White Smoke, No Coolant Leak, Losing Oil

[dborgers]

No way in hell you're losing a quart of oil out the engine a day (100 miles) without seeing it on the ground. I just can't see that. I was losing a quart every 500-600 miles and it was pissing out the RMS on the bottom of the transmission.

It's quite possible your PCV system is fine. I had the PCV system replaced, then did it again myself a year later, and my crankcase pressure is still high. The likely issue is worn piston rings.

If you're not against hacks, try this. Go buy some heater line hose from Advance Auto Parts or Autozone, the size that will just barely fit over the oil dip stick. Place the heater hose over the dipstick tube (remove the dipstick itself) and route it down below the subframe, maybe 5-6 feet worth. This will give another place for the crankcase pressure to go. I went from a quart every 500 miles to a quart every 3000 miles or so like that (leaking). Drove from NC to NH and back without dropping but maybe 1/2 quart (1600 miles +/-).

FWIW the compression on my car was good, so no idea why it is building up that much crankcase pressure. The PCV passageways were clean as well.

Check your compression and post here as well. I'm not real familiar with valve stem seals and the amount of oil burned that way, but I would think if you're burning a quart every 100 miles you're going to be streaming blue smoke like a 1995 Honda Civic rice burner.

I'm not leaking any oil in the engine or on the driveway. Not sure I had an accurate comparison since I stupidly checked it hot and cold. I'll get a good reading on oil consumption this next week now that it's at exactly the right level and good stuff.

I'm not sure what you mean about the dipstick/heater hose. Leave the dipstick off and route the hose in the engine compartment? I'll have the compression tested next week and report back on that as well.

I really appreciate your replies. Thank you

[dborgers]

I posted last week I'd had flushed with Seafom then put in Royal Purple. After 100 miles the car is once again a quart of oil low. I added a quart of Lucas tonight. As before, car smokes a little when you step on the gas, otherwise it doesn't seem so. No oil on the engine or driveway. No coolant in the oil or vice versa, so not a head gasket.

Tomorrow or Friday I'll be taking it to an indy Volvo mechanic to have the problem diagnosed. The same people who'd done a lot of other work on the car over the past 10 years (Import Specialty Service of Nashville). A friend introduced me to a 71 year old Volvo aficionado who buys and sells them I'm taking the car to right after Import Specialty gives me a diagnosis, hopefully. He knows a couple other great mechanics, and says they're very good, though very expensive. I'll find out if it's more than I can or want to spend.

I'll report back after I've had a diagnosis done. I've tried what I'm able to do (Seafoam and check for a flame trap on the manifold intake hose group. None apparent there)

[pikngrn]

I hope you get good news! Don't forget to tell us what you found out!

[E Showell]

While you are at it, change the seal on the oil filler cap in the engine compartment. More oil than you would think can leak past them, drip down on a hot engine and virtually disappear without leaving a puddle under the car.