5E-FE losing oil.

[Banshee365]

When I bought the car (92 paseo) it hadn't been started for 2-3 months the owners said. It smoked alot at startup and continued until I drove it around for a few minutes then it was clean as a whistle. It seems like if you drive it everyday it doesn't smoke at start or while driving. But when it sat for a week during the clutch and all of those new parts it smoked when I started it. The motor has 190k miles and doesn't appear to have any major leaks of any kind. I replaced the rear main seal during the clutch and water pump job. I changed the oil and checked it often and it was alway's fine. Then I did some highway driving and when I checked it about 300 miles later it was at the bottom of the stick. Very weird. I have someone follow me and I drove it all different kinds of ways and they said it never smoke once. I'm checking the oil everytime I drive it now but I'm kind of stumped. I'm wandering if I need to replace the VSS.

-Kelly

[4speedsleeper]

It could be the vss{valve stem seals} or it could be your rings going bad. You won't be able to tell unless you take the head off of coarse. Witch is a peice of cake you might throw a new timming belt on when your in there. And dont forget new head bolts the ones you have are stretch.

[Dhavut]

check ur spark plugs as well........ if its wet and oil covered .... worn valve guides.... piston rings need to be replaced......... and you are probablyy going to do the head gasket neways so that should help a big............. if u change ur oil and then check it every so often and u see that it gets black quicker then for sure u need piston rings because the blow by is contaminating ur oil and might even turn it into sludge....

[Banshee365]

I pulled the plug when I did the timing belt along with the clutch, and rear main seal. The plugs were white-ish and not wet at all. The oil does seem to be fairly dark while it was changed less than 1,000 miles ago. When I check it it's freezing outside so I think that has a tendancy to make it darker because if I check it later in the day after running it it appears lighter in color. Do people ever replace rings and such or just replace the engine. Seems like alot of work for a engine you can replace for $500.

[Dhavut]

it depends on ur preference ...... if you want to replace the engine u can....... i have a tercel and replaced my engine with the paseo.......... and i think my rings are shot because after a oil change the oil jus get sso dark... got the same problem as you...... and i need to replace my rings and fix my valve stem seals for sure.... if it worth just replacing your whole engine might as well for 500 bucks because the labour and cost of rings are probably gonna be around there neways... but that is up to you

[Dhavut]

http://www.centuryperformance.com/spark2.asp............... just a site on spark plugs.... may help or may not help

[StealthSeo]

the first couple 5e-fe's i went through leaked oil as well due my stupidity and engine engineering. replacing the crank to block gasket would be my first choice just b/c that is where most start to leak. if you are smoking like that though everyone else is spot on that means that oil is getting into your cylinder and you might need new rings. I tell ya thats why i changed motors...i just beat the crap out of the old one.

[4speedsleeper]

tighten the oil pan bolts they always come loose for some reason.