Disappearing oil

Svtwin73 · Dec 28, 2014

I did a forum search, but couldn't find a good answer.

Recent engine build in July 2014, see signature, noticed that the engine oil was low. No leaks, but ended up being a quart low. Hasn't been more than 3K since last oil change. Is one oil more likely to burn off than another? I installed an oil catch can and empty it periodically. Not seeing any smoke out of the exhaust.

Anyone else notice oil burnoff when running a S/C setup?

Anthony05GT · Dec 28, 2014

Have you collected as much as a quart from the catch can in 3k miles? Also, the outlet hose from the catch can may be sending some oil back into the intake tract. Try removing the throttle body and have a look behind it for residual oil. Does your catch can have baffling material inside to help gather the mist and allowing it to liquify and drop to the bottom? If not, some mist can flow right through to the outlet hose to your intake tract.

07 Boss · Dec 28, 2014

If everything else is good it is the only place for it to go. A PCV system with a catch can will not stop oil from entering your intake tract, just lessen it. Breathers are to only way to eliminate it.

Svtwin73 · Dec 28, 2014

Wouldn't breathers on the 4.6 just make a mess?

Just read thread separator vs. breather, looks like it doesn't make a mess

Anthony05GT · Dec 28, 2014

Doesn't make a mess, but you will smell it in the summer when your windows are down. Breathers are the way to go if you want to eliminate all oil in the intake, but you have an oil consumption problem. I'd like to see a pic of your set up if possible.

Svtwin73 · Dec 28, 2014

Older pic before build, but JLT catch can on drivers side, nothing on pass. side.

Anthony05GT · Dec 29, 2014

Mine goes from the driver's side valve cover pcv connection to the catch can, then to the blower inlet just behind the throttle body. I might get 1/2 cup maybe a bit more in the can after a few thousand miles.

Svtwin73 · Dec 29, 2014

Yeah, mine can is the same way. I'll just have to keep an eye on it

Anthony05GT · Dec 29, 2014

About how much oil did your can have in it after 3k miles?

boomer9999 · Dec 29, 2014

I run the magnacharger, don't have any catch system and don't use more than 1/4 quart in 3k miles. There is some wetting around the pcv inlet to the intake i just wipe off from time to time.

On the other hand my wife's expedition uses a quart every 3k miles, stock 5.4 engine, no leaks, no smoke in the exhaust, it has always had me curious where this oil is going. It has 126k miles on it, but has used the oil up from like 60k miles. I have maintained the engine since new and it always had regular service. Strange. We just sold it recently.

07 Boss · Dec 29, 2014

boomer9999 said:
I run the magnacharger, don't have any catch system and don't use more than 1/4 quart in 3k miles. There is some wetting around the pcv inlet to the intake i just wipe off from time to time.

On the other hand my wife's expedition uses a quart every 3k miles, stock 5.4 engine, no leaks, no smoke in the exhaust, it has always had me curious where this oil is going. It has 126k miles on it, but has used the oil up from like 60k miles. I have maintained the engine since new and it always had regular service. Strange. We just sold it recently.

If you pull the intake manifold you will see where all the oil is going. When NA it really doesn't matter as much. But I don't want to be gunking up my twin screw rotors. And there are a couple other reasons but I've always run breathers.

LoveTheBlue · Dec 29, 2014

Your oil consumption is normal, call a dealership and ask them and I'm sure they'll assure you it's fine every car burns a quart or so every oil change

Anthony05GT · Dec 29, 2014

Boss is right. Before I had a catch can I had an oil separator which barely grabbed any oil. I pulled the motor to do a built block and found a puddle of oil in the blower inlet so I installed the catch can which grabs up 10 times the oil the separator did. Next time I pull the throttle body which is soon I'll be looking for oil residue in the blower inlet...if so, I'll be going breathers.

That oil does gum up the rotors in the blower, gets on the valves, combustion chambers, causes detonation and carbon build up.

I think a full quart low in 3k miles is a bit much unless you run it hard as hell.

Svtwin73 · Dec 30, 2014

I might switch to the breather setup and watching oil level. If I'm not cleaning up oil and the level still falls, I'll be calling the builder.

LoveTheBlue · Dec 30, 2014

Anthony05GT said:
Boss is right. Before I had a catch can I had an oil separator which barely grabbed any oil. I pulled the motor to do a built block and found a puddle of oil in the blower inlet so I installed the catch can which grabs up 10 times the oil the separator did. Next time I pull the throttle body which is soon I'll be looking for oil residue in the blower inlet...if so, I'll be going breathers.

That oil does gum up the rotors in the blower, gets on the valves, combustion chambers, causes detonation and carbon build up.

I think a full quart low in 3k miles is a bit much unless you run it hard as hell.

I agree it sounds excessive but dealer says it's alright. Had a friend as a tech for chevy and toyota and all dealerships state that oil consumption as stated is normal.

faym 08 · Dec 30, 2014

LoveTheBlue said:
Your oil consumption is normal, call a dealership and ask them and I'm sure they'll assure you it's fine every car burns a quart or so every oil change

I don't think that amount is normal at all

Anthony05GT · Dec 30, 2014

Yeah I know, the dealer always sez a lot of things are alright. Cars with noisy rear end gears, shaking front ends, squeaks and rattles, but that's normal for dealers. They never want to work for the reduced warranty reimbursement from the factory. Just because a lot of a certain model have the same BS going on they justify it for more than one reason.

A newer vehicle with low miles should not lose more than 1/2 pint of oil between oil changes and most lose less than that. I think most of the OP's oil is most likely getting past the catch can and into the intake tract if he's collecting less than a qt. Blown engines crank out some serious case pressure and vacuum causing much more pcv oil flow. I've never owned that style catch can, but it is a popular model. I wonder how much baffling material is in that can.

I personally wouldn't mind my engine (supercharged) using a qt between oil changes as long as the can is actually catching it.

faym 08 · Dec 30, 2014

Who built the engine?

Anthony05GT · Dec 30, 2014

Good question. I know a stock 3 valve has tighter bearing clearances and uses 5-20 engine oil. My JDM block has clearances that require 10-30 engine oil.

I see JPC tuned it so I'm sure it runs great.

Svtwin73 · Dec 30, 2014

I trust the builder, they build some of the fastest 3v's around. Car runs great, just had some concerns with the oil.

Disappearing oil

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