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hi there everyone

been a while since i have posted

i have a strange one with my sportswagon.

im losing about a litre of engine oil every 1000kms or so.

but bugger me if there is any evidence of leaks, nor is it blowing any smoke 8O

checked thouroughly all around engine, no oil stains anywhere, all clean.

no smoke out of exhaust

no oil in air filter box

the beast runs beautifully, no loss of power

its done 280,000kms

so where is the oil going??????

sad and tired motor?????????

worn rings????

what???

any advice or comments???

thanx

Tis going out the exhaust.

but there is NO smoke out the exhaust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

none at all......

Wraith wrote:but there is NO smoke out the exhaust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

none at all......

free revving, idle huh ?

no,you will have to get someone else to drive it, and follow behind...see it under load (hill) or acceleration

i done that fred-sub, last night

nothing from zorst!!!!

its gotta go somewhere.........

weird.....

Oh, i know where it is going...

OUT YA EXHAUST. Just cause there is no smoke does not mean that parts have not worn and it going out the tail pipe. Keep an eye on it and if you are lucky it will get worse, maybe even blue.

Not sure what grade oil you have but you could change to a thicker grade and/or add 1 of those oil thickening produces (stop smoke or something like that).

Sorry to hijack your post Wraith.
Can you use the same test procedure as on normal (read straight/V) engines and do a compreesion test with and without oil down the bore? Will it identify whether it is rings like in normal engines? Just wondering due to the fact the oil wouldn't go all around piston/rings therefore wouldn't seal like it does in normal engines.
Thanks
Matt

I was using about 1L per 1000km on my original EA82 with 290,000km's during country driving. Didn't seem so bad around town. Mine was going out the exhaust, but at that rate of consumption you don't really get any smoke that you can see. I could just get a hint of smoke by flooring it in neutral up to redline, lift off to about 3000rpm, then floor it back up to redline again, and someone had to be standing right behind the car to actually see it, as I couldn't from the drivers seat.

Wraith wrote:hi there everyone

been a while since i have posted

i have a strange one with my sportswagon.

im losing about a litre of engine oil every 1000kms or so.

but bugger me if there is any evidence of leaks, nor is it blowing any smoke 8O

checked thouroughly all around engine, no oil stains anywhere, all clean.

no smoke out of exhaust

no oil in air filter box

the beast runs beautifully, no loss of power

its done 280,000kms

so where is the oil going??????

sad and tired motor?????????

worn rings????

what???

any advice or comments???

thanx

mate,
I know how ya feel, & don't wanna know its ya engine's coming problems.... you need to do an compression test, it will give you an answer of whats going on, it could be leaky exhaust valves or inlet valves or rings that are on its way out... all oil does get out in exhaust, has to be. You may not realise that there is oil coming out, if your exhaust is black - meaning its burning off oil.
Cheers
AP

I heard on a show once you do a compression test, then put a litle wd40 down the plug whole and test again. If it the compression is higher with oil your ring are most probably shot and if it stays the same but still under specs it is the valve seats.

Bobbrumby wrote:I heard on a show once you do a compression test, then put a litle wd40 down the plug whole and test again. If it the compression is higher with oil your ring are most probably shot and if it stays the same but still under specs it is the valve seats.

Same with this oil thing that you press down to squirt oil in the cylinders if the compression reading doesn't show correctly..
Cheers
AP

Very very simple answer to this question. Your engine is reaching the end of its life as you know it. It is dying, slowly but surely.

Don't worry, soon you will be able to see the smoke. Until then leave it, just remember to top the oil up every now and then!

thanx everyone

did a compression check, and had sad numbers

definatly rings.....

mudrat, thanx for your help, when u say its coming to the end of its life as i know it, does that mean its a boat anchor now, or can it be rebuilt/reconed???

new rings, pistons, etc..... or is it beyond help?????

its sad, cause the rest of the car is in near perfect condition....

and its a cliche, but i cannot afford a new car right now....

thats y i have posted other posts elsewhere on this site reguarding other ea82 motors, and interchangable heads.

very sad at the moment, but all good things come to an end tho...

i will keep pouring oil into it, and keep a lookout for another motor, and/or get some quotes on a reco.

thanx

Oh yeah a recondition would be the ticket, new rings and bearings and she'll be right as rain, shouldn't be overly expensive.

MUDRAT wrote:Oh yeah a recondition would be the ticket, new rings and bearings and she'll be right as rain, shouldn't be overly expensive.

Just shop around if you do not have a good subaru mech.

Anyone got a rough price on a recondition?

It varies a lot depending on the mechanic and the condition of your engine. i wouldn't pay more than a grand for an EA81. Alternatively you can always pick up import engines cheap enough.

Take a good look at Mudrats advice - i agree.

If you are mechanically minded & have a bit of expeirence on working on engines or a close mate/know someone who knows how to rebuild engines would be a best bet, buy him a slab of beer.

All you need is parts for it, I estimate would be below $600 for the parts if you took the engine out and take it to a mechanic or engine rebuilding place would cost you nearly $2000 possible under $3000, it depends if you do your homework & if they come into any problems with the engine etc.

Other option - is to find an recently reco'ed engine from wreckers or very low kms engine for as low as $300 or less. I wouldn't recommend more than 130,000 kms "low km engine".

for my 2c worth.
Cheers
AP

then all the other stuff on the car is usually the same as as the motor your just replaced and isnt far off dying.

In my experiance your best off unloading the car and getting something with less ks and newer.. Trust me ive screwwed up plenty of times rebuiklding stuff, never again....