PCV work leading to oil leak or consumption?

The PCV work won't increase oil consumption directly, but it's possible there is still a restriction in the ventilation system. I neglected mine (85

The test is easy enough. Remove the oil filler cap. Locate the fitting where the large hose that crosses the top of the engine connects to the turbo inlet duct and remove the hose from the duct. Blow into the hose (you may want to use a paper towel as a lip gasket!). The resistance should be like you are blowing out birthday candles. If it is like trying to blow through a soda straw there is still a blockage. Reconnect the hose and replace the filler cap on the engine.

Mike

Checked with the mechanic, and he did replace all the hoses. He found a leak at the oil pressure sensor that drips when it's running. I didn't notice it because of the leaves on the driveway. Doh.

He replaced the oil pressure sensor, and 5 minutes from the garage, the oil light came on when it's idling. Went back, and the mechanic thinks it's "just low oil pressure". The service manager is ordering a new sensor to double check, but I'm worried the sensor is right. If so, is the engine worn out?

If it is worn, is it worth fixing? The mechanic says he used to be able to re-build engines with new pistons (longer skirt?) and sleeves, but can't get the good pistons now. Anyone got a source? I like the car, it's moderate mileage (200,000km) and I have fixed most everything else. When do you draw the line? (Yeah, I know, $64,000 question...)

Thanks

The B230FT is a very stout engine, although it has a tendency to develop piston slap (tapping when cold, worse under acceleration) around 200,000 km. Mine has been slapping for almost a decade. A compression test will tell you most of the story as far as oil consumption.

In your 1986, if the engine harness hasn't been replaced yet I'd bet the insulation has crumbled off the wiring in many places. The oil pressure sender lead is a prime location for that. It's long and runs all alone across the front of the engine, so near the block that bare spots can short to the engine and light the warning lamp. The disturbance of changing the sender can trigger that. Of course, the new sender can be bad. If the oil pressure really is low, I'd expect you would have seen that with the old sender too. They often produce false warnings when they start leaking rather than failing to warn you.

Mike

Thanks Mike. I will check the lead. The oil light didn't light up at all until the oil loss a couple weeks ago. And it went out when I replaced the oil. It just started lighting when the sensor was replaced.

What's involved in a compression test? If it doesn't lose oil on the next long drive, I will assume the leaking sensor was the main issue, but am worried about the oil light being on all the time it is idling (If the replacement doesn't solve it). If it keeps coming on, how will I know if there really is an oil issue? (I'm getting the engine cleaned Monday to look for other oil leks, then the second new sensor, and will post the results.

The compression test is simple enough; all the plugs are removed and a test guage is screwed into one plug hole and the engine cranked a few seconds. The reading is recorded and the procedure is repeated on each of the other cylinders. The most common sign of trouble is variation in readings of more than about 10% (some people use different standards, from 5% to 20%, but IMHO most that are over 10% are going to be more than 20% variation.)

As for knowing whether there really is an oil pressure issue, the garage can remove the sender and connect an oil pressure guage in its place. It's a pretty quick test and is the definitive way of determining whether the oil pressure is bad. I'm surprised they didn't recommend doing that when you complained of the light being on; it is the safest way for a shop to approach the situation.

The two tests together should be about 1 to 1.5 hours labor, and will tell you very much where you stand.

Mike

A second test can be done with the compression test, if you get low readings: after doing it the first time, squirt a little SAE 80 or 90 gear oil into the cylingers and repeat. If the readings shoot up, you have worn piston rings. If it stays about the same, you have worn valves.

Hi all:

Thanks for the help. I got some good news.

First, Michael, the sensor lead was new. Peter, the PVC work definitely solved the smoke. I took it in the for oil pressure test, but they didn't have the adaptor for the turbo version, so they changed the sensor. Bingo. It turns out the oil pressure sensor was faulty and another one has solved the problem. Whew. Still going to have the engine checked for leaks, but no smoke, no oil loss, and no oil pressure light. Anything else I should keep an eye on?

Thanks again!

Lister

Relax and enjoy life a while. You've earned it!

Mike