I own a 98, manual Eclipse GS. No mods whatsoever.
It's been burning oil at idle for a while. What happens is, I don't have any issues other than at idle, sometimes, there's a lot of white smoke coming out when it just idles, and of course that burned oil smell. When I put it in 1st, and start driving, the smoke eventually disappears as well as the smell, at higher gears. I did have the engine replaced for other problems 6 mo. ago, but the oil problem still stayed after the new engine was put in.
And every week i drive, I notice the oil going lower and lower on the dipstick, so I know it's either leaking it somewhere, or burning it, maybe outside the engine. I was thinking the cat conv?
I'm currently putting 2 quarts every couple of weeks or so.
#132341, "RE: 2G Eclipse Burning/leaking Oil @ Idle, Please help. " In response to Reply # 0 Nov-10-10 11:40 AM by Corbin
Was the engine replaced with new, rebuilt, or salvage? When they replaced the "engine" did that include the head? I ask this because worn valve seals can leak heavily at idle, but very little when driving. At idle, the closed throttle plate will make you pull a lot of vacuum. The vacuum draws oil past the valve seals and into the combustion chamber, where it is burned. When driving, the throttle plate is open much more and you will pull very little vacuum. Without vacuum, only a little bit of oil will make it past the valve seal. I had an old Camry that did this. I saw it while the car was getting tested on an emissions dyno.
If you think it might be a leak that is dropping down onto the exhaust, you need to get the car up on jack stands and look for traces of oil. If several surfaces are wet with oil, but you can't see where it is coming from, there is more you can do. Start the engine with the car on jack stands. Let the engine warm up and jam a folded scrap of paper in front of the throttle stop screw. That will crack the throttle plate and rev the engine up. Fold the paper so that you get 3000 RPM or so. Crawl under the car and wait for it to leak. Hot oil has a lower viscosity and will leak more readily. The higher RPM will build oil pressure and increase the flow of the leak.
#132343, "RE: 2G Eclipse Burning/leaking Oil @ Idle, Please help. " In response to Reply # 0
Originally posted by dan19821982 Hey forum. I own a 98, manual Eclipse GS. No mods whatsoever. It's been burning oil at idle for a while. What happens is, I don't have any issues other than at idle, sometimes, there's a lot of white smoke coming out when it just idles, and of course that burned oil smell. When I put it in 1st, and start driving, the smoke eventually disappears as well as the smell, at higher gears. I did have the engine replaced for other problems 6 mo. ago, but the oil problem still stayed after the new engine was put in. And every week i drive, I notice the oil going lower and lower on the dipstick, so I know it's either leaking it somewhere, or burning it, maybe outside the engine. I was thinking the cat conv? I'm currently putting 2 quarts every couple of weeks or so. Any thoughts, ideas? I appreciate it. Thans, D
Mine was burning near the same amount of oil and found out it was my valve seals. The car is actually burning oil through the entire rpm range its just forced out the exhaust at a rate thats not as noticable. When mine was sitting at idle there was less pressure flowing through the exhaust making the smoke more dense and visable. I had the valve seals replaced and the burning stopped.
#132344, "RE: 2G Eclipse Burning/leaking Oil @ Idle, Please help. " In response to Reply # 2
Burning oil is typically blue though. /my .02/
And I also had the same problem, bit embarassing having a nice looking car and you stop at a stoplight and starts smoking like a chimney. Changed head with new valve seals hasnt burned anything at all, and I won a $20 bet because someone was telling me it was my rings. Haha!
95 Eclipse GS: 10.5:1, Crower 2's and MSII 186 WHP - 150 WTQ 14.697 @ 93.85 MPH......Gone, but not forgotten 99 420A Avenger: Given to my sister 99 GS OZ: Sold 03 Evo 8: Family Car with balls
#132345, "RE: 2G Eclipse Burning/leaking Oil @ Idle, Please help. " In response to Reply # 3
Originally posted by 740 turbo brick Burning oil is typically blue though.
Mine was white wich made everyone tell me it was a headgasket problem. We did the rope in the cylinder trick and replaced my valve stem seals first and poof, the smoke was gone after about 4 mintues of idle.
#132357, "RE: 2G Eclipse Burning/leaking Oil @ Idle, Please help. " In response to Reply # 5
Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon IT can appear white but its not as white as coolant.
Very true. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish unless you have the car smoking in just the right light. I've found that a well lit garage in the evening is the best for seeing the color of the smoke. Just remember to keep the garage door OPEN when doing this.
Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon Do a leak down on the cylinders to determine if there is a problem with the rings sealing. If that checks out then pull the intake manifold and look for oil traces on the backsides of the valves. Terry
Another simple test for bad rings is to do a compression test, then pour a capful of oil (small individual quart size cap, not the 5 quart jug cap) into each cylinder and redo the compression test. If the compression suddenly jumps up then your rings are most likely toast.
Erik P. Official 2GNT thread Hijacker Some say that he's driven over more Covenant than he's shot, and that his grenades aren't where you'd expect them to be... All we know is, He's not The Stig... But he is The Stig's Spartan cousin!
