I have 20k miles on my montero and using 5w-30 Mobil 1 motor oil. I
change the oil and filter every 5000 miles. I noticed that the engine
has been consuming about a quart of oil every 1500 miles. Has anyone
else experienced this? I found a technical service bulletin on the '03
monteros (03-11-001) at alldata.com but I dont have access to the
actual bulletin. Does anyone know where I can find this? Please point
me in the right direction. Ive never owned a car that lost this much
oil. Before I forget, there is no oil on the ground in my garage and
no visible oil leaking from under the engine. Maybe its the valve
seals? I never notice smoke....
Thanks
Nirodac - 22 Apr 2004 02:46 GMT
Have you tried:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/tsbsearch.cfm
> I have 20k miles on my montero and using 5w-30 Mobil 1 motor oil. I
> change the oil and filter every 5000 miles. I noticed that the engine
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks
Nobody U. Know - 22 Apr 2004 12:15 GMT
I looked at the TSB on Alldata. That is referring to a "Oil consumption
test". It is just a form and some guidelines to see if you are consuming
oil. It has no hints on a possible cause.
As for your problem, go to the dealer and tell them what you are noticing.
You should still be under warranty and need some documentation now. Make
sure you get it documented because I may take a while for them to figure it
out.
I doubt it's valve stem seals. Symptoms for that condition is oil smoke at
startup after sitting a while. A small amount of this is fine, but doesn't
lead to burning a lot of oil. It usually means a couple of drops of oil made
it past the stems. Believe me, a couple of drops in each cylinder can make
quite a puff of smoke.
IMHO that's a lot of oil for a car with 20K. It has to be going somewhere.
If it's not on the ground, it has to be burning up in the engine or
collecting in the coolant. Don't exclude the top of the engine when looking
for leaks, however. It could be leaking out the valve cover or spark plug
seals.

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> I have 20k miles on my montero and using 5w-30 Mobil 1 motor oil. I
> change the oil and filter every 5000 miles. I noticed that the engine
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks
dookie - 25 Apr 2004 23:54 GMT
my '01 (3.5l petrol) uses maybe 1/2qt between ~5k mile changes (also 5w-30
M1). yours definitely seems excessive. i'd have it looked at.
dookie
> I have 20k miles on my montero and using 5w-30 Mobil 1 motor oil. I
> change the oil and filters defiu every 5000 miles. I noticed that the
engine
> has been consuming about a quart of oil every 1500 miles. Has anyone
> else experienced this? I found a technical service bulletin on the '03
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks
The_Rooster - 24 May 2004 16:10 GMT
Thank goodness. I have the same problem with a 2001 eclipse with only
25,000 miles. I can't believe this isn't a more common problem. I go
throught the same amount of oil, no oil in the coolant, no smoke from the
exhaust. Parking the car in the Garage with no oil leaks???????? Took it
in to the dealer, and they are clueless. I am currently going through
their bullitin that you posted to have them check it every 1500 miles.
Will let you know how it turns out. Doesn't look good so far. I checked
the Office of Defects website for this recal and nothin'. This stinks.
The_Rooster - 25 Mar 2005 15:49 GMT
I had the same problem with my Eclipse. This was the problem: THE OIL WAS
SLOWLY COMING OUT FO THE VALVE COVER THROUGH THE GASKET. It was hardly
noticeable due to no drips on the pavement, or smoke from my exhaust. I
noticed it when I was changing my own oil. The residue around the
components seemed to me excessive, so I followed the "oil trail" up to the
valve cover! Yahoo for me. But this seems to me like there is another
underlying problem, valve gaskets just don't go bad, I'm going to have the
PCV valve checked to make sure the engine is "breathing" properly. Good
luck to everyone on this issue, I hope this helps.
Peter - 26 Mar 2005 23:06 GMT
I had the same problem, so i applied a liberal amount of gasket goo around
the circular part of the rocker cover in a thin film, oil leak stopped even
tho it wasnt that bad, just the smell of burning oil had me worried. SO i
took the rocker cover off, cleaned in fresh petrol and put in a new gasket
and applied the selastic suitable for car engines and wham nice clean seal
with no leaks. Mind you a mechanic in a local servo wanted 75.00 to do the
work. I did it in 30 mins and 3 cups of coffee lol
Peter
> I had the same problem with my Eclipse. This was the problem: THE OIL WAS
> SLOWLY COMING OUT FO THE VALVE COVER THROUGH THE GASKET. It was hardly
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> PCV valve checked to make sure the engine is "breathing" properly. Good
> luck to everyone on this issue, I hope this helps.