burning oil at 18000 miles

[Aussi440]

Guys, Let me know what you think, I have a bone stock 440 in my 68 charger, 375 horse cam 9.5:1, I don't race it, moly rings, all of a sudden it is taking oil, started at around 14000 miles on the engine, it doesn't leak, the oil is golden and clean even after 3000 miles, but it takes almost a full quart per 3000 miles now, I ran the engine on 10w40 for the first 10000 miles or so and then ran some ams oil synthetic in it, which is right around the time it started taking oil, I don't remember exactly whether it was taking oil before I used the ams oil, it's been a year or so, I only ran the ams oil for 3000 miles, since switching back it still takes oil, it has the stock umbrealla seals on the valves, any ideas?

[charge69]

First and foremost,  Change back to original oil or use a non-synthetic as a baseline oil. I will use Castrol 10w30 or better in mine.

[flyinlow]

Almost a qt in 3000 miles is not bad. When I worked for a Chrysler dealer in the 70's warrenty would not pay for engine work untill it got much worse.

Ams oil is good stuff.

I use Mobil 1 in My 440 which has about 15k. on it. Switching to synthetic did not make it start using oil.

[John_Kunkel]

How many years since overhaul? The umbrella seals might be hardened from age.

[Aussi440]

Well that makes me feel better if you say you worked at a dealership and they didn't pay for 1 qt per 3000, I did the motor in 2005 and it sat for a year until it was in the car and running, maybe that wasn't the best, just how it worked out time wise

[flyinlow]

If it runs well, makes good power and is not smoking or fouling plugs , I would do nothing but keep an eye on the oil usage.

If it smokes (blue smoke) on start up might have hardened valve seals. I know they are only five years old ,but it sat for a year and some of the aftermarket umbrella seals are not as good as OEM. Seals can be changed  with the engine in the car.

[68X426]

Almost a qt in 3000 miles is not bad.

Besides, if you're changing the oil every 3000 it's not an issue (just really costly with synthetic )

Your note seems to indicate that you went 10000 before the oil change !?!? And used no oil Maybe I misunderstood. My motors get fresh oil every 3k and if they've seen hard use then 2k. I would never go 10k

So monitor closely but seems ok to me at a quart per 3000.

[Aussi440]

No, I change the oil every 3000 miles, it just didn't start taking oil till over 10000, I'll watch it and maybe change the seals,

It always seems to run rich on me, I have an original AVS carb on the car, when I turn the idle mixture screws in, it won't always shut the motor down, I think they are kind of worn, could that be a problem why it runs rich?  When these old cars are really in tune, should you smell like gas when you get out of the car?  I can't ever seem to tune it so doesn't smell rich.

[68X426]

I can't ever seem to tune it so doesn't smell rich.

So you smell rich, better than poor. The smell of money to burn.

Time for a carb rebuild. The carb gurus on the forum will have to help on that one, I'm not particularly of any use on carbs. Maybe re-post this topic as a question of how the carb relates to oil consumption.

The gas smell is likely normal (unless you have something extreme). An mechanical engineer has told me that without cat convertors and 2010 emissions controls our cars will always have a gas smell. Sounds accurate to me. We forget what they smelled like back in the day until you're around a modern car.

So it's just part of the flavor and thrill of an old Mopar. My wife won't hardly ride along with me, all she smells is gas (she says). I love the smell of a Mopar. Go figure.

[Aussi440]

that makes sense now, my wife hates the smell too, I have the stock air cleaner and everything, I think you're right about forgetting what they used to smell like, thanks fore the help

[Brass]

I think some gas smell is normal but in my case it was enough to believe something was wrong.  Make sure the vent tube, that runs along the filler neck to the gas tank, is exiting out of the car and not into your trunk:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,71749.0.html

[flyinlow]

Long term running rich delutes the oil and can cause premature piston ring  wear.

If turning the  mixture screws all the way in does not kill the engine. the car might be idling with the primarys open far enough that you are starting to run on the main jets. Check your idlr speed and timing.

[TylerCharger69]

At start-up....look and see if there is any blue colored smoke that dissipates after warm-up.   If that is the case, then the valve seals are toast.   Now  if the smoke persists AFTER initial startup....then the rings are worn and its time for a freshening.    Valve guides may be an issue as well.   Take a look at your spark plugs and that should tell somewhat of the story.   If they are black, or oily,   it indicates either a very rich carb mixture   or excessive oil is getting in the combustion chamber.    The plugs can tell you the story,  so check them all and compare.   One cylinder may be normal, yet another cylinder may not be so normal.