Like all of you, before going on a trip I check all fluid levels. My oil dip stick indicated "full". After 527 miles I checked the oil level again while fueling up. Oil was down 1-1/2 quarts. Strange, since this engine has never need any oil before 1200 miles. Went another 400 miles, down another 1-1/2 quarts. Brought the oil level up to full again and drove another 225 miles. Down more than a quart.It's now clear there's a major problem. What I have is a Chrysler 360, with 4bbl carb. Rebuilt by a local engine shop (bottom end, I did the top end)about 10k miles ago. It runs smooth, quiet and strong. Pulled all the plugs expecting to find at least one of them badly fouled with oil. All the plugs are fine. There are no oil spots on the ground after the rig sits for an extended period of time. No oil on the back of the rig, which might indicate the rear main seal is bad. In fact, the entire under carriage is rather clean. The rig has dual exhaust. The left side has no soot to speak of. Now, the right side is a different story. I can rub off soot with my finger. This might indicate an oil leak in the right bank. Yet, I see no smoke while driving down the road and the plugs are good.So, where's all the oil going? Any thoughts on this?P.S. Can't take it back to the rebuilder. He retired and closed the shop.

Inspect your PCV valve!360s also had issues with the cross over exhaust in the intake manifold.

Old Dodge gas V-8's were always famous as oil eaters but not at 400 miles, does sound like PVC, replace it and see what happens, most Dodges do eat about a quart every 900 to 1500 miles depending on age and such.

What an absurd statement !I would suspect the valve seals were not installed correctly, or not at all.

I'm not familiar with this particular engine, but I agree that there's a problem. With no big clouds of blue smoke, and especially with what amounts to a recently rebuilt engine, I wonder if there's a pressurized oil line going to an oil cooler that's leaking or perhaps your oil pressure sending switch has developed a leak. Those would spew while the engine is running, but not when stopped.I'd think that oil escaping the PCV would foul the plugs, not just soot up the tailpipe. If you had a turbocharger, I'd suspect the bearing seal on the exhaust side, but isn't this engine normally aspirated?Good luck tracking it down, and soon. A leak that big, especially one that just popped up, suggests whatever it is, it's leaking badly.

An intake manifold to valley gasket leak can do that too. Vacuum pulls oil right into the intake and burns it. This was a notorious problem on mid to late 90's 318/360 engines. Doesn't necessarily mean your carb'd engine suffered the same.Check for this by plugging the air breather hose on one valve cover and checking for vacuum at the other cover. There shouldn't really be any.My Dakota 318 had this happen along with several other friends with these (never version) engines. It used oil really fast and never smoked.

So, Where's All the Oil Going? | Good Sam Community

DReisinger
Explorer
Mar 27, 2017
Is there any oil showing up in your cooling system?
wnjj
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2017
An intake manifold to valley gasket leak can do that too. Vacuum pulls oil right into the intake and burns it. This was a notorious problem on mid to late 90's 318/360 engines. Doesn't necessarily mean your carb'd engine suffered the same.

Check for this by plugging the air breather hose on one valve cover and checking for vacuum at the other cover. There shouldn't really be any.

My Dakota 318 had this happen along with several other friends with these (never version) engines. It used oil really fast and never smoked.
naturist
Nomad
Mar 27, 2017
I'm not familiar with this particular engine, but I agree that there's a problem. With no big clouds of blue smoke, and especially with what amounts to a recently rebuilt engine, I wonder if there's a pressurized oil line going to an oil cooler that's leaking or perhaps your oil pressure sending switch has developed a leak. Those would spew while the engine is running, but not when stopped.

I'd think that oil escaping the PCV would foul the plugs, not just soot up the tailpipe. If you had a turbocharger, I'd suspect the bearing seal on the exhaust side, but isn't this engine normally aspirated?

Good luck tracking it down, and soon. A leak that big, especially one that just popped up, suggests whatever it is, it's leaking badly.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Mar 27, 2017
What an absurd statement !

I would suspect the valve seals were not installed correctly, or not at all.
timmac
Explorer
Mar 27, 2017
Old Dodge gas V-8's were always famous as oil eaters but not at 400 miles, does sound like PVC, replace it and see what happens, most Dodges do eat about a quart every 900 to 1500 miles depending on age and such.
enblethen
Nomad
Mar 27, 2017
Inspect your PCV valve!
360s also had issues with the cross over exhaust in the intake manifold.

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