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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: YAYPINTOS on March 29, 2014, 10:56:30 PM

Title: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: YAYPINTOS on March 29, 2014, 10:56:30 PM
Im going through oil at an extremely high rate, I've narrowed it down the the first piston. could it just need a new ring?
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: amc49 on March 29, 2014, 11:40:34 PM
Could be a dead valve seal or guide too.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: Jerry merrill on March 30, 2014, 12:24:38 AM
I was blowing some smoke and using more oil than normal and I changed to a new head with new valve seals, problem gone! Check compression on that cyl. compared to the others.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: YAYPINTOS on March 30, 2014, 12:27:24 AM
Ya, I took the spark plugs off one by one and the only one that didn't rlly make a difference was the first one.


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Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: Wittsend on March 31, 2014, 12:27:50 AM
Check for leaks first.  Does the car smoke? Going through oil fast likely shows as smoke - unless it is leaking.  When you say you took the spark plugs off I assume you mean the wires.  If you pull the actual plug it will show either oily or at least very black/oily.

I've had old cars that I drove home at 30 MPH because they were not firing on all cylinders.  I'd clean the offending plug, drive it a little and it would foul again.  After about 5-6 times the fouling stopped and I had no issues for the three or so years I owned the car.

I've also seen cars with somewhat loose plugs and a leaking valve cover.  The oil leaks down onto the plug and works it way past the threads fouling the lug.
So,

1. Check for leaks.

2. Pull the plugs and look for oil fouling. Try cleaning the plugs and see if that helps.

3. If the problem persists do a compression check.  Parts stores may even have one as a "lend" tool.

Report back findings.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: Rob3865 on March 31, 2014, 01:34:57 AM
Only one way to diagnose it. A compression test. Pull all the plugs. run a compression test. Record the numbers. Should all be within 10% of each other. If you find a low or dead one, put about a teaspoon of motor oil in that cylinder and try again. If it comes up, the rings are bad and the oil is sealing them. If it does not come up, you either have a hole in a piston or a burned valve. Simple to verify. Using your compression tester hose, apply compressed air to the dead or low cylinder with the valves to that cylinder closed. Air rushing out of the tailpipe indicates a bad exhaust valve. Air rushing out of the carburetor indicates a bad intake valve. Air rushing out of the valve cover oil filler indicates bad rings or a hole in a piston. Pretty simple, really. It's not rocket science.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: amxtra on March 31, 2014, 05:44:41 PM
  I have had a few 2.3s over the years that were using oil and it was only valve seals.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: rramjet on March 31, 2014, 06:03:33 PM
Typically bad valve seals cause smoke on start up from oil that has drained into the cylinder past the valve stem where the seal is leaking.

Rings are more likely to cause smoke on acceleration and general driving if bad enough. 
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: YAYPINTOS on March 31, 2014, 07:55:03 PM
ya it smokes and i found a bit of oil on the ground so it is leaking a bit.. :'( :'(
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: jeremysdad on April 02, 2014, 05:26:57 PM
Valve stem seals are always suspect on cars of this age. When I disassembled my head, mine literally fell apart, they were so brittle...espe cially the exhaust valve stem seals.

I agree with the suggestion for the compression test as a starting point, though. A compression test will tell you sooooo much about the overall condition of a motor. You can rent one from a parts store (you get a refund for the price when you return it).
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: YAYPINTOS on April 02, 2014, 09:44:06 PM
It's the first piston, has a hole in it!(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/03/gybumady.jpg)



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Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on April 02, 2014, 10:28:25 PM
That sucks, hope there's no other dammage.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on April 03, 2014, 10:10:44 AM
That definitely stinks. I'm hoping to swap my wagon engine before the pre-ignition does that to one of my pistons.
Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: YAYPINTOS on April 04, 2014, 10:14:12 PM
Well I got it out and the cylinder is pretty good! Just gana hone it a bit and call her good


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Title: Re: burning oil?!?!?
Post by: Rob3865 on April 05, 2014, 01:41:30 AM
Yeah. That'll do it. That joker would be getting a small block at my house. lol