Loosing oil

[ffgb]

My 84 rabbit 1.6na is loosing oil somewhere.  It is not leaking any oil because there isn't a puddle in my driveway so I know that it is burning it somehow.  My motor doesn't smoke at idle.  It smokes, but not bad at all, only when accelerating.  While cruising, I don't see any smoke, only when I step on the accelerator.  When I start it up, there is no smoke at all, cold or hot.  I have been putting in about 1 quart of oil a week.  I just put in some Marvel Mystery Oil with rotella synthetic 5w-40 in hopes of cleaning the ring packs to loosen them up if that is the problem.  I don't know if it is the piston rings or something in the valvetrain that is making me loose so much oil!  Also, I don't know exactly how many miles are on the motor, the odometer is stuck at 57,000 miles.  Please Help!!!

[dennis]

Look at the air filter. If oily its blow-by. That would be a ring issue. 5W40 in my opinion is a bit thin for an old school diesel also.  You didn't say how many miles in a week either.

[ffgb]

The air filter isn't oily and about 150-175 miles a week.

[theman53]

If you have done the valvecover gasket lately and it is a hydro head and you didn't put the baffle in it will use oil like that. If the valves are going south in either head it will do that too.

[ffgb]

I haven't taken the valve cover out yet.  I don't know much about the car because I bought it used.  When I open the oil cap, there is a piece of plastic there.  I cannot see the cam like in my 1.7 gasser motor.  So, if you cannot see the cam in a diesel thru the oil cap opening, does this mean that I have a baffle or not.  If I don't, where do I get on cheap?  Thanks

[burn_your_money]

If you can't see the cam then you have the baffle

[8v-of-fury]

where about are you located?

a 5w40 synthetic is super thin oil.. sure it will clean up things.. but it will also clean out whatever is holding the oil in 

IF you are in a warm climate (somewhere that doesn't see anywhere near freezing temps) then I suggest switching back to a conventional oil, with a weight of 15w40. It is that much thicker to not get by things, and it may solve a lot of problems.

When I say solve problems, its obviously not gonna fix the fact that you may need a rebuild.. but its a big band aid if you ain't got the cash right now.

[ffgb]

I am here in Northern California.  I'll start putting in 15W-40.  About how much is a rebuild?  Just a Re-ring? Head rebuilt?  Etc...

[8v-of-fury]

well with unknown miles.. it is hard to tell.. it could need to be bored over.. and new pistons fit.. not cheap. probably just a lower end rebuild would be bare minimum. but if thicker oil suffices... your good to go

with these old engines.. a lot of things have gotten sludge on them.. and the original seals gone away.. so the sludge is the only thing holding them together lol! Thin synthetic oil is awesome stuff, but not if its gonna be eaten by the engine lol.

well how cold does it get there? you may even try a thicker oil.. maybe a 15w50? (is there a higher weight oil?)

[rabbitman]

well how cold does it get there? you may even try a thicker oil.. maybe a 15w50? (is there a higher weight oil?)

I know there's 20w50, haven't heard of 15w50

[8v-of-fury]

20w50!? wow what temps is this oil good for? any idea?

[theman53]

penzoil used to make a 25w-50 and it still had zinc in it for older engines. It was all the old engine builder wanted us to run in the circle track car.
8v...warm ones:D

[8v-of-fury]

well obviously warm ones Lucas! lol warm enough for northern Cali?

[maxfax]

Somewhere in my travels I've seen straight 60.. It was marketed as a "racing" oil...   Maybe for racing without bearings or something....

[Possum79]

Where at in northern California? I just ask cuz I'm in the central valley here and looking for other vw diesel heads. If you were close enough you could borrow some of my vw tools as long as you give them back of course.