unit.

Get it up in the air RUNNING with your eyeballs and a flashlight under it. Don't be an idiot and kill yourself though. That would look bad on R3V.

Luke

Ive been reading up and Im leaning towards the compression and leak down tests. Ive never done either so Ill have to read up a bit more before just having a go at it.

I dont have any black smoke atm. Also my oil doesn't look like a milkshake lol, not light brown if thats what you mean. Looks darker, but not yet to the point of needing an oil change, maybe in a month or so it'll be due. But if its the oil pan like Fleksta mentioned I'll go ahead and get it out of the way.

[siazul]

btw Thank everybody for the quick responses

[Cabriolet]

At the rate of which you say you are going through oil. There will be a oil slick under your car. And you will see fresh(liquid) oil droplet on the edge of the oil pan and oil drain plug, and all over the power steering rack.

As for checking for the magical "black smoke" let the car sit for a few hours( 8+ )
Then start it, if you see lots of nasty looking black or dark smoking coming from the tail pipe for a few minutes you will know you are burning it. if there is black smoke all the time, get the car to a shop fast. Fixing all the stuff yourself will run you roughly $700 in parts. At a shop $2-3k. Or like $40 if it the oil pan gasket(3 hour job at most)

[siazul]

Ill double check for the oil on the oil pan. I guess Ill have to wail till tomorrow morning to check for the black smoke, there's not black smoke all the time so that's good news i guess.

Any suggestions on getting the car up? Its pretty low, I got a regular jack and two jack stands which work fine on my civic but the e30 is pretty low

Car:

[Cabriolet]

i drive my car's wheels onto wood so i can jack it up.

[ZM Blue Devil]

take some 2x6 and drive up on to them with the front wheels, that should give you enough space. Use the wheel chuck to secure car, you got a buddy that can hang with you while you do this? You seem to be noobie dont hurt yourself.

[siazul]

Im thinking maybe driving over the flat side of a 2x4 then lifting it up if jack fits.


*I need a low profile jack

[siazul]

Haha hadn't refreshed page. cool I got some wheel chucks I use when I do my oil changes on the civic.

I regularly lift the civic and rotate the tires, change brakes. I know enough not to hurt myself but Id rather ask questions first and make sure I know what I'm doing before jumping in. Even if I gotta be the noobie lol


I don't have much knowledge about engine repair though I do know and understand the basics of how the engine functions.

[StereoInstaller1]

I Also my oil doesn't look like a milkshake lol, not light brown if thats what you mean.

WTF, man, you never have a goddamn milkshake in your life?

Seriously, when oil and water (coolant) get mixed violently like that, the oil looks just like a shitty ass McDs chocolate milkshake.

BTW: You still NEED to look under your car when it is running. I bet 70% of your leak is the oil pressure sensor.