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Anmacc2's avatar
Anmacc2
Explorer
Sep 28, 2015

Specific TV engine question

My van is burning oil because of rings. It is slowly getting worse. I am now burning 1qt per two tanks of gas. It is too big a job and too expensive and not worth it to me to fix it at this point. What will happen as the issue progresses? Will I just burn more and more oil? I only put maybe 9,000 miles a year on it.

Please stay to the topic and answer the specific question to help me. :)
I sincerely appreciate the generosity and caring of this site!!!

22 Replies

  • 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.
  • 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!