thirsty bugger!

[steve_1990clmk2]

this is a site where i found out about my oil leak and sorted it
http://bangernomics.tripod.com/oilypolo.htm

[Tahrey1043]

never thought of that one tom.... might be truth in it

was just thinking that if i made the level a bit higher, even if the oil itself was a bit thick, there'd be more of it higher up to lubricate more of the motor from the get-go, and wouldn't have as far to go (and/or extra pressure* to help the motor)

but i dunno

steve, i'd forgotten all about that, til now i'd assumed that my engine must have been just new enough not to have that problem - but of course, it's not long since it passed 75k anyhow (upto 79k by the weekend?) ... might be worth checking out. Sounds like a nasty job, but if it helps.

First port of call with that seems to be checking the air filter for oil staining, so that's an easy lead-in to it at least.

Grooves i'm thinking more like mk4 5-door, an astra, anything around that kind of class of car. Seeing as i'm not going for ultimate performance, and it's rare i encounter a parking space without at least 3ft spare room, having easier access to the back would be a boon.
Oh, and a reasonable 1400cc engine too. (....maaaaybe a 1.3 micra, even though the suspension is like a barely-set jelly). More poke, more torque, but nowhere near the patently insane insurance premiums attracted by a G40. For what I've been quoted, I could insure an Audi Coupe instead

On such a thought, if anyone's seen that odd Esso advert with everyone scrubbing their car**, final scene.... Scirocco (or is it a 'rado? i'm crap with names) equals ultimate shag wagon in their eyes? (is there the space?)

* P = mgh and all that, as i was taught at college physics yesterday
** a sneaky excuse to charge extra for fuel to cover increasing costs of finding it in odd places and working harder to refine nastier stuff... when it hits home wait for the regular to sell out but the expensive fuel to keep flowing (how are you gonna prove its not the normal stuff?)

[Gareth_GT_Hatch]

Thats only applicable to engines that dont have a pipe going to the rocker cover, so thats very early hydraulic head engines (with the alloy rocker cover) and any engine before that. Mk3s spi's have a large white pod thing on the main oil breather pipe. (GTs have this pod integrated into the breather on the engine block) But I suppose this could get blocked as well so its worth checking.

If there are no obvios leaks then your engine has burnt it, but thats alot of burnage in just 500 miles!

[steve_1990clmk2]

Don't know much about the engines the mk 3's have got so i thought it may be a help anyway. Good look with sourcing the problem. I spat about a litre out of my exhaust a few months ago in a mile stretch. Had to change plugs,air filter,clean the carb. Basically had to strip everything down. Cost about £50 but well worth it. 112000 miles on the clock and still going strong.

[Tahrey1043]

Hehe i've got a place for the pipe to connect on the rocker cover, but no pipe....

the one going to the airbox and crank case is all ok though

hmm

well i'll be checking the level again tomorrow after putting only about a couple hundred miles on it since the last time, i'll see if its gone down a half litre already...

stevie i can do the plugs, air filter, throttle body clearout etc, i dunno how that relates to the oil
mind you the air filter pribably needs a look - the rest should be fine at the moment

[Gareth_GT_Hatch]

Well if that pipe is missing then that could well be the problem. Its worth having a look to see if you can find it if its just hanging down somewhere then it could be leaking oil but it would only do it when the engines running which might explain the mysterious "missing oil"

[steve_1990clmk2]

what i meant is i had to do that cos i was blowing smoke everywhere so i had to clean everything up. the next thing was to find the cause, which turned out to be a well block breather pipe.