Oil around the exhaust

[phil_cardiff]

Before I sold my mx she had started to use a fair bit of oil and was depositing oil droplets around the exhaust. Smoking a bit on start up too. I have a few theories but anyone got an idea what was causing it?

Here's a poor quality pic of the area around the exhaust:

[phil_cardiff]

Nobody?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Well it's impossible to gain any knowledge from that picture

Are you sure it's oil at the exhaust? It's more likely that it's water mixed with soot. Feel it between your fingers to see if it's oil or soot. Oil won't evaporate. It's quite normal for a bit of water vapour to come from the exhaust on start-up, especially on colder mornings.

[phil_cardiff]

It was definitely oil. Felt oily between my fingers and the car was using oil. So, oil into the combustion chamber? But how? From the pistons?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Possibly. Maybe worn valve stems. Some also suffer from head problems where they end up with a hole in the combustion chamber though I doubt it's this as you would probably have bigger problems than a bit of oil useage.

Try a compression test first.

[phil_cardiff]

Thanks. I sold it anyway.

Missing having an mx-5 in my life but I needed the money for other things. I'll be back.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Ah yes, I forgot you were selling

Still, you'll soon be back once you see the error of your ways

p.s. good timing on asking the question i.e. AFTER you sold the car

[phil_cardiff]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Ah yes, I forgot you were selling

Still, you'll soon be back once you see the error of your ways

p.s. good timing on asking the question i.e. AFTER you sold the car

I'm not as stupid as I look as I had it advertised here! I told the buyer that she used about a litre of oil every 1000 miles or so. He didn't seem concerned and I can sleep at night.

[Dift]

I wish the previous owner of mine was as honest as you... I would have walked.

Mine used a tiny bit more oil than yours... Smokey on start up (looked like condensation tbh), smoked a little at high revs >4500rpm and puffed blue smoke on track when coming off the gas.

Turned out to be oil control rings... One new engine later and all is good. This was a mint 53000mile car!

I didnt appreciate paying £1300 on a new engine a month after buying it.

[phil_cardiff]

Dift said:

I wish the previous owner of mine was as honest as you... I would have walked.

Mine used a tiny bit more oil than yours... Smokey on start up (looked like condensation tbh), smoked a little at high revs >4500rpm and puffed blue smoke on track when coming off the gas.

Turned out to be oil control rings... One new engine later and all is good. This was a mint 53000mile car!

I didnt appreciate paying £1300 on a new engine a month after buying it.

Ouch. Mine was only up for £2250 and had 2 rusty sills and arches so I guess the guy didn't really care about a bit of oil consumption.