engine burns oil

[crazykid1994]

1997 5.2l burns about a quart a month or so. i believe the rear main leaks a little but not enough for a quart a month. and it doesnt smoke so idk if its burning it. what should i check and see that might need maintenance on this engine to figure out where my oil is going. i run 10w-30 full synthetic high mileage mobil 1 oil in it.

 

[dodge dude94]

Read this: http://www.ramforum.com/f61/plenum_gasket_what_where_what_should_i_do_about_*info*-37635/

 

[crazykid1994]

is it simple to change? i have to fix power steering on a car first so after that i will have plenty of time to work on it but is it a 1 day job for a new guy or what?

 

[dodge dude94]

As long as nothing bad happens it should be a day job, yeah. Just make sure you get everything in a line before you start.

 

[crazykid1994]

ok thank you.

 

[wingnut]

I used synthetic the whole life of my 95 Ram with a 5.2. It had 289k at the end. BUT, the thing I did learn about synthetic, is that it tends to EVAPORATE! No drips, no smoke, it just goes away! The new VW's use synthetic, and they say that 1 quart usage in 2000mi. is "normal". Hope this helps, there has been alot of buzz about this on the web lately.

 

[crazykid1994]

Wow ok. Never heard that before. Ill look into that

 

[Johnn123]

I used synthetic the whole life of my 95 Ram with a 5.2. It had 289k at the end. BUT, the thing I did learn about synthetic, is that it tends to EVAPORATE! No drips, no smoke, it just goes away! The new VW's use synthetic, and they say that 1 quart usage in 2000mi. is "normal". Hope this helps, there has been alot of buzz about this on the web lately.

I find it hard to believe 1 quart in 2000 miles is normal. That seems a little much for supposedly is the superior form of oil (or so i've heard it called lol). I can't see that being the case here.

Wow ok. Never heard that before. Ill look into that

Check plenum anyways. I bet any money thats your issue, 9 times outa 10 when a magnum is burning oil thats the issue.

 

[crazykid1994]

Im still planing changing the plenum anyways. Putting the aluminum one in.

 

[dodge dude94]

I find it hard to believe 1 quart in 2000 miles is normal. That seems a little much for supposedly is the superior form of oil (or so i've heard it called lol). I can't see that being the case here.



Check plenum anyways. I bet any money thats your issue, 9 times outa 10 when a magnum is burning oil thats the issue.

that stuff IS slicker than DINO oil...

 

[Johnn123]

that stuff IS slicker than DINO oil...

I'm not knocking synthetics in anyway, just sayin what ive heard it called lol. I've always just run dino oil, wouldn't know if it was or not lol.

 

[wingnut]

Johnn, I've been doing some reading on synthetics over the last few years. I am not an expert, but I do have some observations. There is actual documented evidence of some of the European OEM's saying that oil usage of 1 liter is normal in 1500 miles. Interestingly is that in America, the oil companies set the oil standards. In Europe, the OEM's set the oil standards. I also re-build the infamous Chrysler 2.7's with great success. These motors need synthetic to keep from sludging, (except for a great amount of cylinder head grinding), but the synthetic evaporates from them due to a hyperactive pvc system. The big plus in these motors is that the synthetic does not sludge when you get the eventual water-pump leak into the crank-case.

 

[dodge dude94]

So you're saying that synthetic is basically so slick that just disappears?


If so, that's what I've been thinking for a while. lol

 

[Johnn123]

Johnn, I've been doing some reading on synthetics over the last few years. I am not an expert, but I do have some observations. There is actual documented evidence of some of the European OEM's saying that oil usage of 1 liter is normal in 1500 miles. Interestingly is that in America, the oil companies set the oil standards. In Europe, the OEM's set the oil standards. I also re-build the infamous Chrysler 2.7's with great success. These motors need synthetic to keep from sludging, (except for a great amount of cylinder head grinding), but the synthetic evaporates from them due to a hyperactive pvc system. The big plus in these motors is that the synthetic does not sludge when you get the eventual water-pump leak into the crank-case.

Wow really? Thats quite a bit to lose to evaporation! Can understand a hyperactive PCV doing that. Do you have any links? You've got my interest quite peaked now haha. Why do the 2.7's sludge with dino oil?

 

[dodge dude94]

FWIW....this is my oil catch can with 246 mi on it since I last emptied:


That's with a MOPAR PCV valve. So an engine is going to suck in oil from a PCV, so if you have an overactive PCV it's going to suck in more oil than normal. The only way to know for sure your engine is in good shape is to install a catch can and do compression and leak down tests.