Oil consumption?

R

ritch hwang

New member
Jul 9, 1998
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Netters:

Here's one for ya - suppose the venerable 455 in fact runs 1/2 qt low as a
matter of course? Well, flatlanding anyway.

I agree w/Arch & his 455 dragster buddy re valve cover gasket being the
cause of Marcus's problems. When replacing mine, I massaged the valve cover
bolt area & checked the bottom of the cover with a straight edge. No leaks.

Still, when I pulled Rte 74 north out of Carlisle, PA, there was a
disctinct odor of oil contacting the exhaust manifolds, the only time that
has ever occurred. This tells me that oil is puddling in the head.

Every time I checked the oil on the road, it was always a half quart down.
Of course I dutifully filled it up. Think I'll let it go for a while & see
what happens.
Just a thought.

Comments?

As always, best regards.

~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
(B}>
 
Look in the Air cleaner. Is there oil in there from the valve covers.
Probably. This is because there is so much turbulance in the bottom of the
engine that at say 60 MPH you pump most of the oil into the covers. If they is
any sign of a leak point it will find it. Slow down to an ants pace and you
will more likely than not, have enough oil in the bottom to oil the bearings.
The machine work on the rods is important as is the oil restrictors to ensure
oil stays in the bottom instead of the top. My .02 worth chuck

> Netters:
>
> Here's one for ya - suppose the venerable 455 in fact runs 1/2 qt low as a
> matter of course? Well, flatlanding anyway.
>
> I agree w/Arch & his 455 dragster buddy re valve cover gasket being the
> cause of Marcus's problems. When replacing mine, I massaged the valve cover
> bolt area & checked the bottom of the cover with a straight edge. No leaks.
>
> Still, when I pulled Rte 74 north out of Carlisle, PA, there was a
> disctinct odor of oil contacting the exhaust manifolds, the only time that
> has ever occurred. This tells me that oil is puddling in the head.
>
> Every time I checked the oil on the road, it was always a half quart down.
> Of course I dutifully filled it up. Think I'll let it go for a while & see
> what happens.
> Just a thought.
>
> Comments?
>
> As always, best regards.
>
> ~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
> ~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
> ~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
> (B}>
 
If it was always 1/2 quart low I would suspect that someone put in the wrong
oil dip stick. when you overfill the pan the crank froths it up and oil is
forced everywhere.

>Netters:
>
>Here's one for ya - suppose the venerable 455 in fact runs 1/2 qt low as a
>matter of course? Well, flatlanding anyway.
>
>I agree w/Arch & his 455 dragster buddy re valve cover gasket being the
>cause of Marcus's problems. When replacing mine, I massaged the valve cover
>bolt area & checked the bottom of the cover with a straight edge. No leaks.
>
>Still, when I pulled Rte 74 north out of Carlisle, PA, there was a
>disctinct odor of oil contacting the exhaust manifolds, the only time that
>has ever occurred. This tells me that oil is puddling in the head.
>
>Every time I checked the oil on the road, it was always a half quart down.
>Of course I dutifully filled it up. Think I'll let it go for a while & see
>what happens.
>Just a thought.
>
>Comments?
>
>As always, best regards.
>
>~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
>~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
>~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
>(B}>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
 
.I am so glad you mentioned this Ritch.

After an oil change a year ago I noticed I was still about a half quart
low according to the dip stick. I cut a new notch on the stick and have
resisted the temptation to add a quart at the original "add oil"
mark.Since then my oil consumption has gone from 700-800 miles per quart
to 900-1100 miles per quart.

Is this a common observation? I believe I have been blowing the initial
1/2 quart out the exhaust pipe.

Dave Greenberg
>

>Every time I checked the oil on the road, it was always a half quart
>down.
>Of course I dutifully filled it up. Think I'll let it go for a while
>& see
>what happens.
>Just a thought.
>
>Comments?
>
>As always, best regards.
>
>~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
>~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
>~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
>(B}>
>

Dave Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
 
>
> .I am so glad you mentioned this Ritch.
>
> After an oil change a year ago I noticed I was still about a half quart
> low according to the dip stick. I cut a new notch on the stick and have
> resisted the temptation to add a quart at the original "add oil"
> mark.Since then my oil consumption has gone from 700-800 miles per quart
> to 900-1100 miles per quart.
>
> Is this a common observation? I believe I have been blowing the initial
> 1/2 quart out the exhaust pipe.
>
> Dave Greenberg

Dave,

I don't know how common it is but it happened in my engine (455) as
well. I had noticed excessive oil in the air filter after oil changes
and whenever I topped off the crankcase. When Cinnabar's changed the
oil and filter they added six quarts but then noted that my dip stick
was reading about 3/4 quart low. This they explained was why I was
"using oil" and proceceeded to cut about 1/2 inch off the dip stick tube
which then caused the dip stick to read full when it was re-inserted.
Low and behold the air cleaner stays much drier now and I'm not having
to add as much oil to keep the level up these days. I wonder what made
the dip stick apparently lenghten?

Phil Stewart
'76 Transmode
 
Hey, Dave, thanx for your validation = every little bit helps. Granted the
oil is going *somewhere* - but I personally don't think it's critical,
IMHO. If you fill & drive at freeway speeds for an hour or so, it will be
a half quart down - Mobil One at a half quart is not cheap. I'll wait
until the dipstick is a quart down as a *test*. Flatlanding, for now.

.>I am so glad you mentioned this Ritch

>After an oil change a year ago I noticed I was still about a half quart
>low according to the dip stick. I cut a new notch on the stick and have
>resisted the temptation to add a quart at the original "add oil"
>mark.Since then my oil consumption has gone from 700-800 miles per quart
>to 900-1100 miles per quart.
>
>Is this a common observation? I believe I have been blowing the initial
>1/2 quart out the exhaust pipe.
>
>Dave Greenberg
>
- -------------------
>>Every time I checked the oil on the road, it was always a half quart
>>down.
>>Of course I dutifully filled it up. Think I'll let it go for a while
>>& see
>?what happens.
>>Just a thought.
>>
>>Comments?

Brrrrrrrr, from Michigan.

As always, best regards.

~ Ritch & Betty Hwang ~ Clarkston, MI ~ mailto:rhwang
~ =^..^= Trinket ~ the shy Persian kitty ~
~ 76 GMC Birchaven ~ FMCA F249339 ~ RVClub 00930 ~ ICQ# 6408591~
(B}>
 
I didn't see this one get posted, so here goes again:

>

> >
> > .I am so glad you mentioned this Ritch.
> >
> > After an oil change a year ago I noticed I was still about a half quart
> > low according to the dip stick. I cut a new notch on the stick and have
> > resisted the temptation to add a quart at the original "add oil"
> > mark.Since then my oil consumption has gone from 700-800 miles per quart
> > to 900-1100 miles per quart.
> >
> > Is this a common observation? I believe I have been blowing the initial
> > 1/2 quart out the exhaust pipe.
> >
> > Dave Greenberg
>
> Dave,
>
> I don't know how common it is but it happened in my engine (455) as
> well. I had noticed excessive oil in the air filter after oil changes
> and whenever I topped off the crankcase. When Cinnabar's changed the
> oil and filter they added six quarts but then noted that my dip stick
> was reading about 3/4 quart low. This they explained was why I was
> "using oil" and proceceeded to cut about 1/2 inch off the dip stick tube
> which then caused the dip stick to read full when it was re-inserted.
> Low and behold the air cleaner stays much drier now and I'm not having
> to add as much oil to keep the level up these days. I wonder what made
> the dip stick apparently lenghten?
>
> Phil Stewart
> '76 Transmode
 
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