my engine is thirsty for oil :(

[finch13]

My teacher bought a customer's Mazda3 2.3L that had been filled with "extended mileage" (15k changes oil) and besides spinning 2 rod bearings, the rings are toasts and it burns 2 qts. every 1200 miles.

Compression doesn't really have a service limit... as long as they are uniform, they're fine. 180 is still fairly high.


Also, switching from a 5W to a 10W oil won't help. You need to switch from a 30 to a 40 or 50. The first number is the pour/cold viscosity, the oil gets thicker as it heats up and that's the second number.

 

[HondaLuver83]

Ok compression test results are in:
Cylinder 1= 180
Cylinder 2= 180
Cylinder 3= 180
Cylinder 4= 180

I'm not sure what the service limit is on these engines, but I have an f23a5 with 103xxx miles using 10w30 mobil 1 conventional oil.

I changed my oil roughly 1500 miles ago, 300 miles after oil change it was half a quart low. Filled it up, and today (approximately 1200 miles after last fill) it was a quart and a half low.

Any suggestions? Cause I'm pretty stumped. I haven't seen an engine consume this much oil that wasn't a turbocharged engine. Oh and my coolant is as green as coolant can be.

Ive never seen compression results the same on each cylinder. Are these just estimates of each cylinder?

Your oil is leaking somewhere, now you pretty much know your cylinders are sealed.

Look closer for leaks.

Do you smell oil burning when you shut your car off or anything like that? There could be a leak dripping on your exhaust pipes and burning off.


I dunno man, Im kinda lost! lol

 

[pattywak]

My teacher bought a customer's Mazda3 2.3L that had been filled with "extended mileage" (15k changes oil) and besides spinning 2 rod bearings, the rings are toasts and it burns 2 qts. every 1200 miles.

Compression doesn't really have a service limit... as long as they are uniform, they're fine. 180 is still fairly high.


Also, switching from a 5W to a 10W oil won't help. You need to switch from a 30 to a 40 or 50. The first number is the pour/cold viscosity, the oil gets thicker as it heats up and that's the second number.

Ahh, I see. So I should look to changing to a 5w-40 oil....will keep this in mind.

 

[HondaLuver83]

Ahh, I see. So I should look to changing to a 5w-40 oil....will keep this in mind.

If your burning oil, it will help a little bit.

 

[Nismode]

There always seems to be oil under my valve cover...what does this indicate?

 

[Mike's_Taffeta]

To be exact:
1= 180
2= 179
3= 180
4= 179.5

Basically the same. Either way they're good, I was just curious about the service limit. With a compression ration of I think 8.5:1 180 seems pretty damn good.

I never smell any burned oil, engine is as clean as a .... new engine? Lol. Maybe its just thirsty.

 

[sodaks2k]

There always seems to be oil under my valve cover...what does this indicate?

A leak from your valve cover...

 

[Nismode]

A leak from your valve cover...

So would that mean I just need to get a new gasket?

 

[sodaks2k]

So would that mean I just need to get a new gasket?

Yes. You could/should do a valve adjustment while you have the cover off.

 

[f23accord2000]

ive only noticed working at jiffy lube for 5 yrs people that are always late for oil changes tend to burn oil more, i have 140k and my oil looks the same as it comes out of the bottle after 2500, i use full synthetic , do oil change every 2500 to 2800 , try a engine flush get that gunk out and put new oil with a botel of lucas i did it to my 91 accord and after that it never burnt oil ever again even at 390k when i sold it