Hi, My son just installed a new Excel Super Coil and MSD 6 off road ignition module on his jeep. It was not using hardly any oil until the MSD upgrade. Could this be causing blow-by? Question: What can we add to the oil safely to slow down the amount being used or blow-by? We are presently using Valvoline 10-30w in the jeep. Thanks for any help. P.S. The compression is good. I'm wondering about oil weights or additive to slow the consumption down. The jeep is not really burning oil.
I can't off the top of my head think of a logical reason why a properly installed ignition upgrade would cause oil burning. I suppose if the ignition box went totally berserk with the timing, caused detonation and damaged the pistons...but you said the compression was good.
How much oil consumption are you talking about...in quarts/miles? How are you certain that it is being burned, rather than leaking somewhere?
All the inline AMC engines (4.2 and 4.0) seem to like a 40 weight oil...so I'd run Pennzoil Long Life 15W40 assuming the weather is reasonably warm. Why the Pennzoil as opposed to Delvac, Delo, etc?-The moly content seems to help consuption a bit beyond the mere viscosity increase.
I'd definitely stay away from any dino 10W40 as they shear pretty badly, and aren't as robust as the 15W40's. Valvoline probably isn't the best dino oil for the money (it has an OK, but not stellar additive package and less advanced base oil). That doesn't mean that it is a bad thing, but merely something you might consider the next time you're buying oil.
It is using about a quart every 200 miles and previously was not. The rear main does leak a little but not that much.We will try the Pennzoil 15W40 the next time we change the oil. We also just installed a new carburator just before the MSD. First we thought gas may have got in the oil and thinned it down but I don't know. Looks like we will be rebuilding this summer if we can not get it slowed down. Is "Restore" worth using as a temporary fix until it can be re-built?? Thanks for the feedback, Dave C.
If I had a jeep engine with good compression, (and hopefully good vacuum and good oil pressure?), I probably wouldn't rebuild it, instead, I would assume that the oil was getting past the valve seals...so I would pull the valve cover and change them with the engine still in the truck. (obviously you'll need to use either compressed air or the rope trick to keep the valves in place).
If your compression is good, I can't think of any reason that oil additives would help you with the consumtion problem. Save your money, and buy oil with it instead
I would have to agree with Abus, if you have good compression, I don't think you have blow-by. You might want to check your PCV system though, if it is plugged up, it will cause oil leaks.
Abus, thanks for the e-mail. We will definitly try the valves first.
Fred, funny you should mention PCV. This is how the oil got gas in it. The PCV hose collapsed causing the engine to run terrible and gas got in the oil. My son replaced the hose but not the PCV, I think? We will replace this and verify it's not blocked, before looking at the valve job.
Thanks alot, three heads are better than one. Especially one that is somewhat ignorant but learning.
Dave, If you are getting gas in the oil, you may also want to replace the fuel pump, assuming that you have the mechanical pump on the engine. If the diaphram starts leaking on those, it will dump gas into the oil; not good!
Good point! I was wondering how the gas got in the oil. Yes, it is mechanical and was on the list to replace soon. I was thinking about going to an electric.
