Burning oil

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Mar 26, 2005 | 01:40 PM

81corvettevortec

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 384

Likes: 8

From: Alberta

Burning oil

I have a 1990 454 SS truck that is burning some oil. but when i had the head gaskets done they said that the valve guides seemed worn. but now at a different shop they say they look fine, and that it might be the rings. just wondering if you guys know of anyways to tell which it is. the engine still has very good oil pressure, that hasn't changed at all sinse it started to burn oil. any suggestions? thanks in advance,
Ryan.

PS- the heads are edelbrock performer TBI heads.

Mar 26, 2005 | 03:58 PM

terry82

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 6,663

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From: columbia city in

if it smokes on startup valve seals if it smokes during normal driving rings .you probaly need the umbrela type oil seals .

Mar 26, 2005 | 04:06 PM

TXShark

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 231

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From: Tucson AZ

I agree with you, but also consider that your intake gasket is poorly seated, it will smoke like crazy. My new engine did it and it turned out that the intake gasket hadn't seated properly. So if you've recently removed the intake, it could be that, particularly if only a couple of the plugs were fouled.

Mar 26, 2005 | 05:06 PM

81corvettevortec

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 384

Likes: 8

From: Alberta

Thanks for the replies, i had considered the intake gasket aswell, but wasn't quite sure. it started to burn the oil just after i had the head gaskets done. which i thought was kinda weird. but it usually only smokes on start up, and thats just a single little puff. whats anoying is it keeps fouling the plugs, so from what i am betting is the guides for that cylinder are shot. the shop its at right now said they would take a closer look to see what it might be, i just hope i don't have to rebiuld the engine.......

Mar 26, 2005 | 05:34 PM

MIKER

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 2,581

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From: Tolar Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by 81corvettevortec

... it started to burn the oil just after i had the head gaskets done. which i thought was kinda weird. ....

Based on this information, the intake manifold would be my prime suspect.

Keep us posted.

Mar 26, 2005 | 07:09 PM

Big Fish

Safety Car

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From: St. Charles IL

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A CI-6 Car Show Winner

Try a compression test, and then do a compression test again after shooting a little oil in each cylinder. If the compression comes up substantially, it's rings. No change or very little? Probably something else, all good advice above.

Mar 26, 2005 | 09:20 PM

marshrat99

Melting Slicks

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 2,135

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From: Dayton Oh

One of my other Chevy's is a 1 ton dually 454. I bought it new and has always used 1 qt oil every 500 miles. I've got used to it and now think it perfectly normal for my engine. The truck now has 70K on it and it is still doing the same thing. However, if this is a recent development with your engine, then I'd agree that the first thing to check is the intake manifold.

Mar 26, 2005 | 11:35 PM

ZL1powr

Pro

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 723

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From: North Port, FL

If you decide to pull the intake back off be sure to notice it you detect oil at the gasket and bottom of intake runner intersection. This is a tale tale sign that it is getting by the gasket and into the intake runner. Another posibility that also allows oil into the intake runners is where the rocker arm stud holes punch through the intake runners. Those studs need to be sealed with a threaad sealant like Locktite PST.