Big Block oil consumption problem with pics

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block oil consumption problem with pics

Joe/Ed

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that the exhaust valves would be the determining clue here. I can't recall if exhaust valve stems should be dry on an 800 mile overhaul. Some oil should be on the stems, I'm just not sure what the evidence suggests. So to recap, here's what I have:

1. Approximately 350 miles to a quart of oil
2. Oily intake runners in each head, at each cylinder
3. Oil build up on the intake valves
4. Oil on all spark plug threads
5. Clean, white/brown electrodes on all plugs
6. Some oil streaking on the exhaust valve stems
7. Intake gaskets were well sealed/stuck to the heads on the upper edges
8. Gaskets were very easy to clean off the heads on lower edges
9. Gaskets were not stuck at all to the intake manifold
10. No smoking on start-up, warm or cold
11. A momentary oily smell after throttle release at higher RPM's (4000+)
12. Everything appears new in the engine save for three valve guides as appears in the photos earlier in this post.

Hmmm.........

Dan------


Everything you described is EXACTLY the same thing as I experienced with the small block I previously mentioned except for one thing: I would get a small amount of smoke on start-up, cold or hot. Also, there would be some smoke on acceleration but not enough to see in the rear view mirror.

One more question: was there any oil to be seen in the INTAKE MANIFOLD runners looking from the end of the runners (cylinder head interface surface)?

[Nick F.]

Re: Big Block oil consumption problem with pics

Joe/Ed

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that the exhaust valves would be the determining clue here. I can't recall if exhaust valve stems should be dry on an 800 mile overhaul. Some oil should be on the stems, I'm just not sure what the evidence suggests. So to recap, here's what I have:

1. Approximately 350 miles to a quart of oil
2. Oily intake runners in each head, at each cylinder
3. Oil build up on the intake valves
4. Oil on all spark plug threads
5. Clean, white/brown electrodes on all plugs
6. Some oil streaking on the exhaust valve stems
7. Intake gaskets were well sealed/stuck to the heads on the upper edges
8. Gaskets were very easy to clean off the heads on lower edges
9. Gaskets were not stuck at all to the intake manifold
10. No smoking on start-up, warm or cold
11. A momentary oily smell after throttle release at higher RPM's (4000+)
12. Everything appears new in the engine save for three valve guides as appears in the photos earlier in this post.

Hmmm.........

G Dan Andrews, for what it's worth, I had a similar experience many years ago after rebuilding a 350 Chevy small block for my Z28, everything new, machined and assembled properly. Engine had a very hard time starting initially, many, many cranks and possible flooding which caused a "washout" of the coating on the rings. In other words, the rings never sealed against the cylinder walls. It would burn a quart in less than 300 miles. After doing all the checks very similar to you, had to take the engine completely down, have it re-honed, installed new rings and got it to start on the 2 crank. Like I said, for what it's worth, my 2 cents..