10 replies to this topic

[cliffordliam]

hello guys,

yesterday night my car over heated steam everywhere, have now sorted it. but what i have found since having the car especially yesterday, i topped up my oil that morning then checked it next day and was on the minimum line again??? really need help.

its is a 1986 leaded austin mini

[Boycie]

Well there's two ways an engine can lose its oil, one being dropping it, the other -using it.

If you're absolutely sure it's not leaking out, it must be consuming it. Does the engine smoke, particularly blue in colour? Are there oily deposits around the exhaust pipe?

[cliffordliam]

hello, yes i have been told it smokes a lot and is a bluey colour??? what would that be

[maggies_minder]

if the car was/is losing oil, wouldnt that lead to over heating and loss of water too?

blue smoke means burning oil.

Edited by maggies_minder, 04 July 2011 - 09:07 PM.

[R1minimagic]

That's your oil burning!!

[cliffordliam]

OH DEAR,

really don't know what that mean/ what should i do??

why would it burn the oil is what i need to know

cheers guys

Edited by cliffordliam, 04 July 2011 - 09:09 PM.

[Boycie]

Well sadly with that much oil usage, it would point towards worn piston rings and/or bores. If it were only going down a little, I'd say the valve guides and stem seals were at fault.
Keep the oil at the minimum mark. This will limit its usage but check it every day.
What grade oil are you using?

[cliffordliam]

i last topped up with castrol magnatec 10w40 part synthetic,

how much would you reckon to get it all sorted if the piston rings/ bore are worn??

cheers

[Boycie]

Well you're into engine rebuild teritory really, it would be much cheaper to spend £50-100 on ebay on a 2nd hand engine...
Oil consumption is not a problem in itself, it doesn't normally signify an engine that is about to dramatically explode, especially if it has been like this a while, which I'd imagine it has. It just means its had its day and requires a rebuild.

Don't use 10w 40, even though that's what the later manuals suggest. Use a good 20w50, I use the Halfords Classic stuff. Change to the 'thicker' oil and you may even find the usage drops.

Does the engine 'breathe' through the oil filler cap if you remove while its idling?

[Pete93]

Couldn't it just be a head-gasket if it started burning oil after it over heated and steam went everywhere?

[reallybig]

changing the oil type won't solve the problem

check all the gaskets might be something simple such as you say the head gasket just needing replacing