Am I being paranoid about my S6?
Discussion
Afternoon all... Tuscan ownership can really make one a bit paranoid. As an ex-Chim owner, I am not new to TVRs. I did my research, lurked on the Tuscan forum for a few weeks and then I took the plunge and bought an immaculate crystal topaz Tuscan with unmarked exterior/spiders and interior. I bought it privately and being an early example, I checked with the previous owners and with the factory whether it had a rebuild. It had not and covered 16K without one.
I thought long and hard and I did raise my concerns with the factory, their words were that only "a batch" were affected. Fine, I think we know that is a white lie...
It was also supplied and serviced religiously with main dealers, Henley and TVR Centre throughout its life. The last service was less than 2000 miles ago when the tappets were adjusted (eye watering at £1300)...
Anyway, recently, I have noticed it using quite a lot of oil. Something like a litre every 400 miles. I always am consistent when checking the oil (turn engine off, unclip bonnet and read within 30 seconds of turning off engine). I have noticed it hovering around the mid way mark on the dipstick and once after a 300 mile run, it actually dropped below that so the dipstick didn't read anything (took 1.5 litres to fill up).
Of course, abnormal oil usage is one of the first signs of needing a rebuild. Problem is I don't know whether it is abnormal for my engine as I have only covered 600 miles since I bought it. I telephoned my nearest main dealer who did the last service and asked them what state the followers/valves etc were in when the tappets were adjusted. Their reply was that when they serviced it they gave it a clean bill of health. There were no recommendations on the official invoice or to keep an eye on anything. That was one of the reasons why I bought it.
Now one thing I have never heard on this forum is this. My dealer actually said that the dipstick can be "out" Meaning that sometimes the engine is full when it reads half-full on the dipstick. If this came from another source I would be a bit dubious, but coming from the largest dealer in the UK? They did say that they have seen plenty of early S6 Tuscans without rebuilds, including one which was serviced by them and has now reached 70K!
Anyway, if you over fill it (assuming that filling the to the max mark is overfilling for my engine) I have noticed a bit of blue smoke when I start up, but not afterwards even with a bit of gas on the accelerator....is that a sign of overfilling?
Just wanted to canvas some thoughts. I don't worry if the oil consumption is a bit high. it's a sports car after all. I am religious about warming her up and give it stick once oil and water are up to temp. Can a S6 engine go pop within 2000 miles of being inspected? My dealer used Mobil 0/40. Now I am using 5/40 which is still a bit watery. I am looking at this positively, the engine is getting a regular oil change...
When I bought the car, I thought I had found a "good one" one of the early cars which were not affected. I don't think ALL early cars were affected but the majority of them were and of course, PH brings them up as a forum for people to get info and a shoulder when the bad news sinks in. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Cheers...[off to enjoy the car before it rains in London this afternoon].....
I thought long and hard and I did raise my concerns with the factory, their words were that only "a batch" were affected. Fine, I think we know that is a white lie...
It was also supplied and serviced religiously with main dealers, Henley and TVR Centre throughout its life. The last service was less than 2000 miles ago when the tappets were adjusted (eye watering at £1300)...
Anyway, recently, I have noticed it using quite a lot of oil. Something like a litre every 400 miles. I always am consistent when checking the oil (turn engine off, unclip bonnet and read within 30 seconds of turning off engine). I have noticed it hovering around the mid way mark on the dipstick and once after a 300 mile run, it actually dropped below that so the dipstick didn't read anything (took 1.5 litres to fill up).
Of course, abnormal oil usage is one of the first signs of needing a rebuild. Problem is I don't know whether it is abnormal for my engine as I have only covered 600 miles since I bought it. I telephoned my nearest main dealer who did the last service and asked them what state the followers/valves etc were in when the tappets were adjusted. Their reply was that when they serviced it they gave it a clean bill of health. There were no recommendations on the official invoice or to keep an eye on anything. That was one of the reasons why I bought it.
Now one thing I have never heard on this forum is this. My dealer actually said that the dipstick can be "out" Meaning that sometimes the engine is full when it reads half-full on the dipstick. If this came from another source I would be a bit dubious, but coming from the largest dealer in the UK? They did say that they have seen plenty of early S6 Tuscans without rebuilds, including one which was serviced by them and has now reached 70K!
Anyway, if you over fill it (assuming that filling the to the max mark is overfilling for my engine) I have noticed a bit of blue smoke when I start up, but not afterwards even with a bit of gas on the accelerator....is that a sign of overfilling?
Just wanted to canvas some thoughts. I don't worry if the oil consumption is a bit high. it's a sports car after all. I am religious about warming her up and give it stick once oil and water are up to temp. Can a S6 engine go pop within 2000 miles of being inspected? My dealer used Mobil 0/40. Now I am using 5/40 which is still a bit watery. I am looking at this positively, the engine is getting a regular oil change...
When I bought the car, I thought I had found a "good one" one of the early cars which were not affected. I don't think ALL early cars were affected but the majority of them were and of course, PH brings them up as a forum for people to get info and a shoulder when the bad news sinks in. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Cheers...[off to enjoy the car before it rains in London this afternoon].....
what i have heard on this site i think you have nothing to worry about. Some people at my local meet use 1ltr about every 500 miles, some, and mine included, (june 2001 4ltr) does not use a drop and i use it nearly every day (8000) miles a year. Where i have it serviced (tvr power) they use 10_40 semi syn oil, castrol GTX as they say it it is not as thin so does not use a lot.
I wouldn't be too worried, from what I have read on old threads no two are the same on oil usage. It may be worth getting a good look underneath as a leaky oil pressure sensor is fairly common, I believe and can result in oil loss.
I also use TVR Power (a good trek from London I know), they told me that the best juice is 10/40 semi syn and since I started running mine on this I have not used a drop. I think the 0/40 grade is too "watery" and despite the book I have been told it is not the best to run the S6 on (I am no expert so I will happily stand corrected.)
As for the car may I take my hat off to you on the excellent choice in colour!
I also use TVR Power (a good trek from London I know), they told me that the best juice is 10/40 semi syn and since I started running mine on this I have not used a drop. I think the 0/40 grade is too "watery" and despite the book I have been told it is not the best to run the S6 on (I am no expert so I will happily stand corrected.)
As for the car may I take my hat off to you on the excellent choice in colour!
dvpeace said:
Wait till it starts to rattle..... then you need to think about it. Service & tappet check is no security in my experience. Mine was done by Henley 3k miles before the engine was Bug$%red, signs of wear and impinent death must have been apparent but what do I know?
it rattles like a bugger when it starts up but when oil and water are up to temp it is still very smooth, no misfire throughout the rev range and pulls strongly.
I keep telling myself I got a good one...
I have a late 2002 Crystal Topaz Tuscan - 16K miles (ex Lady Topaz).
The engine rattles like hell on startup but soon settles down when warm when it is much quieter and runs very smoothly.
Have done nearly 2000 miles since I bought it and according to the dipstick yesterday, hasn't used any oil!!!
Checked it 3 times straight after switching the engine off. Same reading each time - up to the max mark.
The engine rattles like hell on startup but soon settles down when warm when it is much quieter and runs very smoothly.
Have done nearly 2000 miles since I bought it and according to the dipstick yesterday, hasn't used any oil!!!
Checked it 3 times straight after switching the engine off. Same reading each time - up to the max mark.
My Cerb is just about to undergo some preventitive work at Autocraft (www.pistonheads.co.uk/tvr/index.asp?storyId=11061) and prior to this was using similar quantities of oil i.e. 1l per 4-500 miles.
Intial investigation points to worn valve guides but will know more later in the week. Will report progress as the work is completed.
JT
Intial investigation points to worn valve guides but will know more later in the week. Will report progress as the work is completed.
JT
J.T. said:
My Cerb is just about to undergo some preventitive work at Autocraft (www.pistonheads.co.uk/tvr/index.asp?storyId=11061) and prior to this was using similar quantities of oil i.e. 1l per 4-500 miles.
Intial investigation points to worn valve guides but will know more later in the week. Will report progress as the work is completed.
JT
JT, should you ask one of the Mods for a "sticky" on the Cerb forum? That's £5K of preventative work! But I will read your progress reports with interest. Good luck !
The blue smoke on start up and that sort of oil consumption is down to worn valve guides. This is a common fault on the speed six almost as common as the finger followers failing. Whats happening is when the engine is switched off oil is running down the sides of your valves and into the cylinder, when you start the engine it burns it and it comes out of the exhaust as blue smoke.
Gassing Station | Speed Six Engine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff