catfishjack

I have a 1979 L-82. You never see a puff a smoke, even if your behind it in another vehicle. No start up puffs..It uses about a quart every 300-6oo miles depending on how fast you drive...This car has NO LEAKS ANYWHERE..
where is this oil going and why?? I'm stumped. I know it is frothing in the case but where is it going and why can't I see it go??

79MakoL82

Ya got me. I get a puff at startup (seals :rolleyes: ), but I don't lose anywhere near that. Are you SURE there's no smoke. You say it loses more when your driving faster. I would think it's got to be burning it.

catfishjack

There are 63K original miles on the car. I had the motor rebuilt when I bought it with 37K on it for it set 7 years without ever being ran..I just drive it around town but it sure uses iol..Is it possible to burn oil without seeing it??

KrAzYSnIpEr

could it be the oil rings? their not that old, but stuff does happen :cheers:

68shark

I know a car sitting not being run is probably worse than driving the hell out of it. I would think seals which were good would likely harden up and pass oil through.

PCV clogged (sometimes the simple things....)?

Faulty intake manifold seal?

Think you will find problem is one of these three.

What Oil are you running? 10W30 or heavier?

john's '81 mouse

Suggest you check or replace your PCV valve, too much crankcase pressure can cause increased oil consumption, and new PCV valve is cheap and easy to install. I've heard that the L82 Forged Piston 350s many times can and do burn more oil than an L48 with the cast pistons. Guess it has to do with running clearances necessary for the forged pistons. I'd think if you are burning a quart to every 500 miles, that some blue smoke would be visable sometime during engine operation. Have you pulled and checked all spark plugs? If not would suggest you do so to determine if they all look the same, or if some are far more dirty/oily than the others. If you have only a couple that are bad, then suggest you perform compression and leak down test to check each cylinder. If compression and leak down test are negative, suggest you may be sucking oil from lifter valley into intake port(s) as a result of leaking/misaligned intake manifold gasket.

catfishjack

I have the oil changed every 2000 miles. 10w30
when I add I use Valvoline..I don't know what the GM dealer where I have it serviced is using??
Could be the PVC valve..I never thought about it..
I have never seen this car puff smoke and have driven behind it a couple of times to check it for myself...I will have someone else start it but I look in the mirrors every time and I never see a pufffff...

DaveL82

I have an 80 L82 and it burned oil from the time I bout it in 83 with 29K miles on it. The L82's have forged pistons which run a little loose in the bore. This could be the cause.
Ran the motor like this until last year, when I finally solved the problem by putting a ZZ4 crate motor in.

catfishjack

Dave
What have you got in in for $$$ with That crate motor???

Vandoren

I have a 1890 with a freshly rebuilt engine (Twice). I add it rebuilt last year and it's been burning oil like your since the day i picked it up. I went back to the mechanic who did the rebuilt and he took the entire engine apart another time. Check everything put new seals, oil rings ,compression rings but it still burn oil. We did change the pcv valve and other things that could have been the problem. No luck. I've heard that these engines do take oil... go figure!

Knowing what i know now i would'nt spend a dime on a rebuilt but would have go with a ZZ4 GM engine!

Live and learn

Vandoren
1980 Silver L48 350 HP
1964 roadster 327 300hp numbers match

catfishjack

OK...How much for a new crate engine and what does everyone recommend???
My 79 L-82 is a 4 speed ..will the engine match up or what else has to change??? I finally decided to keep this car but I do have a BMW z3..I like the looks the vette gets and I just like driving the car..it's fun!I need help on this problemm..to crate or not to crate...if I crate which one do I do???? What is the approx cost..all work will be done by my local dealer...

Duke94

Do the plugs get oil fowled? If so, check the intake manifold gasket. My newly purchased 71' used a quart of oil in 200 miles with no smoke. Pulled the intake manifold and the oil splash pan was full of black crud from burning the oil.