Hey guys, I am trying to find an oil leak on my 88 samurai. It uses about a quart in around 3 weeks I figure. I thought I had it fixed when I changed a leaking fuel pump, but its still losing oil somewhere. I haved cleaned up the engine and it is not leaking oil. It may be leaking a bit out of the trans but I cant tell because it was hard to get 100% clean. But anyhow I dont think that could be it because its behind the bellhousing. It seems since its not leaking it must be burning, but the thing doesnt seem to smoke at all. Plugs seem ok too, but Im no expert there. I just got it a bit ago and its past due on an oil change a but I was hopefully waiting till I get this thing fixed. I dont think that could have anything to due with a potential leak though... just thinking out loud.

WTF!!! Do any of you guys have any tips for my dumb ass?

the distributor housing  or rear main seal or valve cover gasket  mines leaking in about 5 places and i replaced just about everything dont know what the hells going on

You say there is no visible leak or even a spot of oil where you park? If there is no sign of a major oil leak then you have to be burning it. You can check by coasting in high gear down a mount road and when you give it gas at the bottom look behind you. If the engine is burning oil you'll see quite a bit of gray smoke behind you at this point.

I have almost the same thing except in a 8V Tracker.  Mine started when I did somthing dumb like not pay attention and bought 10W30 weight oil for an oil change.  I always thought that it was scored/burned piston rings.  I would really appreciate it if memebers weighed in on what it might be for this gent.  Might shed some light on mine as well.

its old   thats where your oils going   a quart every three weeks is pretty good really   ive had 20 yr old cars that would use a quart in 3 days 

my 240K sammi was a quart every tank of gas but i replaced the valve cover gasket and both dist gaskets and tried some of that oil sealer stuff and now its a quart every 3 weeks. and its def rings because she smokes like a train.

could try a leak down test and compression or even a dye test ( be easiest ) also be like me and except the fact it is an old vehicle probably with many miles and just carry cheap oil with you.

my 240K sammi was a quart every tank of gas but i replaced the valve cover gasket and both dist gaskets and tried some of that oil sealer stuff and now its a quart every 3 weeks. and its def rings because she smokes like a train.

could try a leak down test and compression or even a dye test ( be easiest ) also be like me and except the fact it is an old vehicle probably with many miles and just carry cheap oil with you.

eliminates the need for an oil change every 3000 miles too     

We did a leak down today and we can hear air excaping from the open oil filler cap in the valve cover. We heard air from each cylinder. I think that tells us that I have at least one valve per cylinder that is not sealing and the valve stem seals also are leaking. Please correct me if I have this wrong. I have never done this before and am really winging it and going off common sense.

If I have this correct what is the best way to deal with this. And what is the smartest way to fix it?

A couple of other things.

1. my rig has 130,000 miles and I just adjusted the valves

2. What oil do you guys run? I have been adding 10w-30 dyno oil but when I start it in the morning it sounds like a diesel and is VERY LOUD like it is not getting any oil to the top end. Is it too thick?

3. My timing is really weird and I do not know if this is related or not. I would assume that burning oil in the combustion chamber would effect the timing requirements. Anyway on 87 octane fuel it pings BADLY 10* the factory setting. I do not know the number Im at right now but I know I am considerably less than that to make it driveable. I just bought this a few months ago and am wondering if the timing belt is all worn out.

Please Help! In the meantime Ill be reading the FSM.

Dustin

air from the oil cap is rings
air from intake is intake valve
air from exhaust is exhaust valve

now did u do it when the engine is cold or warm?

so u say u dont have experience but u can hear pinging? im just saying i know very few ppl know what to listen for pinging.  if it is its not due to oil loss. that is ur gas. do u fill up or always only put alittle bit of gas in ur car at a time. after awhile water can build up and make the motor start to ping

may need a timing belt if its never been replaced

now u know ur rings are worn u should do a compression test and see what its at if the psi is low u may need to replace rings

Thanks for the help.

We did the leakdown when it was warm.

I fill my tank up fully and run it pretty much completely out each time to keep track of my mileage.

It is definitely pinging.

I thought air from the dipstick was rings and air from the oil cap would be valve stem seals???

Air from the oil cap could be from the rings also. The blow by comes up through the oil return holes!

no because if it was getting to the valve seals that means you would here it in the exhaust or intake. valve cover cap and dipstick are in the same chamber ( cant think what else to call that area ) or leads to the oil area.  no you could have bad valve seals and that can be what is causing oil consumption on top of the rings. i should replace mine lol

Air from the oil cap could be from the rings also. The blow by comes up through the oil return holes!

what he said i couldn't think what to call it lol  why my foreman at work hates me im always saying the "whatchamacallit"

That totally makes sense about the oil rings. After I posted last I thought about it more.

After doing some reading on my own yesterday evening it sounds like when leakdown testing 3 things can happen. 1. lead out the intake valve and hear it through carb, 2. leak out exhaust valve and hear it through tailpipe, or 3. leak past rings and hear it out dipstick hole or oil filler.

So I 'think' my next check would be a compression test and compare that to factory specs. If its low then I 'think' I could add a teaspoon of oil to the cylinders and see if compression improves. If it does then I 'think' that would tell me that I have bad ring seal.

If I have bad ring seal, how much does that cost to fix? Do you just re-ring or does the whole thing need rebuilt? DAMN DAMN DAMN, IT ONLY HAS 130,000 ON IT WTF?

its possible its the valve seals.

id honestly would have a tech look at it. might cost 50 bucks but its better than pulling it apart replacing the piston rings and it still burn oil