LuckyKenny Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 I just went outside and checked my oil and it was on the first D in add on the dipstick. It's not dripping, so it must be burning I redid the heads in he end of march and i changed my oil on 8/28 I'm pretty hard on it but i don't max it out, or rev like a maniac in parking lots. You guys know, average teenage muscle car owner abuse, minus power braking, reving, and power sliding . The block has 125k miles on it and most of the gaskets are fairly new. I know that it's normal to burn a little oil here and there but that much? I put a quart in tonight and it was 3/4 filled. It seemed a little dark too. i don't know any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Gray SS Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 any blow-by leaving oil on the valve covers? valve seals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripleydale Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 When the heads were rebuilt, were the valve guides replaced and were there new seals put on the valve guides? That is what Jake is asking. The other alternative are the rings on the pistons. If the short block (the block and pistons) hasn't been rebuilt, that could be part of your problem. You could do a compression test and see what that shows you. There shouldn't be any loss of compression from your rebuilt heads as the valves should seat very well. If you see problems from the compression test, that could mean the short block needs to be rebuilt too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 I think a DRY vs WET compression test would indicate a problem with the rings. To check this: Remove all 8 spark plugs, prop open the throttle slightly, (to insure the engine gets enough air) check and record the compression on all 8. Next, squirt into one cylinder, through the spark plug hole, some fresh engine oil, check and record the compression. repeat this process with the remaining 7. If there is a large difference in DRY vs WET, you could have a ring / piston / cylinder bore problem. Invest in a good compression tester that will screw into the plug hole, not a hand held rubber tipped style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 They redid the heads on the east coast at a shop completely, i helped put it back together at the shop. I didn't touch the bottom end or the pistons, i didn't have any money left lol. before i did the heads i did a compression test and all of them were at 150 before and after. I don't know do you guys thing that it could've worn sinse march? The oil that was in there was nasty when i changed it, and last night it didn't look to good either. It's running great though, and it's not smoking when i start it. It's old and hasn't really been rebuilt well or taken care of, it doesn't suprise me that it's burning oil. When i get home i'll take the valve covers off and see. This is nothing compared to when i first got the car, i literally went through 2 1/2 quarts of oil in one day, it smoked like crazy. I'm pretty sure the guy that sold it to me put stop leak in it so i'd buy it. Almost all of the gaskets were nasty. Anyone else burn oil? It seems like a pretty common thing for an old 350 that's been stroked by a couple of morons in a garage, i'm just being realistic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 They redid the heads on the east coast at a shop completely, i helped put it back together at the shop. I didn't touch the bottom end or the pistons, i didn't have any money left lol. before i did the heads i did a compression test and all of them were at 150 before and after. I don't know do you guys thing that it could've worn sinse march? The oil that was in there was nasty when i changed it, and last night it didn't look to good either. It's running great though, and it's not smoking when i start it. It's old and hasn't really been rebuilt well or taken care of, it doesn't suprise me that it's burning oil. When i get home i'll take the valve covers off and see. This is nothing compared to when i first got the car, i literally went through 2 1/2 quarts of oil in one day, it smoked like crazy. I'm pretty sure the guy that sold it to me put stop leak in it so i'd buy it. Almost all of the gaskets were nasty. Anyone else burn oil? It seems like a pretty common thing for an old 350 that's been stroked by a couple of morons in a garage, i'm just being realistic If i can put a quart in here and there i'm happy. If this is going to get worse, how long am i looking at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 honestly, 1200 miles to a quart is technically 'acceptable' according to my gm service book for a 1980's era small block.. in fact, they say consumption has to be less then 500 miles to a qt to warrant repairs... just keep the oil full and drive the snot out of it. inspect the engine closely for signs of leaks, it may only leak while running.. i had issues like that. particularly from under the intake manifold at the back of the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 Thanks for the advise man That sounds like a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 when I had oil leaks around the intake, it would only leak at high rpm (I'm assuming when the crank case pressures would rise) and it would puke oil out of the back and down the bell housing of the trans and down the front of the block, and since I only rev'd the snot out of it for a few seconds at a time.. (up to 6k in first, then sometimes 5500 in 2nd) it wouldn't leak enough to drip on the ground.. at least not right away. but it would sure make a mess of the engine bay! but it would drip at the track as I was routinely taking it to 6k rpm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Burned 1 quart over 542 miles since October 1st I'm pretty sure it's piston rings because i redid the heads in May. I'm running valvoline 10w-30 I am kind of hard on it, almost daily Would this have something to do with it? How much longer do you guys think it will last like this? HELP i'm getting scared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 500 miles to a quart is definately starting to get near the 'I'm a little worried about it' range.. you need to figure out where it's going.. pull the plugs and see if they're coked/carbon'd up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Okay I'm gonna put a quart in it tonight and change it this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Wait i checked it while it was hot like 10 minutes in the garage and 200-210 water temp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteFox89 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 also a quick check to see if it's the rings is to watch the exhaust smoke. a blueish tint would be a good hint it's the rings, also, check the end of the exhaust pipe. really good indication if there is oil there lol could also be a cracked head... check your dipstick to see if it's grey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 It looks like baked beans/darker amber It doesn't smoke at all The exhaust has some residue but no substance. What would the exhaust feel like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Te residue is like a damp, black, baby power. Carbon right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 that sounds like soot from running rich. (most carb'd engines do) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 idk then when i get home ill check the plugs ill have my mom stand behind me to see ifits smoking, im almost positive its not sounds like piston rings right? not valve seals i honestly dont know to much when it comes to this stuff. i checked the oil on level ground but it was still hot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 keep it full and drive it until it dies...it just might surprise you on how long it will last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'm just going to think of it as a rotary engine now lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 keep it full and drive it until it dies...it just might surprise you on how long it will last That's what I wanted to say but was waiting for someone else to say it first... You may not be "Green friendly" burning the oil though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 i can tell you they don't last too long if you don't keep them full..... it depends on when it smokes to say if it's rings or valve stems if it smokes all the time.. or even when your mostly putting a load on the engine (light throttle accelleration) then I'd say the rings are suspect. if it only blows a big cloud of oil smoke when it first fires up, it's most likely the valve stem seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 you can run a leak down test to see if it's the valves or rings. (or neither) you need a leak down tester tho.. (connects to a compressed air source and pressurizes the cylinder) with the valves seated (near the top of the compression stroke.. do a leak down test then squirt some 40w or 50w motor oil around the edges of the piston as best you can, and do the leak down again if the numbers change significantly, it's the rings, if they don't it could be the valves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKenny Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'm gonna take it to the shop that did the seals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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