Oil Use Problem Solved
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 83
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From: New Berlin WI
Oil Use Problem Solved
Here's the original paragraph, stating the problem:
Magnuson Heartbeat @5 PSI, Trick Flow heads, moderate blower cam, BB long tube headers, pump gas, A6 trans = 600 RWHP but . . . oil consumption jumped to 1 qt per 1000 miles. In addition, tail pipe tips (and, I assume, the exhaust plumbing) are coated with soot, and blue smoke comes out exhaust when I mash the pedal. The advice I got was to install a catch can to eliminate the majority of the soot and smoke.
Summary: Minimal oil in the catch can (1 teaspoon per 1000 miles). No oil in the PCV air intake hose from the air cleaner (also dry).
Cylinder leak-down test showed "perfect" results. But . . . plugs one and 2 were "wet" when removed for that test.
That left the heads as the source. Trick Flow support said there was a batch of bad valve stem seals, but all those heads were recalled. Mine were built/shipped way past the last bad set. HOWEVER (they said) . . . . step# 7 of the installation instructions says " make sure to apply thread sealant to the rocker assembly hold down bolts. You may ask why this is necessary. It is because most of the bolt holes are drilled deep enough to penetrate into the intake runners. With a vacuum in the intake (99% of usual driving), the vacuum will pull oil down around the threads, into the manifold.
50 cents worth of sealer, and a LOT of labor ($$$), and problem solved. 
Over 2000 miles on a new oil change and NO repeat NO oil usage. The installer/tuner screwed up. (No, I will not name the installer).
I hope this saga helps you fellow "go fast" people out there to trouble shoot excessive oil usage. At a minimum, read ALL the instructions when doing an upgrade. In my case, with my hardware, there should have been no change in usage over stock. A little thread sealer would have saved two months and $2000 of troubleshooting.
Cruise-2-XS
Magnuson Heartbeat @5 PSI, Trick Flow heads, moderate blower cam, BB long tube headers, pump gas, A6 trans = 600 RWHP but . . . oil consumption jumped to 1 qt per 1000 miles. In addition, tail pipe tips (and, I assume, the exhaust plumbing) are coated with soot, and blue smoke comes out exhaust when I mash the pedal. The advice I got was to install a catch can to eliminate the majority of the soot and smoke.
Summary: Minimal oil in the catch can (1 teaspoon per 1000 miles). No oil in the PCV air intake hose from the air cleaner (also dry).
Cylinder leak-down test showed "perfect" results. But . . . plugs one and 2 were "wet" when removed for that test.
That left the heads as the source. Trick Flow support said there was a batch of bad valve stem seals, but all those heads were recalled. Mine were built/shipped way past the last bad set. HOWEVER (they said) . . . . step# 7 of the installation instructions says " make sure to apply thread sealant to the rocker assembly hold down bolts. You may ask why this is necessary. It is because most of the bolt holes are drilled deep enough to penetrate into the intake runners. With a vacuum in the intake (99% of usual driving), the vacuum will pull oil down around the threads, into the manifold.
50 cents worth of sealer, and a LOT of labor ($$$), and problem solved. Over 2000 miles on a new oil change and NO repeat NO oil usage. The installer/tuner screwed up. (No, I will not name the installer).I hope this saga helps you fellow "go fast" people out there to trouble shoot excessive oil usage. At a minimum, read ALL the instructions when doing an upgrade. In my case, with my hardware, there should have been no change in usage over stock. A little thread sealer would have saved two months and $2000 of troubleshooting.
Cruise-2-XS
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Here's the original paragraph, stating the problem:
Magnuson Heartbeat @5 PSI, Trick Flow heads, moderate blower cam, BB long tube headers, pump gas, A6 trans = 600 RWHP but . . . oil consumption jumped to 1 qt per 1000 miles. In addition, tail pipe tips (and, I assume, the exhaust plumbing) are coated with soot, and blue smoke comes out exhaust when I mash the pedal. The advice I got was to install a catch can to eliminate the majority of the soot and smoke.
Summary: Minimal oil in the catch can (1 teaspoon per 1000 miles). No oil in the PCV air intake hose from the air cleaner (also dry).
Cylinder leak-down test showed "perfect" results. But . . . plugs one and 2 were "wet" when removed for that test.
That left the heads as the source. Trick Flow support said there was a batch of bad valve stem seals, but all those heads were recalled. Mine were built/shipped way past the last bad set. HOWEVER (they said) . . . . step# 7 of the installation instructions says " make sure to apply thread sealant to the rocker assembly hold down bolts. You may ask why this is necessary. It is because most of the bolt holes are drilled deep enough to penetrate into the intake runners. With a vacuum in the intake (99% of usual driving), the vacuum will pull oil down around the threads, into the manifold. 50 cents worth of sealer, and a LOT of labor ($$$), and problem solved. Over 2000 miles on a new oil change and NO repeat NO oil usage. The installer/tuner screwed up. (No, I will not name the installer).
I hope this saga helps you fellow "go fast" people out there to trouble shoot excessive oil usage. At a minimum, read ALL the instructions when doing an upgrade. In my case, with my hardware, there should have been no change in usage over stock. A little thread sealer would have saved two months and $2000 of troubleshooting.
Cruise-2-XS
Magnuson Heartbeat @5 PSI, Trick Flow heads, moderate blower cam, BB long tube headers, pump gas, A6 trans = 600 RWHP but . . . oil consumption jumped to 1 qt per 1000 miles. In addition, tail pipe tips (and, I assume, the exhaust plumbing) are coated with soot, and blue smoke comes out exhaust when I mash the pedal. The advice I got was to install a catch can to eliminate the majority of the soot and smoke.
Summary: Minimal oil in the catch can (1 teaspoon per 1000 miles). No oil in the PCV air intake hose from the air cleaner (also dry).
Cylinder leak-down test showed "perfect" results. But . . . plugs one and 2 were "wet" when removed for that test.
That left the heads as the source. Trick Flow support said there was a batch of bad valve stem seals, but all those heads were recalled. Mine were built/shipped way past the last bad set. HOWEVER (they said) . . . . step# 7 of the installation instructions says " make sure to apply thread sealant to the rocker assembly hold down bolts. You may ask why this is necessary. It is because most of the bolt holes are drilled deep enough to penetrate into the intake runners. With a vacuum in the intake (99% of usual driving), the vacuum will pull oil down around the threads, into the manifold.
50 cents worth of sealer, and a LOT of labor ($$$), and problem solved. Over 2000 miles on a new oil change and NO repeat NO oil usage. The installer/tuner screwed up. (No, I will not name the installer).I hope this saga helps you fellow "go fast" people out there to trouble shoot excessive oil usage. At a minimum, read ALL the instructions when doing an upgrade. In my case, with my hardware, there should have been no change in usage over stock. A little thread sealer would have saved two months and $2000 of troubleshooting.
Cruise-2-XS
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 227
I've been using sealer on the intake rocker bolts for years. Back in the day when I'd get stock LS1 heads hogged out it would break thru runner into the bottom of the rocker boss. Pretty much any CNC head you see now needs to have the intake rocker bolt sealed too.
