Protege5 Oil Consumption

[flash75]

i am losing oil too, about 1000 miles or so, the dipstick will already be at "LOW." if i don't top it off by 5000 miles it will be almost dry. no smoke that i can see of any color. it started occuring around 60k mi. i started changing the oil at 3000 instead of 5000 because it didnt seem to make sense to keep pouring more oil into it for 2000 more miles.

i then had severe case of misfires in #4 cylinder and when i looked at the spark plug i found this:

thats a heavy layer of dried caked on oil. the other spark plugs (right one pictured for reference) were fine but i replaced all 4 including the valve cover gasket. the misfires are gone but when i checked it again recently there was a thin wet oil film on the #4 cylinder spark plug. i can take another picture soon. i suspect if left unchecked the spark plug will end up like the first one above. the new gasket seems to be fine as no other leaks can be found so my theory is there is some sort of leak inside the engine--the valve seals that has been mentioned?

are the valve seals something i can easily inspect and replace? my mechanical skills end at the valve cover if that's any indication i should bring it in to a repair shop. Thanks
-meGrimlock

I think the oil on the plug didn't come from the cylinder, it shouldn't unless the plug was loose. The plug electrodes look about the same on both plugs.
Neither plug appears to be oil fouled.

The oil probably leaked from the valve cover. If it's still getting oil on the plug the cover gasket is probably still leaking. I would correct the most obvious leak first (the spark plug shouldn't be oiling around the top) and go from there.

Clifton

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Yeah, this is the first time I've seen the pics. That was definitely valve gasket failure on that cylinder for that plug to look like that that far up on the electrode. Wouldn't explain continued oil loss after replacing the gasket tho. That would be valve stem seals or piston rings.

 

[ChaRLeS23]

Update on my oil consumption : I've done 700 miles so far using Mobil 1 Syntec 10W30 with 300ml of Bardahl B2 Seal Conditionner ; the car doesn't smoke at startup anymore and the oil is still on full. I think my valve stem seals were probably dry and the B2 did the trick! I'll keep an eye on it until the next oil change every 500 miles to make sure it is still correct.

 

[el_Don]

I took mine to the shop. They'll be taking a look at it while they change my timing belt and water pump so I'll hopefully be rid of this problem too.

 

[ChaRLeS23]

BTW I've been at the dealer here in Quebec, I finally bought the genuine Mazda 626 V6 2002 oil filter for $8.46CAN and the PCV Valve from the Millenia code JE26-13-890 for $25.86CAN... I asked the guy while I was there how much it would cost to have the seals replaced... they said anywhere between 400-500$!!!! They said it takes approx. 2 hrs and they change 109.95$ / hr!!! I told the guy you must be rich to get your car fixed at the dealer and that I would think about it... Is it only me or it's a bit expensive? I mean the labor.... 109.95$ /hr.... man!

 

[slavrenz]

BTW I've been at the dealer here in Quebec, I finally bought the genuine Mazda 626 V6 2002 oil filter for $8.46CAN and the PCV Valve from the Millenia code JE26-13-890 for $25.86CAN... I asked the guy while I was there how much it would cost to have the seals replaced... they said anywhere between 400-500$!!!! They said it takes approx. 2 hrs and they change 109.95$ / hr!!! I told the guy you must be rich to get your car fixed at the dealer and that I would think about it... Is it only me or it's a bit expensive? I mean the labor.... 109.95$ /hr.... man!

That's pretty standard for auto labor rates - I'm bummed because my favorite garage here just went above $100/hr, and they were the last ones I knew of at that price.

For perspective, the dealership a few blocks away from me charges $125/hr. It's not right, but that's how it is.

 

[meGrimlock]

i updated the pic cuz it wasnt loading from the source. there was a new valve cover gasket put in when i replaced the spark plugs too so it should've eliminated that possibility. i did a compression check and it was 130 even for all 4 cylinders. however i changed the oil 7 days before so the rings are probably well lubricated if they indeed are the culprit. thanks for all the advice so far
-meGrimlock

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Why did you guys all jump to bad valve seals when the OP originally posted? I would have thought bad rings. I have always burned some, but I just drove 550 miles (through WV, so very hilly and running about 3750 rpm @80 mph) and at 400 miles, I was down a quart. Finished the drive and I am down another half quart. I can't ever see visible smoke unless I stand on it before it's warmed up.

I've always assumed it was rings (it does smoke a little at startup in the winter) but could it just be valve seals?

 

[el_Don]

It was coincidence on my part. I have no smoke, no crud on my spark plugs either. It just looks like the car is dumping oil into the exhaust and it isn't being burnt. It is at the mechanic right now so hopefully in a couple of days I will know what the problem is and I'll be able to let you all know too.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Keep us updated. I'm thinking I need to have a compression test done, and that should pretty conclusively eliminate or point to rings as my issue. I'm hoping it will be new valve stems @ $700 vs a new engine @ more than twice that!

i did a compression check and it was 130 even for all 4 cylinders.

FYI, I'm not for sure, but I think 130 is pretty low for a compression test. It should be more in the 180 range from what I remember.

 

[meGrimlock]

FYI, I'm not for sure, but I think 130 is pretty low for a compression test. It should be more in the 180 range from what I remember.

standard = 171
min = 119
max difference between cylinders = 28
so i'm within spec as far as i can tell, what could cause low compression across all cylinders?
-meGrimlock

 

[flash75]

standard = 171
min = 119
max difference between cylinders = 28
so i'm within spec as far as i can tell, what could cause low compression across all cylinders?
-meGrimlock

Worn rings is the usual cause.

Clifton

 

[el_Don]

They just called and asked me if I was sure that I was losing oil. Sigh....I hope I took it to the right place. Everyone recommends the guy but I don't know right now.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

What are you supposed to say to that? "well, I've been adding oil like crazy and still running low!" Geez.

 

[ChaRLeS23]

Hey Guys, just to let you know... I didn't calculate right cause I'm using KM not miles... I've done 1200 miles so far, not smoking at startup anymore and I've installed the PCV Valve from the millenia here's what it looks like

 

[el_Don]

"Yeah sorry those two and a half quarts I added must've missed the hole on the valve cover, my mistake."

In other news, the mechanic feels that it is the piston rings but hasn't opened up the engine yet. Should start tomorrow, so once I know something, you guys will know something.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

has he done a compression test? that should tell something...

 

[el_Don]

I did one before and it came out to be 160 all around +/- 1. He did one and got the same results.

 

[Mr.Ames]

sub'in cuz i burn 2 quarts a tank

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Hmmm, 160 is definitely decent. Curious to hear what he finds out. Maybe it is valves then?