What is your VX Oil Consumption in 1000 miles? Part Deux.

[Maddawg]

Could by that you're driving differently? Different speeds? I noticed that if I keep it at 60 mph or lower, then I don't burn nearly as much oil than if I hit 70 or higher.

Possible, but I always thought that would only effect gas mileage? But no, I drive pretty consistantly.

[FenderBender]

When i first got my VX the PO said he ran synthetic oil. I ran castrol 5w 30 synthetic. I went through around 2 1/2 quarts in 3,000 miles. I did not change the pvc valve. The last oil change I changed the pvc valve, switched to Valvoline 10w 40 High Mileage non synthetic oil. I have around 1500 miles on it and only used about a 1/2 quart. Not sure if it is the new pvc valve, (old one did rattle like it was not plugged up) or if it is the thicker oil, or if it is because of the high mileage non syn. oil, or the additives int the high mileage blend?
My VX has 120,000 miles on it and has the original engine as far as I know.
I have no problems with it starting parked outside in single digit weather with the thicker oil.

[nfpgasmask]

I have long considered the possibility that it is synthetic oil that causes oil burning.

Bart

[Maddawg]

I have long considered the possibility that it is synthetic oil that causes oil burning.

Bart

Could be, but I have never used synthetics. Crap, it could get worse?

[evillecutter]

I have long considered the possibility that it is synthetic oil that causes oil burning.

Bart

i dont use synthetic and all mechanics that i have talked to say with this problem synthetic might be a little better but would almost certainely make no difference just cost more for the oil - apparently the structure of the oil makes no difference its how our engine circulate and cool it - if we had no emissions comtrols on this vehicle it might be another story however

[SilverBullet75]

Mine just recently started consuming oil.

I have an idea...

There is an engine flush product on the market that is basically a solvent that you add to the crankcase will full oil level.
You run it at idle for a few minutes, then drain it and change the filter and oil.
It's intended to remove sludge and other build-up.

Wouldn't this help clear the oil drain holes on the pistons, since that is the culprit anyway?
Thoughts?

Here is a link:
http://www.eastwood.com/fast-motor-f...FZGiPAod8SwAHA

[JAMAS]

Mine just recently started consuming oil.

I have an idea...

There is an engine flush product on the market that is basically a solvent that you add to the crankcase will full oil level.
You run it at idle for a few minutes, then drain it and change the filter and oil.
It's intended to remove sludge and other build-up.

Wouldn't this help clear the oil drain holes on the pistons, since that is the culprit anyway?
Thoughts?

Here is a link:
http://www.eastwood.com/fast-motor-f...FZGiPAod8SwAHA

I like the idea, but I would trust one of the BG products first. They have a few that are listed to do the same thing.

[Maddawg]

When i first got my VX the PO said he ran synthetic oil. I ran castrol 5w 30 synthetic. I went through around 2 1/2 quarts in 3,000 miles. I did not change the pvc valve. The last oil change I changed the pvc valve, switched to Valvoline 10w 40 High Mileage non synthetic oil. I have around 1500 miles on it and only used about a 1/2 quart. Not sure if it is the new pvc valve, (old one did rattle like it was not plugged up) or if it is the thicker oil, or if it is because of the high mileage non syn. oil, or the additives int the high mileage blend?
My VX has 120,000 miles on it and has the original engine as far as I know.
I have no problems with it starting parked outside in single digit weather with the thicker oil.

After discovering the oil useage I swithed to 10W40, not the High Mileage though. Didn't notice any difference. Even a new PVC valve had no effect.

Anyway, the multi-grade oil shouldn't give you a problem with the low temp, just don't try that with straight 40W. I did that once when I was a dumb first time car owner. Oh well, it started again in the Spring, lol.

[CowboyErik]

drain back holes in rings are supposed to be lacking in some VX engines; I thought it was limited to 1999 versions but from the poll looks like not

[psychos2]

when my vx was using a lot of oil it was the pcv valve. I had put a new pcv valve in and used 2 qts in 1000 miles. got rid of the pcv valve by plugging the hose and putting a filter on the valve cover. went back to 1 qt every 3000 . with mobil 1 synthetic. there is no baffle in the valve cover and if the pcv valve sticks open it will suck oil and burn it . you will not notice it because the cat will burn it and no smoke will show in the exhaust. shawn

[tom4bren]

when my vx was using a lot of oil it was the pcv valve. I had put a new pcv valve in and used 2 qts in 1000 miles. got rid of the pcv valve by plugging the hose and putting a filter on the valve cover. went back to 1 qt every 3000 . with mobil 1 synthetic. there is no baffle in the valve cover and if the pcv valve sticks open it will suck oil and burn it . you will not notice it because the cat will burn it and no smoke will show in the exhaust. shawn

Actually there is a baffle. A metal plate runs almost the full length of the left valve cover. But yer 1/2 right. There's no baffle on the right side so if you leave your oil fill cap off by accident, you'll get a nice rust protective coating of oil all over your engine compartment.

I've also removed the PCV but I used an oil catch can instead of the filter thinggy you described.

[CowboyErik]

my 99 astral burns so much oil I think they thing just wants to regulate it's oil changes!

[evillecutter]

my 99 astral burns so much oil I think they thing just wants to regulate it's oil changes!

x2

[evillecutter]

i really want to try the breather or catch can method but i have one thing stopping me - i dont understand how either would be helping - if the burnt oil is going out the breather instead of into and out of the exhaust, you are still losing oil and i would figure you would need to clean the breather filter constantly - the catch can is doing the same thing as the breather but catching in in a canister which if not recirculated you are still essentially losing that oil - i know i must be wrong but im too stupid to figure out where

[tom4bren]

yer not wrong ... just evil

Our biggest problem is the oil drain holes in the rings. Nothing is going to fix that other than an overhaul. You can minimize the problem though by adding a detergent just before every other oil change ... basically just keeping the insufficient holes operating as best they can.


Another problem is the PCV valve. It gets clogged so easy & that ain't good. The vent filter or the oil catch can merely replaces that valve with sumpn that doesn't get clogged so easy. In my case I installed the catch can alla way over at the airbox. This gave me a fairly long (& uphill) run on the hose coming from the valve cover (where the PCV usta be mounted). I'm fairly certain that it's allowing much of the vaporized oil in those gases to condensate on the inside of the hose & trickle back down into the valve cover. That's why I'm not collecting much if any oil in my catch can.