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car - engine burning oil - urgent

  • 04-07-2012 5:51pm
    #1
    rebelprince
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33 ✭


    hi.
    i have a 99 ford fiesta. the car is burning oil when its being driven. a full tank of oil burns up if the car is driven non stop for 90 mins. a compression test was carried out on the engine today and there is no definite outright leak. however, i was told that the 'rings' in the engine are damaged/leaking. i've been told that there is no solution but to sell the car and buy something else or, put a 2nd hand engine in it (but there is no guarantee how long it will last and what other problems i'd encounter). also, there's the cost of the labour for putting in another engine.
    can anyone give me any advice? what are my options? the car only has 55000 miles on it and is in great nick.
    thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,858 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Get a 2nd opinion.

    That's serious oil usage. The compression is probably well down on one or more cylinders (unless it's just leaking from somewhere - put some newspaper under the engine to check this).

    If it's a low compression issue it's either the head or the block that's the culprit. Get the head taken off and get a leakdown test done. If you are lucky it's a fault in the head.

    If not then it's a bottom end issue (pistons/rings).


  • #3
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    Get a 2nd opinion.

    That's serious oil usage. The compression is probably well down on one or more cylinders (unless it's just leaking from somewhere - put some newspaper under the engine to check this).

    If it's a low compression issue it's either the head or the block that's the culprit. Get the head taken off and get a leakdown test done. If you are lucky it's a fault in the head.

    If not then it's a bottom end issue (pistons/rings).


    ?? you don't remove the head to do a leak down test. Its done in the same way as a compression test but its much more accurate.

    @OP you say the car is using a full tank of oil in 90 mins...can you elaborate? The engine oil is not in any tank...its in the engine itself and if you were using 3+ liters in an hour and a half then you would be unable to see behind you with the smoke that would cause.

    An external leak of that amount would be just as obvious with a large puddle of oil under the car.


  • #4
    carbon nanotube
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 994 ✭✭✭carbon nanotube


    rebelprince wrote: »
    hi.
    i have a 99 ford fiesta. the car is burning oil when its being driven. a full tank of oil burns up if the car is driven non stop for 90 mins. a compression test was carried out on the engine today and there is no definite outright leak. however, i was told that the 'rings' in the engine are damaged/leaking. i've been told that there is no solution but to sell the car and buy something else or, put a 2nd hand engine in it (but there is no guarantee how long it will last and what other problems i'd encounter). also, there's the cost of the labour for putting in another engine.
    can anyone give me any advice? what are my options? the car only has 55000 miles on it and is in great nick.
    thanks.


    you would be better to get a new car.

    why is it burning oil at 55k, has it regular oil changes.?

    replacing the engine is balls, more trouble than its worth.

    for the cost and hassle you would go to replace the engine you could get a new fiesta (that works).

    don't know if you are prepared to buy a new one but a 1.25 zetec is a great car.


  • #5
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,858 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Nissan doctor wrote: »
    ?? you don't remove the head to do a leak down test. Its done in the same way as a compression test but its much more accurate.

    Ed China did on an old MG. He poured petrol into the inverted head to see if the valves were sealing properly.

    Maybe that wasn't a leakdown test? :confused:


  • #6
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    Ed China did on an old MG. He poured petrol into the inverted head to see if the valves were sealing properly.

    Maybe that wasn't a leakdown test? :confused:


    Well that's a basic, and inaccurate, especially for modern engines, way of telling you if they are leaking if you already have the head off. It might be useful if you have bought a second hand head or something.

    A leakdown test is where you pump compressed air into the cylinders and read on a gauge the amount that is escaping. Listening at the throttle body and exhaust will tell you if either of the intake/exhaust valves are leaking. Listening at the oil filler cap or a breather pipe will tell you if the rings/bores are the issue, bubbles in the coolant will point to head gasket issues and so on..

    This is a vastly more accurate way of diagnosing problems then a basic compression tester as a compression test can't pinpoint where any problem is(aside possibly from rings).


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