how much oil should a new engine burn?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 2
From: High Ridge Missouri
Low tension rings?
Broken in properly?
What RPMs are you turning?
What are some of the specifics on the build, who built it, was it done properly?
What oil are you using?
Answers to these questions will make it easier give accurate answers to your questions?
Broken in properly?
What RPMs are you turning?
What are some of the specifics on the build, who built it, was it done properly?
What oil are you using?
Answers to these questions will make it easier give accurate answers to your questions?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Mahle power pak rings, came with the pistons
QMP racing motors, yes I believe it was done properly
I spin it to 5,000 or 5,500 on occasion, I didn't baby it for th last 300 miles, I did change the oil once at 100 miles, from 5w30 dino to 10w30 autozone dino.
Is this normal usage?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
1/2 quart low could be from the oil being transfered from the pan to the oil filter and passage ways. Was the "new" engine primed before you checked the fluid level? Point being that it would look to be low now if the oil filter was empty when you checked the level just after the fill then.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
1/2 quart low could be from the oil being transfered from the pan to the oil filter and passage ways. Was the "new" engine primed before you checked the fluid level? Point being that it would look to be low now if the oil filter was empty when you checked the level just after the fill then.
was primed, it went 1/4 qt low, and the next day i had to put in 1/4 qt, but the car is not smoking....
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 2
From: High Ridge Missouri
I wouldn't condemn it yet. Get some more miles on it, keep an eye on your oil which I know you're doing and keep a detailed log of mileage and usage.
What are the specifics on your heads, are they new/rebuilt? If rebuilt what about the guides, knurled?
How does it run?
Pull your plugs and take a look.
Do a leakdown test.
Try these things/watch these things and let us know your results.
As far as being shot I'd definitely do some more diagnosis and give it some more time before I'd say that.
What are the specifics on your heads, are they new/rebuilt? If rebuilt what about the guides, knurled?
How does it run?
Pull your plugs and take a look.
Do a leakdown test.
Try these things/watch these things and let us know your results.
As far as being shot I'd definitely do some more diagnosis and give it some more time before I'd say that.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
I wouldn't condemn it yet. Get some more miles on it, keep an eye on your oil which I know you're doing and keep a detailed log of mileage and usage.
What are the specifics on your heads, are they new/rebuilt? If rebuilt what about the guides, knurled?
How does it run?
Pull your plugs and take a look.
Do a leakdown test.
Try these things/watch these things and let us know your results.
As far as being shot I'd definitely do some more diagnosis and give it some more time before I'd say that.
What are the specifics on your heads, are they new/rebuilt? If rebuilt what about the guides, knurled?
How does it run?
Pull your plugs and take a look.
Do a leakdown test.
Try these things/watch these things and let us know your results.
As far as being shot I'd definitely do some more diagnosis and give it some more time before I'd say that.
New AFR 195 eliminator heads
plug looked good burning right
no leakdown test
Does the usage seem severe?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
A quart every 800 miles sounds severe, but it is not.
Every chevy motor I have ever built burns oil when used hard.
By coincidence, the motors that used the most, ran the best.
My 10 secon nitrous motor uses a quart of oil every time I took it to the dragstrip, and 1 qt every 700 miles when driven normally.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 2
From: High Ridge Missouri
I've heard of higher oil consumption, but 1/2qt every 400mi translates into almost 4qt every 3k mi which is definitely more than I'd want.
Also forgot to ask how is your PCV/breather setup configured now?
Also forgot to ask how is your PCV/breather setup configured now?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
stock pcv configuration , I noticed in the past, new oil was more susceptable to loss, whereas oil that's been in the case over 1000 miles tend not to deplete.
did anyone notice this in their rides, I do and for years have experienced this
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
No
A quart every 800 miles sounds severe, but it is not.
Every chevy motor I have ever built burns oil when used hard.
By coincidence, the motors that used the most, ran the best.
My 10 secon nitrous motor uses a quart of oil every time I took it to the dragstrip, and 1 qt every 700 miles when driven normally.
A quart every 800 miles sounds severe, but it is not.
Every chevy motor I have ever built burns oil when used hard.
By coincidence, the motors that used the most, ran the best.
My 10 secon nitrous motor uses a quart of oil every time I took it to the dragstrip, and 1 qt every 700 miles when driven normally.
I do run the **** out of it, and it's new
where does the oil go?
when you say ran the best, you mean the hardest hitting? longest lasting? best gas mileage?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Performance motors use oil. New performance motors often use alot of oil until broken in. My experience is that 3,000 miles or so is needed for complete break in.
And my personal experiences are with more than chevy's.
Chevy small blocks do seem to be "oil thirsty"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
There are several variables involved here which could account for it: Ring thinkness;
Ring end gaps,
Type of second ring,
Type of oil ring set,
Piston to wall clearance,
Proper positioning of ring end gaps on pistons,
Cylinder wall finish,
Ring fit in piston,
Proper ring installation,
Valve stem sealing,
and probably others I can't think of off the top of my head.
Of course, if you didn't build it yourself you won't know many of those and have to trust in the precision on the builder.
Jake
West Point ROCKS!
Ring end gaps,
Type of second ring,
Type of oil ring set,
Piston to wall clearance,
Proper positioning of ring end gaps on pistons,
Cylinder wall finish,
Ring fit in piston,
Proper ring installation,
Valve stem sealing,
and probably others I can't think of off the top of my head.
Of course, if you didn't build it yourself you won't know many of those and have to trust in the precision on the builder.
Jake
West Point ROCKS!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
