Author Topic: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil (Read 6552 times)

The Mad Hatter · « **on:** June 08, 2008, 07:05:55 am »

Hello all. I've got an 85 1.6L Golf. She's losing oil at an alarming rate. I drive 120 miles a day at 65 mph. The back of the car is covered with a black oily substance, which i'm assuming is oil, since my dad's diesel golf (identical to mine) doens't do that, so i know its not diesel fuel. I'm going thru at least a quart a day. Any idea what i need to fix. Valve seals maybe? Or is my motor gone? Thanks for any help!

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2008, 07:38:57 am »

could be a number of things. clogged breather, worn rings, worn valve seals...

The Mad Hatter · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2008, 07:39:56 am »

What things should i check to see what it could be?

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:06:03 am »

compression check, and then leak down test.

You are refering to the very back of your car being covered in oil, not the firewall correct?

The Mad Hatter · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:17:24 am »

Yes, the back of the car is oily. I'm not familiar with a leak down test.

zukgod1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:29:13 am »

Does it appear to be coming out the tail pipe or from under the car?

You can have a leak from the engine and still get oil all over the rear of the car.

Does it leave a puddle when you park?

Quantum TD · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:44:58 am »

Consumption that high usually means worn rings/cylinders. My pickup used about 2-3 qts every 400-500 miles and the rings were roasted. I suspect you're in the same boat.

I'd pull the crankcase breather tube, and check for heavy blowby and/or white smoke puffing out of the tube. If you have one, the other, or both, then you're probably looking at a rebuild.

The Mad Hatter · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2008, 09:05:23 am »

Yes. I hadn't checked before, but the whole underside of the car is coated in oil.

The Mad Hatter · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2008, 09:19:21 am »

Ok, i spoke with my dad, i was at his house yesterday, and i left a huge puddle of oil at his place. So, i've got a leak somewhere. Any common places?

gigaz2 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2008, 09:56:29 am »

there are a lot of gaskets that can leak, I wash my engine to locate them more easily.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:14:00 am »

oil dipstick usually leaks a lot when it goes, other then that there is all the crank/cam seals and the VC gasket. Upgrade to a rubber one if it is leaking

shegel · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:41:29 am »

when my valve cover gasket went. i was losing about 3 quarts every 50 miles.d

The Mad Hatter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:48:07 am »

b_y_$, when you say dipstick, do you mean at the top where you pull it out, or down in the pan?

Supposedely, when i had the IP pump done, the valve cover gasket was replaced as well.

gigaz2 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:50:30 am »

down where it meets the block, it should have a oring. when that fails ( common) lots of oil is lost.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2008, 04:41:58 pm »

Quote from: "gigaz2"

down where it meets the block, it should have a oring. when that fails ( common) lots of oil is lost.

that's the one I meant.

Losing that much oil it should be easy to find. Pressure wash the engine and top up the oil and just sit there reving it from the engine bay.