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So I just had my truck worked on at a NAPA Autocare place and they changed the oil, clean fuel injectors,new dual CAT Convertors, replaced sparkplugs and sparkplug wiring, flushed out the engine of all it’s sludge, and tuned it. Well we know we have a valve prob cause it has a really bad tapping from the valve train. It burns oil from start but then stops when warmed up.Before, I would have to fill the engine back with oil about every 2-3 weeks. well right after I got it fixed, I continuesly smell burning oil but she don’t really smoke while running. But when I start it it smoke’s ALOT more like it’s a tiny personal cloud in my front yard! Put it in the shop cause the truck was only running 30 MPH on the highway, was smoking, had 3 misfires, would’nt change gears unless I let go of gas. They said that the whole fuel ijection system had to be replaced. They fixed that and it drives great,valve train still noisy but they said continuesly changing the oil once a month would possibly fix it, but ever since then it smells like buring oil and loses 2 quarts of oil a week. Any ideas? It’s a Vortec V8 5.3L with 150,000 miles.
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That rate of oil consumption is not normal nor acceptable.
It won’t resolve itself over time magically by just changing the oil more frequently.
You’ve got an engine problem with that much consumption. Did you have this issue before they messed with it?No not at this rate, I would at least have to fill it once a month. Before I would have to fill the anti-freeze one a month to but they fixed it.
The symptoms you are describing are worn valve guides… Smoke at startup, losing oil, Smoke when heavily accelerating or going up a hill)… Oil is getting past the valves and into the combustion chamber and burning up the oil… When the engine heats up, the valves and guides expand “slightly” and seal the hole a little better…
You can do a compression test, then a wet compression test to check your ring condition (they may be worn as well) to determine if you just need to replace your head(s) and can get by with just top end work or if more work is needed…
Chances are you may need a new head, if not a new engine…
Best of luck…
-Karl
Now the engine has been like this for the past 100k miles on it, just not as bad. Dad never got oil changes so the valves got gummed up and now they’re wornout. NAPA said that the piston rings seemed fine. They did a compression test and a wet test and they said it came out good.
I hear stories like this on occasion. The hope is always for valve seals as they are relatively easy to replace. However, in my experience engines suffer wear on all parts of the internals. So if you have worn or bad valve seals and guides, the chances are pretty good that the rest of the engine is in questionable shape. I know you say you’ve had a good compression test but the issue may be that the oil control rings are gummed up and can’t do their job. At one time you could continue to run an engine like this and just change the oil more frequently, but with catalytic converters, new ones at that, you run the risk of damaging them and having to replace them again as well. My advice is either to sell the vehicle, or look for a replacement engine with lower miles or one that has been rebuilt. This website may be helpful to you in that search if that’s what you decide.
More info on leaks here.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/finding-and-fixing-leaks
Good luck and keep us posted.
If you get an engine for $700, how much will it usually cost to have a shop put the engine in and hook it up and all that stuff? Saw an engine that’s for $700 in good condition.
Likely about $500 to $1000 or more. The good news is that proper “recyclers” generally offer some sort of warranty.
You probably had a nice build-up of sludge in there keeping everything where it belonged and when they did whatever they did and removed said sludge the bad leaks started.
That does make sense about the sludge. But if I take it back to the shop and complain, what would they do? Replace the valve seals and tear into the engine for a low-discounted price because we didn’t have this bad of an issue before at all. I’m just mad cause this wasn’t an issue until they worked on it and cleaned it. I know the oil being burnt is gonna cause carbon buildup and then that can go into the piston and get between the piston rings and wall then scratch it up and then cause to other probs, it will ruin the new CATS and plug up the new Spark plugs and gum up the injectors. This is gonna lead to what they just fixed!!! Which I just forked out 2,400 for everything they just did and I don’t wanna end up that happening again. I alos can’t afford another truck payment!!
unfortunately the issue likely did exist before, it just wasn’t apparent. It might be worth them having a second look at it just in case the did bungle something up, and so they know to be a little less aggressive in the future on some of the services the did.
Ok thanks, I have been burning oil in the past but not nearly as much as now. The engine is realy worn out but I love the truck. Just gotta hope replacing the valve seals will work. Maybe if the engine does ever shit the bed then i’ll probably get a new engine, have it installed by mechanic, then borrow money from my boss just to avoid another truck payment… Thanks for the help.
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