The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop disappearing oil

52 3100 with a 216, starts and runs like a new , doesnt smoke at all. I have to add a qt every 50 miles, I use non detergent 30W. some small drips on the drive way but nothing huge, I have the side push rod cover off, not to much grime, tomorrow it get's a compression check and a cyl leak down check,Im thinking oil rings but who know, maybe I move up to 40w for the summer

If you have no major oil leaks check around your rear seal pan. an ounce of oil coming from your rear seal will look like a 10 gallon amount of oil blowing back to the rear end. Otherwise I would check the breather down tube. On a few occasions it can cause problems. If it is very dry you may have a blockage. Next and be patient, run engine for one half hour at night and use a very bright directional light. Check from front to back. If you don't see any white smoke or slight oil seep, you more than likely have a possible oil ring problem. Get some Sea Foam and depending on how much gas you have in tank add up to 1/2 cup in tank. Rev engine to 1100 rpm and gently pour Sea Foam into carb directly. Do not let the engine flood out with the Sea F. let run for 1 hour at about 700 rpm. It works wonders on 216 and 235's . Good luck. Doc.

How about a little history on the engine? Has it been run regularly, or is it a recent "wake up" from a long period in storage? It's possible you've got rings that aren't free in the piston grooves from being stored long term. If that's the case, try adding 2-3 quarts of Diesel fuel to a full crankcase of oil, and run the engine at a fast idle for 30 minutes or so- - - - -no driving or loading of the engine, just let it spin freely at 1500 RPM or so for a half hour, then drain the oil/diesel mix while it's hot. The rods and crankshaft splashing into the solvent mix will wash the inside of the engine better than any amount of scrubbing can do, and if the rings still have any tension left they might re-seat themselves on the cylinder walls. If not, you've just done a good cleanup before a re-ring job gets done.
Jerry

Oh no. Most Bolters prefer Techron to Sea Foam. Look up the thread on Sea Foam in Engines. Doc.

A few ounces of KROIL added to the crankcase will free up rings, also. Steel rings in cast iron pistons do not like to sit idle for very long.
Jerry

the truck sat inside a barn for years, 20 is what I was told, then parked out side for a few more, not sure when it started seeing use again, about 3 years ago but that owner isnt around so I cant ask, I would think if the rings were bad it should smoke which is some thing I have not seen, leaks, maybe a puddle 2 inches in diameter over night.it runs great, plugs dont look that bad tail pipe is dry, thinking about soaking the pistons for a week with sea foam or Marvel mystery oil