Will replacing valve seals stop oil use?

[canoecraft]

I have two Vues with four cylinder engines. Both have more than 150,000 miles. Both are needing a quart or more of oil between 3,000 mile oil changes. Neither smoke and compression tests are good. Could this be bad valve seals? If so, how do I replace them?

Gary

[tomster]

Originally Posted by canoecraft

I have two Vues with four cylinder engines. Both have more than 150,000 miles. Both are needing a quart or more of oil between 3,000 mile oil changes. Neither smoke and compression tests are good. Could this be bad valve seals? If so, how do I replace them?

Gary

I think valve seals leak oil under decelleration, then smoke when you apply the gas.

[RobertGary1]

When valve seals are worn you typically see oil burning on start up. They don't tend to leak much while running.

Most common reason to require make up oil is leaking valve cover gaskets.

-Robert

[topcat]

A quart every 3000 miles with 150000 on the clock? A lot of new cars burn more than that and it's considered "normal"; I personally wouldn't mess with it.

Best

[billysvue]

^^^What he said.

Don't let it get more than a pint low between topoffs.

I think oil use on the Vue's ( if not abused with low sump levels) is more related to engine braking( high vacuum) which sucks oil past low tension piston rings too easy- mentioned in the forums some time back.

When I keep the revs down,put on just freeway roadtrip miles, and use the brakes to brake, my oil usage goes way down.

[MY FYN 79]

I apologize for not having a ton of time and cant find the threads from a quick search, but a common area to look into for oil consumption on Ecotecs is the PCV hole in the intake manifold. A couple things can happen, some holes were too large from the factory.. and some of the holes get crusted shut. You do have to remove the intake manifold to check it, but a lot of people have had good luck either replacing the manifold (if the hole is too large) or cleaning out a hole that's crusted shut.

If no one else can find it on the web I can probably check it out better later tonight.

[thegreatbriguy]

Originally Posted by MY FYN 79

I apologize for not having a ton of time and cant find the threads from a quick search, but a common area to look into for oil consumption on Ecotecs is the PCV hole in the intake manifold. A couple things can happen, some holes were too large from the factory.. and some of the holes get crusted shut. You do have to remove the intake manifold to check it, but a lot of people have had good luck either replacing the manifold (if the hole is too large) or cleaning out a hole that's crusted shut.

If no one else can find it on the web I can probably check it out better later tonight.

this might be it:


Interesting results from there:
One guy had the same problem so got a suggestion:
Could run a quart of Trans fluid for a few miles (20 miles) and change the oil, see if that cleans her up if that didnt do it.
So he tried it and said that no more issues after that.
I suppose this is the same idea as adding those oil flush additives you can buy at the automotive store.

another suggestion was:
pull the intake manifold and clean out a small port hole on the intake manifold for crank case ventilation. Its between the #2 and #3 intake ports.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/att...2&d=1412966364

[canoecraft]

All good suggestions--thanks. Here's my plan--in order of cheapest to more expensive--to cover all the bases:
1. Do a compression test to see if the piston rings are worn.
2. If not, clean out the hose that provides crankcase ventilation (the 2.2 Vue engine does not have an actual PCV valve)
3. If not solved, replace the valve cover gasket.
4. If not solved, install new valve seals.
5. If not solved, have dealer put some green dye in crankcase and run the engine. Viewed with their blacklight, any oil leaks show up as fluorescent green.

Am I missing anything?

[billysvue]

Originally Posted by canoecraft

All good suggestions--thanks. Here's my plan--in order of cheapest to more expensive--to cover all the bases:
1. Do a compression test to see if the piston rings are worn.
2. If not, clean out the hose that provides crankcase ventilation (the 2.2 Vue engine does not have an actual PCV valve)
3. If not solved, replace the valve cover gasket.
4. If not solved, install new valve seals.
5. If not solved, have dealer put some green dye in crankcase and run the engine. Viewed with their blacklight, any oil leaks show up as fluorescent green.

Am I missing anything?

THe return/reward on your investment is(not spending the extra money for) a quart of oil ......
and of course , there's always K.I.S.S.

It's not broke- don't "fix" it.

[emsvitil]

Doubt it........

Search for oil usage here:

http://www.ecotecforum.com/forums/index.php

[billysvue]

Originally Posted by emsvitil

Doubt it........



http://www.ecotecforum.com/forums/index.php

What's "it"?

[Cavell]

The piston compression ring is separate from the oil control ring.a good compression reading does not guarantee all your rings are good.

[canoecraft]

Good point. But the likelihood is that if one has worn the other has too.

[billysvue]

Originally Posted by canoecraft

Good point. But the likelihood is that if one has worn the other has too.

True.,,, but enough to be out of tolerance or design limits?,,,, I think it bears repeating that you have minimal oil loss for the mileage driven.

What has not has been stated is the period of time for that 3000 miles?
Oils evaporate over time, so it could be a significant factor.

[surfstar]

I'd say do a piston soak before the next oil change and try switching to Valvoline Maxlife. Great oil that is a synthetic blend for a good price. Might slowly help with consumption, if you're lucky.

Otherwise, just top off with the cheapest oil you can find and you'll be money ahead vs replacing valve seals (IF that is the actual problem, also).

1qt in 3k miles isn't bad.

[canoecraft]

An experienced Saturn mechanic tells me that in every rebuild of the 2.2 l engine he's done, the oil rings were so badly stuck that he had to pry them off with a screwdriver.

On his personal Saturn, when it reached 300,000 miles and was needing rebuilding, he first added every concoction available to the oil to free up the oil rings and stop the oil use. Nothing worked–except the screwdriver once he had the pistons out.

[surfstar]

^ I did not think that 2.2 Ecotec engines were known for oil use/burning. Some had PCV problems, yes, but they're not the oil burners that 90's Saturns were famous for.