Oil blowing up through dipstick

Check the water for oil and the oil for water. If it's not the head gasket I'd say the piston rings are buggered and it's chuck it away time.

Someone who knows more than I will be along shortly.

Si

Crankcase and cam-cover breathers blocked would cause this too, but as she also mentioned "rattling", I'd say it was a terminally shagged-out old engine. A replacement car would be the cheapest option i'd reckon.

JB

Out of interest, how many miles are on it? And petrol or diesel?

Chandy

Blocked up breather system is the first thing to check. If it is breathing in and burning some extra oil it will rattle as you describe.

The breather system can get totally clogged up if the car is abused or not serviced, which may lead to it being worn out.

Head gasket problems "usually" do not cause oil to blow up the dipstick, lack of breathing or excessive piston blow by are more likely, as is just putting too much oil in !!

mrcheerful

No. It means either the breather pipes are blocked (simple fix for someone who knows what they are doing) and/or the bottom end (pistons and rings) is worn out. A compression test will tell you if that's the case and if so it's probably not worth the cost of a new engine.

-- Dave Baker

Engine is knackered. It needs a new one.

That *could* be down to a lack of oil reaching the valves.

I'd check the breathers and if blocked also do an engine flush/oil change.

If that doesn't work check the compression.

sponix

WOW!! You guys are great! I guess I'll just ask the bank for a loan....I sure will miss her, though. Drove her off the truck.

Thanks for all your advice and help!

Mary

In message , MARY writes

Don't give up on it yet. Check the breather is not blocked like others have suggested. Its a simple and cheap fix. If that doesn't work then you will probably have to visit the bank manager.

A P reg escort isn't worth a lot, you could buy a good one for about £800. Try Autotrader:

Might be worth doing an engine flush at the same time (has it had regular oil changes BTW?) - it can be a kill or cure solution though. Do these models have CVH engines?

Well, I am going to try a couple of the suggestions. I will keep you all updated. BTW, anybody in Georgia??

Mary

Not very likely, do you know what the "uk" in "uk.rec.cars.maintenance" stands for ? ;)

The message from "MARY" contains these words:

Is that Georgia US or Georgia ex-USSR?

What! You're a RUSSIAN?

Chris Bacon ( snipped-for-privacy@thai.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Not any more, she isn't.

Tony Bond (UncleFista) ( snipped-for-privacy@SPAMgmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

University of Kentucky?

I fettled a Polo with the exact same symptoms and the breathers *were* blocked. Unfortunately they would block up again very quickly after being cleaned out. Terminally quickly.

Still, always look on the bright side :)

Si

That should convince her we're not Merkins :)

Si