used a quart of oil!

[chuck ray]

1999 mazda b2500 4 cylinder with 121753 miles.owned since new. last oil change i used vavoline high mileage 5w 30.3200 miles since change and it was lowerd by one quart.could it be the oil?

 

[Mark_88]

Do you see any oil dripping anywhere?

Check around the dipstick and the valve cover (at the back particularly) for oil...especially after a long haul...if you see oil dripping it may be early indication of a blow-by problem that only gets worse.

I doubt if it is the oil itself, but I do notice that lower thickness of oil results in higher oil loss faster...

But let's compare...on mine if I drive about 300 km I lose about a litre of oil...whereas prior to some modifications I made I would lose 2 liters in 100 kilometers...all of it spread nicely around the road surfaces of southern Ontario...primarily due to too much blow-by pressure in the crankcase...which I have temporarily solved through sheer genius on my part

 

[Surrey]

...primarily due to too much blow-by pressure in the crankcase...which I have temporarily solved through sheer genius on my part

What did you do to solve it? I've got a wicked leak that Im hoping new valve cover gaskets will fix, but I doubt it...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What did you do to solve it? I've got a wicked leak that Im hoping new valve cover gaskets will fix, but I doubt it...

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131097

The final nail in my 2.8's coffin was when it started spewing oil out the dipstick tube.

 

[Mark_88]

I rerouted the blow-by into a jet engine that gives me 10000 HP...lol

Actually, I made an article and posted it but I recently modified it (again). I don't think it would apply to a 2.9 because they have their own oil issues (that, apparently, has a fix by changing something in the heads) but even that I think is an oiling issue instead of an oil loss.

EDIT: see above post for a link...sorry, I was going to add that myself but it is a work in progress...and thanks 85_

The valve cover may be your best fix.

The 2.3 also has a wonky valve cover (not sure about the 2.5) that tends to leak if not sealed properly. I think this was where my problems started as when I fixed that leak I didn't realize it was a pressure issue and the oil started finding its way out other holes (like around the distributor and dipstick). Once I sealed all the leaks the oil started finding it's way into the intake on the base of the carb and I suddenly had an oil burning issue.

I'd like to eliminate the intake return but that takes at least half of the smog that the engine emits back in and burns it off. If I don't allow it to be sucked into the intake I get smog billowing out of every possible opening under the hood and this ends up in the cab...making driving and breathing very difficult.

Mine needs a rebuild...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I rerouted the blow-by into a jet engine that gives me 10000 HP...lol

Actually, I made an article and posted it but I recently modified it (again). I don't think it would apply to a 2.9 because they have their own oil issues (that, apparently, has a fix by changing something in the heads) but even that I think is an oiling issue instead of an oil loss.

The 2.9 has problems cracking heads causing coolant to enter the oil and they have a vendetta against properly oiling the lifters causing them to be fond of ticking.

For an otherwise good running engine I would be checking for leaks before I started planning a rebuild.

 

[Mark_88]

The 2.9 has problems cracking heads causing coolant to enter the oil and they have a vendetta against properly oiling the lifters causing them to be fond of ticking.

For an otherwise good running engine I would be checking for leaks before I started planning a rebuild.

That's what really bothers me about my engine. It runs, when it is warmed up, great! It has plenty of power (well, considering) and I can haul 700 lbs of junk no problem...well, some speed problems...but it otherwise runs, starts and idles fine. But I know I can get a bit more out of it if it was rebuilt...

I'm only familiar with issues my original 2.9 had...oil...and the previous owner went as far as replacing the engine but did not get it rebuilt...and had the same problem with the replacement. I should have researched it a bit more before tossing the 2.9 though...dang!

 

[straycat]

If no leaks, then you must be burning it out the tailpipe at certain speeds.

 

[Andy D]

Some generic advice. What do the spark plugs look like? Dunno engine specifics, but if blowby is an issue the PCV may need attention or maybe rig a catch can if fumes are clogging the intake. A compression test to see whats what. Check for main seal leaks and top end leaks. Is there any end play on the crank? Do you see smoke on a cold start or when you let the pedal up? I would be tempted to do a few overnight soaks with some solvent or maybe water let in to a hot intake to do a little steam cleaning. If the rings arent free in their lands, then they can't seal as well as they should. Not really worn so much as just gunked to the piston so they dont work well.

 

[chuck ray]

no leaks are smoke.only does it when i use high mileage oil.valvoline.going to go back to castrol gtx.