phazein

My 97 3.2 tl started making a ticking noise. I checked my oil and it is all gone by all I mean less then a quart. I dont have any oil spots where I park and I amm wondering what could have happened to it.

TLBaller

look inside the engine bay to see if there is any oil spill. Look especially under the oil filter (you may need a flashlight). If there is a leak somewhere, you SHOULD be able to see some sort of small oil spots/puddle beneath your car...on the concrete.

phazein

I dont see any oil in there. I used 10w40 last time I changed the oil dont know if that makes a difference.

TLBaller

oil grade doesn't really make a diff. well it does depending on the weather you're living in.

phazein

Could all of the oil have burned up if it got to low? I ask this because when I added a little oil I got some flakey burned oil on my dipstick.

01tl4tl

Running it down to a quart will bake the remaining quart

Think of engine oil as blood- how would you be a quart low- ahhhh dead- thats why you donate a pint.

Look inside the radiator cap- is it all grey and foamy oily looking?

Put the car on ramps, is there leakage anywhere?

The oil filter is always a good first place to look. And the drain plugs seal ring
When was the last oil change?
How long since last time checked and finding prob- miles
After you added oil - did it disappear again?

What about the water pump?
If that is going, engine temp will eat oil too
How is the coolant?

phazein

01tl4tl Thanks for the pointer I will be checking them all out i AM draining the oil right now and seems to be a few quarts in there I changed the oil in oct 06. I havent checked out the other stuff you said but I will right now thanks for your help.

phazein

OK I changed the oil and there was 2 quarts in the drain. I put in 5 qts of oil and it seems to be over full I'm going to let it sit a while and see if I can add another 1/2 qt.

meazz1

I have the similar problem. What I do is check the oil level every weekend and add as needed. My car burns oil and there's oil in spark plugs. I already changed the plug seals/ gasket but oil leaks, so it is the ring seals that needs to be changed.
Now I use high milage 10w-40 and use Ring sealant with every oil change. It slows the oil loss a bit.
The car has 222k right now.

Ken1997TL

You need new piston rings

hinesktchp

check your coolant too it could be oily

01tl4tl

High mileage oil blow by can be reduced with use of product called HYPER-LUBE
Looks like 90 weight in the bottle- works similar to lucas additive as it clings to metal and helps seal rings. Used in the 1980 Chevy truck -tow vehicle for race car and improved vacuum and reduced smoke.

phaze: My 01 only holds 4.7 us quarts to full- what is the spec for your engine.
If the oil level rises everytime you check it- then water is entering the oil

meazz1

How much a piston ring job usually costs?