Specific TV engine question

Eventually you will start fouling plugs and the truck will run poorly if at all, you will also be severely under powered.
Once you start smoking bad enough, if pride and concern for the environment does not stop you from driving,I'm fairly certain that most all localities have some law about driving a vehicle in that condition!

For the most part, you'll just burn more oil. At some point it will plug or foul the catalytic converter. If fouled, you'll get a check engine light (CEL) because your downstream O2 sensor isn't seeing enough Oxygen consumed in the cat. If it's plugged you will slow to a crawl and wonder why you've run out of power. You could also get a CEL because of fouled sensors.

Another consideration for me would be the EGR system dumping oily exhaust back into the intake. This can foul intake valves, but the ported fuel injection will probably keep them clean enough.

I've run cars that used a quart per tank and I just added oil since it was cheaper than an overhaul. But those didn't have anything in the exhaust but mufflers.

Are you sure it's rings? I'd suggest a compression test to tell for sure. A set of valve stem seals might help a lot if it's not.

Is the van in otherwise good shape? Rust, maint, etc! If so then an engine change may be the way to go. unless you are going to buy another used van for less than $10k It may be better off to put in the new motor. a car payment on a couple year old car will be at least $350.

I`ll leave that up to you!
Good luck!

pitch wrote:

Once you start smoking bad enough,,,,,

It only smokes when I first start it. After just a minute or two it stops. No residue on the fender or exhaust. Does that she'd more light?

burning oil. your compression rings are also bad..

compression is what makes the power
spark plug fouling... and not just One... and each one is a LOSS of 15 percent of power...

extremely bad gas mileage. as the oil reduces the energy of the gasoline.

air pollution. ground and water pollution.. from venting and tail pipe drops.

plugging of catalytic converter or 2... and when it does happen.. expect less then 20 miles per hour drive home. if you make it.


other things that make an engine burn oil
bad PCV
bad intake manifold gasket
bad EGR valve
bad Air pump (if equipped)
bad valve guides and seals.
and in some designs cylinder head gaskets.

Sport45 wrote:
For the most part, you'll just burn more oil. At some point it will plug or foul the catalytic converter. If fouled, you'll get a check engine light (CEL) because your downstream O2 sensor isn't seeing enough Oxygen consumed in the cat. If it's plugged you will slow to a crawl and wonder why you've run out of power. You could also get a CEL because of fouled sensors.

I've run cars that used a quart per tank and I just added oil since it was cheaper than an overhaul. But those didn't have anything in the exhaust but mufflers.

Are you sure it's rings? I'd suggest a compression test to tell for sure. A set of valve stem seals might help a lot if it's not.

I have one plug that fouls. Drivers side, third one back. I change it every 10-15 thousand miles when I develop a miss. Check engine light comes on occasionally. I put injector cleaner in the gas and run it down the hwy at 75mph for a hundred miles and it goes off at some point. Planning a 6000 mile road trip in the spring and hoping to nurse it through a couple more years.

that is a different matter....

1 cylinder.. a Failed ring.... at some point it will start to EAT the cylinder.
and possibly lock the engine.

its your world.. I would NOT take it on a Trip. but that's me. I hope NOT TOWING.

I agree. No telling what's going on in that cylinder.

First get the problem properly diagnosed.
Then call the local schools and see if they have a auto repair program to train students to be auto mechanics.
Ask if they will take the van on as a project.
IN NY at BOCES it used to be you paid for parts labor was free. Have not done it in years but it used to be a deal.
MAybe similar in Florida

You say it only burns or smokes on start up. This would indicate to me that an oil seal on the valve stem is leaking. There is a test they can put on that, if it is valve seals, it is not that expensive to correct. Other wise you can drive it a long time burning oil, eventually it will get out of hand, but no catastrophe is going to occur. I have driven cars that burned a quart in 200 miles. I drove them until I could find a good replacement engine and just switched them out. These were cars i bought cheap to resell.