KJ is using oil

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:59 pm

I have an 02 with the 3.7 and its got 89k on it and running AMSoil 5w-30. Awhile back i had checked my oil and it was abnormally low. Barely even on the stick. :shock:

I put 2 quarts in and let it run for about two weeks and after around 2 to 3 weeks i am about 1/4 inch down from the low mark. I am not leaking anywhere.. i have a garage so i know that. There is no oil in the antifreeze container. Where's it going? I don't think i get any smoke or anything, at least i haven't noticed. I have started it from sitting cold for around 4.5 hours and didn't get any puffs of smoke out the back???

I am starting to get nervous, especially since the 3.7 is known for not having any issues. Help please....

thanks,

-Nick

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:08 pm

Have you gotten under it and actually checked for leaks? It may only leak when your driving it(just a thought).

Check out the spark plugs. If youre burning oil that bad it may show up there.

3.7 seems to be a good engine but not all of them are perfect.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:59 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Have you gotten under it and actually checked for leaks? It may only leak when your driving it(just a thought).

Check out the spark plugs. If youre burning oil that bad it may show up there.

3.7 seems to be a good engine but not all of them are perfect.

Nope, not yet. I live in SD and its been bitter cold and we have had a lot of snow lately. My garage is one big freezing puddle. I will have to take a look once i get it cleaned up. i suppose thats a good idea to check the plugs.

Thanks

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:10 pm

Sorry for bringing this back from the dead but i am still having this issue and its starting to get expensive. Putting several quarts of oil in a time at $10 each.... (I am using AMSoil)..

I checked the plugs and they look fine... no leaking that can be seen from underneath... I checked the oil level again this morning before start up and it was BARELY hitting the bottom of the stick.. :shock:

HELP!

Budke · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:23 pm

Make sure the oil filter is on 1/4 turn past hand tight.
I had the same problem and the losers at jiffy lube didn't even tighten my filter hand tight.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:25 pm

Try using a different brand of oil such as Mobil 1 or a thicker oil like 10W-30 as opposed to 5W.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:47 pm

SavageUrge wrote:

Try using a different brand of oil such as Mobil 1 or a thicker oil like 10W-30 as opposed to 5W.

Wow, Really? I use AMSoil 5w-30 right now.. I figured that was already thicker than a regular 5w-30 oil.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:48 pm

Budke wrote:

Make sure the oil filter is on 1/4 turn past hand tight.
I had the same problem and the losers at jiffy lube didn't even tighten my filter hand tight.

Thanks but i changed my own oil and i know its tight. I will double check to see if there's any oil around there tonight but...

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:04 pm

SD-KJ wrote:

Budke wrote:

Make sure the oil filter is on 1/4 turn past hand tight.
I had the same problem and the losers at jiffy lube didn't even tighten my filter hand tight.

Thanks but i changed my own oil and i know its tight. I will double check to see if there's any oil around there tonight but...

Yeah I always said that too...until I started dripping oil and had no idea where it was coming from. Turned out the oil filter was loose. It's worth a check.

Also, I've been running 10w30 since I bought my Jeep with 84k miles. It's a good idea to go a bit thicker with older engines...but that's just my opinion. I also use Castrol dino and am a firm beleiver that motor oil is motor oil is motor oil. You won't see me using KMart brand but $10 for a quart of oil is kinda iffy.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:16 pm

yeah I agree $10 a pop is expensive but thats buying quart by quart.. when i do a major buy of AMS i get it for about $6/quart.

I will look at the oil filter this evening. If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:20 pm

SD-KJ wrote:

If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

Through the valve seals,basically letting oil into the combustion chamber. Blowing some smoke out the tail pipe by chance?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:25 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

SD-KJ wrote:

If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

Through the valve seals,basically letting oil into the combustion chamber. Blowing some smoke out the tail pipe by chance?

You should also be seeing abnormal coloration on the plugs too if it is burning it.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:27 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

SD-KJ wrote:

If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

Through the valve seals,basically letting oil into the combustion chamber. Blowing some smoke out the tail pipe by chance?

You should also be seeing abnormal coloration on the plugs too if it is burning it.

Yes and no,depends on the amount of oil being burned,plug type,and driving style.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:38 pm

well alrighty then...... :roll:

You MIGHT see some discoloration on the plugs if it is burning oil. (for my statement to be 100% accurate depends on a million other things working out perfectly though so never mind)

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:41 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

well alrighty then...... :roll:

You MIGHT see some discoloration on the plugs if it is burning oil. (for my statement to be 100% accurate depends on a million other things working out perfectly though so never mind)

You were right for about 95% of drivers out there,there plugs will be nice and black or not function at all after time,but if you drive like I do you will need to burn alot of oil to make those plugs look bad.

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:46 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

SD-KJ wrote:

If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

Through the valve seals,basically letting oil into the combustion chamber. Blowing some smoke out the tail pipe by chance?

I have had someone start my jeep cold several times and see no smoke whatsoever coming out of the back. Even when driving....

Ugh... well i will keep looking. JJsKJ.. do you think if I were to start using 10w30 amsoil it would help? I highly doubt it but...

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:38 am

SD-KJ wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

SD-KJ wrote:

If indeed i am "using" oil, where would this be happening in the engine?

Through the valve seals,basically letting oil into the combustion chamber. Blowing some smoke out the tail pipe by chance?

I have had someone start my jeep cold several times and see no smoke whatsoever coming out of the back. Even when driving....

Ugh... well i will keep looking. JJsKJ.. do you think if I were to start using 10w30 amsoil it would help? I highly doubt it but...

You could try it but I doubt it too. Really weird you are not seeing it leak anywhere. Did you check the coolant for oil? No signs anywhere underneath of oil leaks huh? Strange. Did you pull any spark plugs yet?

Boiler · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:49 am

Are you pouring the oil into the right hole? :lol:

Your garage floor is clean, but is your oil pan? You might try opening the garage door and letting it idle for a while after driving it and see if any drips occur.

If you're burning it slowly and steadily, I would think thicker oil would at least decrease the burn rate.

Budke · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:28 pm

Take off your skid plate and check that. That could be stopping the oil from dripping down to where you can see it.

greatoppressor · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:42 pm

You may want to check your PCV valve. If the valve is bad, pressure will build up in your crankcase and cause oil to leak out of the main seal. The tricky part is that this kind of leak may leave little or no evidence in your driveway or garage because the engine has to be running for the crankcase pressure to stay high enough for it to leak... that is, until the main seal gets damaged bad enough and will just start leaking on its own, with or without pressure. If that's where the oil is coming out, you might be able to find some oily residue below the main seal line somewhere around the perimeter of the oil pan.

If that's your problem and you catch it soon enough, your leak will go away completely (or close to it). If your PCV valve is still original at 90K miles, you're definitely due for a new one. Plus, they only cost something like $5 or less, so it's pretty cheap insurance against a main seal failure.

-SR-

KJ is using oil

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