2.0 TS oil consumption too high

[n428]

Drove my 147 without oil filler cap- for 200 miles! Oil light didnt come on, but oil went all over engine. Got a replacement without driving any further.

That was a month ago, been using a bit of oil since. I checked on Friday before a 300 mile journey- and used about 1.5l of oil during this. Low revs- 3-3.200 as towing. It's not leaking, just burning it- looks of white smokoe during start up and driving.

Any advice?

BTW it's a 2002 147 2.0 TS on 88k

[RicksAlfas]

White "smoke" is normally a sign that you are "burning" coolant. Check the header tank to see if it's got anything left in it, and if so is it an oily gunge? Could be the head gasket I'm afraid.

[n428]

Yes, there was some white gunge around the filler cap. I cleaned off and has not returned in 800-1000 miles since so thought it was condensation.

Is the header tank, the coolant tank? On the drivers side of the engine next to the washer fluid bottle? If so, no change in level at all...

[RicksAlfas]

n428 said:

Is the header tank, the coolant tank?

Yes.
Maybe if it's been doing a lot of short, cold journeys it's just condensation like you say, but that wouldn't explain the oil consumption. I would check everything is on the correct level and have a really good check that you haven't got a load of oil sat on the undertray that's come from somewhere it shouldn't have and then take it for a good old Italian tune up!

[n428]

Thanks for your advice.

I was doing a lot of short journeys- it's only 2 miles to work each day. The undertray has been removed- I will keep my eye out. Guessing it's time to take it too the garage...

[alfa pint]

I wouldn't necessarily book it into the garage right now. As mentioned ^^^^, top the oil up to the right level, keep an eye out for leaks somewhere else and then take it for a decent drive and a bit of a hoon, then check the oil level again.

It'll be very apparent pretty soon if the hg has failed, but it does sound like condensation to me.

I've got a fairly normal, oil thirsty twin spark. Goes through about a litre of oil every 1500-2000 miles. More than most cars I've owned, but apparently still normal. The engine's only got 35k on it and I broke the reconditioned block in myself so I know it wasn't thrashed or laboured for a good few thousand miles.

[elbandito1980]

I think Alfa say that upto 1 litre of oil over 1000km is still within acceptable consuption

"A problem of all engines with high mileages are the cylinder heads or better the valve guides and valve seals. If these are worn out the oil consumption can be very high. According to Alfa Romeo an oil consumption of 1 litre per 1000 km is acceptable and rated as "normal".

taken from here http://www.alfisti.net/304.2.html?&L=1

[n428]

I understand what you say- I've done over 50,000 miles in the car and she's always used around 1l of oil per 1500 miles.

Now she's using 1l of oil per 300 miles, or 5 litres per 1500 miles- definitely too much!!

[edited for typo's]

[OperationAlfa]

What oil are you using?

[Deva Link]

n428 said:

That was a month ago, been using a bit of oil since. I checked on Friday before a 300 mile journey- and used about 1.5l of oil during this. Low revs- 3-3.200 as towing.

Well, towing puts a lot of load on the engine, but that's an absolutely immense rate of oil usage.

Was it completely fine before the cap was left off? I don't know, but perhaps a breather tube has got blocked or something like that?

[n428]

Oil- the right type. 10w 40 semi off top of my head. Castrol something.

I believe it was fine beforehand (well it's an alfa- 1l per 1500miles)

Towing- yes it was towing a heavy trailer- around 1000-1200kg (but well balanced and in good order) but I was travelling at around 55-60mph on motorways- fuel consumption over the period was 25-28mpg indicating not excessive strain on the engine.