High oil consumption.
Discussion
I think my Griff is consuming more than it should, last check I topped it up to the full mark on the stick, reading taken from stone cold, that was about a month ago, and after about 70 miles, it's down to half full gain, that can't be right, surely?
The car is a 95, 82,500 miles, I'm not getting any blue smoke from the exhaust, although I do find small drips on the garage floor sometimes.
The car is a 95, 82,500 miles, I'm not getting any blue smoke from the exhaust, although I do find small drips on the garage floor sometimes.
Edited by griff59 on Friday 25th January 09:31
Can you get it up on a ramp ? Oil leaks are common on these, my one was leaking from the sump and the valley gaskets for years, shudder to think how much Mobil 1 it went through, but hey, it has preserved the chassis remarkably well!
I do most maintenance and repair jobs myself, but due to lack of time, I had the sump and valley leaks supposedly sorted ( by a so called TVR specialist about 3 1/2 years ago ) and the car has only done about 300 miles since, but I recently noticed a few drops of oil on the floor and lo and behold, all of the ruddy sump bolts are lose......
I do most maintenance and repair jobs myself, but due to lack of time, I had the sump and valley leaks supposedly sorted ( by a so called TVR specialist about 3 1/2 years ago ) and the car has only done about 300 miles since, but I recently noticed a few drops of oil on the floor and lo and behold, all of the ruddy sump bolts are lose......
Edited by neutral 3 on Saturday 26th January 01:23
Thanks, unfortunately I haven't got a ramp, that's proving a real pain, and it's stopping me from doing a few jobs.
I'm going to put a baking tray underneath after I top it up today, just to try and see how much oil I'm loosing. The engine and gearbox seals were supposed to have been done about 6 months ago after leaks were spotted, and also, a core plug was reaplced after it was found to be leaking. I'm really worried that the gearbox may be leaking too, trouble is that's something I can't check without a ramp that's for sure, it was checked a few months ago, and it was OK, I think.
I've done around 500 miles in six months, tops, and I've used what must be a full engines worth of oil in that time, that's crazy. As I said, the exhaust looks healthy, and there is no smoke when driving, it must be leaking.
This car has one of the most difficult to read dipsticks of any car I've ever owned, I just hope I'm reading it right. I always do it stone cold, without dipping it and wiping it, just straight out, and look at both sides of the dipstick, which always read the same. If I dip it it's impossible to get a decent reading, it's just smeared all over the place.
I'm going to put a baking tray underneath after I top it up today, just to try and see how much oil I'm loosing. The engine and gearbox seals were supposed to have been done about 6 months ago after leaks were spotted, and also, a core plug was reaplced after it was found to be leaking. I'm really worried that the gearbox may be leaking too, trouble is that's something I can't check without a ramp that's for sure, it was checked a few months ago, and it was OK, I think.
I've done around 500 miles in six months, tops, and I've used what must be a full engines worth of oil in that time, that's crazy. As I said, the exhaust looks healthy, and there is no smoke when driving, it must be leaking.
This car has one of the most difficult to read dipsticks of any car I've ever owned, I just hope I'm reading it right. I always do it stone cold, without dipping it and wiping it, just straight out, and look at both sides of the dipstick, which always read the same. If I dip it it's impossible to get a decent reading, it's just smeared all over the place.
Edited by griff59 on Sunday 27th January 10:34
The question is, why did the engine let go?
Did it actually run out of oil? Or was it related to the high oil consumption?
Or was it the case that the engine was tired and the cause of the terminal failure was not related to the high oil consumption?
I have to agree though, that really high oil consumption is never a good thing, whether it is through leakage or burning.
Did it actually run out of oil? Or was it related to the high oil consumption?
Or was it the case that the engine was tired and the cause of the terminal failure was not related to the high oil consumption?
I have to agree though, that really high oil consumption is never a good thing, whether it is through leakage or burning.
even with new oil reading is simple 
little tip .....clean dipstick insert remove and roll/rotate dipstick over some kitchen towel should give you an indication relative to dipstick marks A large sheet of cardboard is ideal for laying underneath to try to establish where the oil leaks are coming from. My one leaks a little gear oil ( easy to tell as it's red ) but recently checked it and it's still up to the level.
Have you PAS ? My one has always leaked from the small hose just below the PAS pump, the oil runs right down the left and centre of the chassis.
It is fiddly getting in to either tighten the clamp and or replace the hose and clamps ( which my one needs ) not made any easier re I'm soon having a new hand joint, deep joy...
Have you PAS ? My one has always leaked from the small hose just below the PAS pump, the oil runs right down the left and centre of the chassis.
It is fiddly getting in to either tighten the clamp and or replace the hose and clamps ( which my one needs ) not made any easier re I'm soon having a new hand joint, deep joy...
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phazed said:
Where are you based?
I'm in Ashford Kent.The car has no PAS, still getting little drips, strange thing, when the oil reaches just above the middle mark on the dipstick it stabilises and doesn't seem to go down anymore.
The dipstick "is" hard to read, on my car it is anyway, just a blur of oil all the way up past the full mark, if I take a stone cold reading without dipping it then its fine.
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