Dragon smoke 02 sensor codes

[snowtrooper1966]

Greetings!
While I am loathe to admit this, I think I sussed the problem. When I got the Dragon, I read on the horrors of excess oil consumption, so that was a worry. I checked the oil before my 200 mile drive home with the Dragon, and it seemed low, so I threw in 2 qts of Royal Purple.
In the following few months, I never could get an accurate reading on the dipstick, she always seemed to be running low and burning oil.
I figured I had a burner, so I would add a quart every three weeks on fillup.
I live in a small town and drive short distances, so thought that contributed (along with long winter warm ups) to the oil burn.
When I canged to oil today, I expected to see little to perhaps a quart drip out.
To my and my mechs astonishment, approximately 10 qts drained.
D'Oh!!!
Like I said, I hate to admit this very easily avioded error, but share it that it may help another new owner.
I would strongly suggest that upon delivery of new used VX, anyone drain the oil and change the filter right off the bat, so you get a good idea right away what your oil counsuption actually is.....
My mech thought that the extreme excess of oil in the crankcase was most likely the culprit of:
A) Dragon smoke on startup
B) Sluggish performance
C) Bad gas milage
Saod I was lucky i did not blow out the dipstick and wind up with an oil bath for the engine compartment, but did not think I damaged anything...
Well, I'm off to Irvine to see Maiden and meet up with a few VX'rs on Saturday AM.
Thanks for the help, guys!
Best,

[Ldub]

I'm not trying to make you feel dumb snowtrooper, but this is at least the second instance where a VX owner hasn't been able to get an accurate reading on their dipstick...y'all pay attention, this is important to your VX.

To get a proper reading on your dipstick you must be parked on level ground. (like near many gas pumps)
After turning off the engine, go around & open the gas cap & begin fueling.
Then take a leisurely stroll to the drivers door, open it & pull the hood release lever.
Take it easy, slow down, take a breath... you want to give the oil plenty of time to drain back into the oil pan so you can get an accurate reading.
Here's the tricky part...don't just pull out the dipstick & look at it.
You have to wipe it dry before you re-insert it into the tube to get a measurement.
Say it with me..."I can only get an accurate measurement of my oil level by using a DRY (wiped clean) dipstick, on level ground"

Another option is to check it before you take off for work,(if it's not been running for a few hours)
then you can omit the "wiping your stick clean" portion of the procedure.

So endeth the sermon of the dipeth sticketh...

[taylorRichie]

Very sound advice LDUB...

I'll follow your regiment.

One suggestion for you Snow, is not replacing your filter with a High Flow Oiled intake. Or if you do, only run it in the summer.

Every one of my cars I put a high flow in would run like garbage on cold days.

And unless you want to keep up with cleaning your MAF, you'll end up tripping codes down the road.

Filters, unless you have forced induction, are very over rated (IMO) however they do sound, and look cool

I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences, as they pertain to the VX.

Just my 2 lincolns

[snowtrooper1966]

Again, thanks!
Belive me, Ldub, I did all that and more when i would check the dipstic. I do remeber thye other owner you mention, and that was always in the back of my head.
After the 300 mile 5 hour drive, I gotta say, that performance and milage are back up (of course you idoit, you were driving around with twice the amount of oil in your cranckcase) where they should be. Got my first 300+ tank 'O gas!
I do feel like an idiot, but felt it important to share so this may be avoided by others....
Thanks for not hitting me too hard!
Oh, and Bart, I did use the seafoam.
Any other input on the aftermarket filter VS the standard box?
Best,

[etlsport]

glad you got it figured out!

as for filters.. im partial to the aftermarket filter IN the stock box (green performance drop in... or k&n drop in)