Wilder cams directly related to oil consumption?

  1. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #1
    Hey chaps.

    I change the oil in my 106 roughly every 4-5k. I find even after just 1.5k, I'm already having to top up the oil. I can't use a 4ltr carton of oil for more than 4-5k, as even after a top up I would be running low on oil.

    I'm pretty sure the oil consumption has been worse since I've been running 708s, but I couldn't prove it. I installed the 708s @ about 24k, the engine is now @ 50k. Well looked after, but seems to munch oil like there's no tomorrow. There's nothing obviously dripping / leaking, and looking at the exhaust fumes, it doesn't appear to be burning it. So where's it going?!?

    Anyone else noticed more oil consumption since changing to higher than standard lift cams?
  2. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2006 Banbury Posts: 4623 Saxo Rally Car Evo 6
    #2
    I cant see how it would be directly related, but my theory (maybe lol) is that the cams make the engine hotter and some of the oil turns into vapour? But that would then mean that your boiling oil so my theory is crap haha.
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064
    #3
    If you are spending more time at high revs, could be burning off the oil that way?

    Are you running breathers or a catch tank?
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2006 Bedford Posts: 7457 Saxo VTS Peugeot 306 GTI-6 Astra SRI
    #4
    Mine has started to use a tiny amount running unmapped
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi
    #5
    i always had to top mine up and i had it from 19k till it was at 80k.
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2006 Posts: 691 Mk 1 VTS poseidon blue
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toad View Post
    So where's it going?!?
    It’s coming through the threads on the spark plugs? Or did you solve that mystery?
  7. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2007 Birmingham, West Midlands Posts: 704 Saxo Vts
    #7
    lol its either leakin or burning. do you boot your car a lot. if so thats prob y. how many litres would u say u use every 1000miles
  8. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #8
    It shouldn't use up oil. I've used far wilder cams than 708s and not used a drop
  9. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #9
    I spend a lot of time in high revs, of course!

    Quick - I don't have a catch, I used to have a home-made one, but got rid of it. It NEVER filled up with anything. Bone dry...

    Joe, didn't see the last entry on that thread? I thought you'd disappeared mate. haha

    Williams, ours may be similar then...

    205, yeah boot it all the time. The best way I can describe the usage is this I guess. I fill it up with just over 3ltrs which puts the oil level a smidge (if that really) over the max oil amount. I've now done about 1300 miles since the oil changem and it's already sitting just below midway of the min and max mark on the dipstick. I will have to top it up shortly...

    Kam, I'm worried! lol
  10. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2006 Posts: 691 Mk 1 VTS poseidon blue
    #10
    I never saw the last post either! I went to America for a while I’m back now though!

    There’s nothing I can think of that could relate different cams using more oil?

    Unless it’s like what Colin said? But it should be running at the same temperature.

    Thought that maybe the bigger lobes are splashing it about more and maybe splashing it through the breather? The catch tank would have some oil in if it was that though!

    I still recon its the valve stem oil seals.
  11. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 591
    #11
    spose if your at higher revs more,

    more pressure? kicking out a bit more into the breather system??

    this is what i found any way
  12. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #12
    If I was burnnig oil, wouldn't it be noticeable? Or is it possible that's it's a small amount, so I can't notice it from the fumes?
  13. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2006 Buckinghamshire Posts: 2700 under age
    #13
    you would notice burnng oil mate. hve a look under the car for some sort of damp patch as it is all i can think of, check the air filter to make sure it is dry
  14. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #14
    I'm definately getting a small amount coming out from the around the cam cover area. Left hand side I think, as there's always a smidge of oil dripping down near the alternator.
  15. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2004 Kunt & Sorrey Posts: 5763 Rep mobiles & Joes ma
    #15
    mine started to use loads when i fitted 708s and revved to 8k.
    used absolutely none at 60k on std cams, with the 708s it used about a litre every few thousand miles, and still does now with std cams again. rogered my valve stem seals it seems, nothing in my catch tank, just a bit of smoke from the exhaust when revving hard and especially when changing gear. my new head should sort that out
  16. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #16
    Interesting! I've got a fairly new head, as it's a big valve one, but that certainly hasn't made any difference with the oil munching. I don't see any smoke from mine... Surely my stem seals would be mint with the new head? Thanks for the input
  17. Established Member Joined: May 2006 Posts: 2279
    #17
    Mine munches oil like big momma on the munchies
  18. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2005 Sydney Posts: 8525 Mango Westcoast
    #18
    The only oil mine uses is what it catches in the catch tank, and thats only on track, since the summer i've relocated the oil cooler rad which is keeping temps alot lower than before (even at cruise speeds on Mway)
  19. Established Member Joined: Nov 2006 ower ere Posts: 1282 shitroen spaxo vts
    #19
    i was going to put some 708's in but not sure now.
  20. Established Member Joined: Nov 2006 ower ere Posts: 1282 shitroen spaxo vts
    #20
    i've got an oil cooler to go on mine so i should be ok then?
  21. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #21
    Doesn't seem to be directly related to wilder cams Ricky, so don't worry about installing 708s...
  22. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #22
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jpsaxo View Post
    The only oil mine uses is what it catches in the catch tank, and thats only on track, since the summer i've relocated the oil cooler rad which is keeping temps alot lower than before (even at cruise speeds on Mway)
    I don't get anything in the catch. I ran a catch for about 4 months, and gave up in the end as it never had anything in it.
  23. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2005 Sydney Posts: 8525 Mango Westcoast
    #23
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RICKYP-RPM View Post
    i've got an oil cooler to go on mine so i should be ok then?
    Yes will be fine as long as its located well to catch plenty of air

    How man times did you go on track in those 4 months Toad? Mines never caght a drop on the roads, even when i give it what for round the lanes

    Doesnt cach anything on track either now the oil cooler has been raised
  24. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #24
    Zilch!

    I will possible look into one in the near future then. The one I had I made myself, lol. Glad you cooler has sorted things out.

    What I found with oil temperature on my car, is that even if I drive giving it "what for" it doesn't rise too much above halfway on the indicator. However, if I'm doing motorway driving, sitting at 80 would take it a bit higher. If I speed up, the oil temp will go up quickly, but no matter how fast I go, I can't get it to go above the 3/4 mark.
  25. Established Member Joined: Nov 2006 ower ere Posts: 1282 shitroen spaxo vts
    #25
    thinking of putting it behind one of the vents in the rallye front bumper
  26. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2005 Sydney Posts: 8525 Mango Westcoast
    #26
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toad View Post
    Zilch!

    I will possible look into one in the near future then. The one I had I made myself, lol. Glad you cooler has sorted things out.

    What I found with oil temperature on my car, is that even if I drive giving it "what for" it doesn't rise too much above halfway on the indicator. However, if I'm doing motorway driving, sitting at 80 would take it a bit higher. If I speed up, the oil temp will go up quickly, but no matter how fast I go, I can't get it to go above the 3/4 mark.
    have you got an oil cooler?

    The only time i can get mine anywhere near 3/4 is on track where it now sits around 3/4 on the gauge, normal driving especially at the moment it sits just under half way

    Chances are you'll need a catch tank on track imo

    Ricky, do you mean in the centre of the bumper?
  27. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #27
    I haven't got one mate, nope. Normal driving, mine will sit just above halfway. It will never sit below halfway, or only when it's still heating up that is.
  28. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2005 Sydney Posts: 8525 Mango Westcoast
    #28
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Toad View Post
    I haven't got one mate, nope. Normal driving, mine will sit just above halfway. It will never sit below halfway, or only when it's still heating up that is.
    Lol, thats kind of reassuring that the oil coolers actualy doing anything Lol!

    Saying that the oil cooler rad gets bloody hot sometimes!!
  29. Established Member Joined: Sep 2007 Bolton Posts: 1300 Mauritius blue VTR
    #29
    Could there be a hole or a broken seal etc in your oil sump which is leaking oil?
  30. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Apr 2007 Bournemouth Posts: 15289 '04 VW Transporter.
    #30
    not the same car at all

    but my bmw has a m52 engine they dont leak oil or smoke but they all drink oil just uses it

    i use a litre to every 1k miles that gets expensive when you do a lot of work miles
  31. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #31
    So if it's not being burned and it's not leaking, where does the oil go?
  32. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390
    #32
    If the fuelling was out, youd get bore wash, and that would contribute to it a bit. Worn rings could do it as well.
  33. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Aug 2004 West Mids Posts: 15392 '98 EK9 N1
    #33
    Not having much luck I see Toad mate. Is an odd one that! Have you actually
    checked for physical leaks around the rockers and under the coilpack cover?

    Has that Steve Hill guy looked at this and offered any advise?
  34. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Reading Posts: 8980 French tin can
    #34
    I haven't looked into it that much as it's not that much of an issue really. There's definately a little leak on the left side of the block, as the top of the alternator is always coated in oil. It's possible it's dripping out from the cam covers, but not that much. I don't think it's the filler cap, as it's pretty new...