Re: oil usage 68' 199

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 speedyjeeper@xxxxxxxx wrote:

> THe ol' 199 I6 in my rambler feels like it runs good, isn't noisy and there isn't any blowby but everytime I check the oil shes down a quart.  I just got it a few weeks ago so I don't know the history..but I've been running it on the highway lately at about 65-70 mph.  could it be the guides or valve seals etc? thanks

If it's 40+ years old chances are it's eating it, but what I would
do is go to a car wash (the wand type), clean the whole engine off
(bag the distrib first if it's points) then next time you park it
put down clean newspaper with rocks to hold it down. A day or two
later spend some quality time on your back under the car in a
zen-like state and look for leaks.

In order: valve cover, oil pan, rear & front seals, timing cover,
head:block, then everything else. After 40 years engines make
stuff up you'll never think of.

If valve cover or oil pan leaks, you can tighten the bolts but
JUST A TINY BIT, it you wrench down on the thin metal it simply
bows between the bolts and leaks worse. "Two fingers on a nut
driver" amount of torque. Keep in mind it's a "seep", not a
pressure-driven leak like a hose. You could just about press the
cover on with your hands to stop the leak. It doesn't require
tight bolts to clamp it.

Valve cover bolts seem like they're designed to self-loosen. If
gasket material is missing or falling out, get a new gasket and
change it. Get the surfaces spotlessly oil-free, use silicone and
glue the damn thing in place. Don't let much ooze into the valve
area though.

Same goes for the oil pan, but a fairly huge deal to remove it of
course.