The case of the missing oil

"Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car" (pilot-and-car-guy) 07/18/2015 at 19:21 • Filed to: None

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I FINALLY finished my cooling system issues. I drove my car home (5 minutes) and I get home, with a hot engine (Gauge to normal temp). I heard ticking and checked my oil. When hot, it was at the low line. I added about 3 quarts (My engine holds 3.5) and I can’t see oil in the valve covers. When I add oil, I get a little smoke, from the valve cover, just a little. No smoke when running and no oil on the ground. WHERE THE FUCK DID 3 QUARTS OF OIL GO?

FUCK THIS CAR:

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 19:26

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Every once in a while my father’s truck just decides it wants to eat a quart of oil.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 19:26

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Aren’t you meant to check oil when the car is cold? Mine doesn’t even register on the dipstick when it’s warmed up, then reads inbetween min and max cold.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 19:27

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Oil Fairies.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 07/18/2015 at 19:29

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You are. When it’s hot, it will read higher. I added another quart, I’m now out of oil, and I still see no oil in the valve cover.

dogisbadob > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 19:33

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Did you wait until the car was shut off for a few seconds? It takes time for the oil circulating in the engine to flow back into the oil pan.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 07/18/2015 at 19:34

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Depends on the car - my 2009 Hyunda Accent states in the manual to check the oil after the car has warmed up for at least 5 minutes.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 19:39

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It usually reads higher when cold since when it’s ran recently oil is still spread out around the engine instead of drained back into the sump.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/18/2015 at 19:40

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Interesting. Both cars I’ve had said check when cold.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > dogisbadob 07/18/2015 at 19:41

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2 minutes

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 07/18/2015 at 19:55

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My old 2002 Subaru Impreza 2.5TS was “check when cold” as well.

DoctorNine > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 20:02

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1.) Let the car cool off fully. Open the cooling system at the radiator cap and then restart the car. Look for oil floating at the top of the coolant. If you see it, you probably have a head gasket issue.

2.) Get a new crankcase ventilation valve, in case it’s sucking oil into the combustion mixture that way.

3.) Remove the oil filter, and look carefully at the gasket. Sometimes reusing an old gasket on the filter in the oil change doesn’t seal it properly, and it will leak only when the oil pressure gets up to full operating speeds, but not at idle.

4.) Look for oil on the outside of the block. This can be a clue to leaking valve covers, leaking seals, or leaking external lines that move oil from one part of the block to another. Some engines have this problem.

5.) Smell the exhaust at idle. If you get the scent of oil burning (its different than just a too rich mixture) then it’s getting into the combustion chamber somehow. Could be valve guides, head gasket, or a bad oil control ring in one of the cylinders. If you smell it, pull all of the plugs, and look for which one is oil fouled. It’s that cylinder.

Those are some of the common things.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 20:10

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My Audi has a weeping valve cover gasket on the passenger cylinder bank, and it causes oil to burn as it drops onto the exhaust manifold.

You may have a slightly more serious issue. What was the color of the oil on the dipstick? Any indications of oil/coolant mixing?

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/18/2015 at 20:17

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Did an oil change a month ago, put 1 mile on the car since. Oil looked as clean as it was going in. No mixing.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > DoctorNine 07/18/2015 at 20:17

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Will do.

I think with the engine sitting open for a month, that’s how I lost all the oil in it.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 20:36

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Since you noted elsewhere that the engine sat open for a month, you may need the quantity of oil closer to when a engine is rebuilt, if all the oil film was lost.

Normally the change quantity is correct when the engine is already up to temperature and hasn’t drained the film back to the sump.

I would add another few quarts when warm and the oil has drained back to the sump. Normally the change capacity is closer to 5qts even on small I4s.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/18/2015 at 20:40

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I replaced the water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, and thermostat inlet. I doubt any oil leaked, I think it “evaporated” for lack of a better term. I’m going to go get 2 more quarts and add until it seems full. Will update with any new information..

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/18/2015 at 20:41

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And per my owners manual, 3.5 quarts with filter.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/18/2015 at 20:43

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That’s a bit special. What Nissan engine is in that? MR16DE or something equally crazy?

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 07/18/2015 at 21:20

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Yep. Ga16de