Options to fix burning oil...

[MazdaSpeeder]

I love my P5 but I'm pretty disappointed in it right now. I've been battling an oil burning problem for the last 8 months or so, and it's just getting worse. Right now I'm having to add a quart every 500m or so. I am guessing at this point that it's the piston rings, maybe the valve seals as well. I've used Restore with oil changes, switched to a heavier oil and installed the Millenia Turbo PCV valve to no avail.

It's an 03 with 74k miles. Here's what I am trying to figure out:

Option 1:
I could do valve seals and rings with an engine teardown. I would love to just do valve seals, but I have a feeling there are ring problems too, and so really I'm looking at a full teardown. I don't have the money to go forged, I just want this fixed. How much would new valve seals and piston rings cost, labor included?

Option 2:
My other option is just to pick up a PG 2.0L for a grand and have it installed. I'm wondering if this would be cheaper, and by how much?

Option 3:
I could just keep adding oil as needed and ride this out. If it doesn't get any worse than this, and I drive roughly 12k a year, that's about $100 extra a year in oil...much cheaper than the other options.

I would love to hear your thoughts, I'm really not looking forward to spending money that I don't really have, but I also don't want to throw a rod either. I hate this crap.

 

[NCZ13]

subbing because my car burns oil too.. although i was planning on saving for a forged engine

 

[Benji]

correct me if I am wrong one way to check your rings is do a compression test, then do a wet compression test(teaspoon of oil in each cylinder) the lower the difference between the two test the better your rings are. I also can't say for certain what you are looking at for labor cost but it will not be cheep to tear down the engine cheapest i have seen for piston rings is 155. the seals were less then twenty bucks so you might want to start there.

 

[ghettoracingkid]

Are you sure your burning?

Im losing oil but its not burning and not leaking. I heard someone on another thtread tell me that they changed there oil pressure switch and that was the problem.

as for if you are burning it.

Try some seafoam in the upper intake (threw the brake vacuum line) if something is sticking it will help it out.

could always go for a thicker oil.

I would go with a short block and do it yourself if you feel comfortable enough.