Re: oil question

wowzer wrote:
> My 1994 Mustang with the 3.8 engine seems to be going through a bit more
oil 
> than normal. It's not leaking out anywhere and there is no smoke of any
type 
> when I start it or run it. No smell either. My guess is it's getting
past 
> the rings. The engine was built about 40 000 miles ago and I don't know
who 
> did it or if they actually knew what they were doing. Otherwise it works

> great.
> 
> But my question is about oil. A few people have told me to use synthetic
oil 
> because when the motor starts to do this the synthetic oil will help.
But at 
> the price of the synthetic oil I'd rather not experiment if it won't
help. 
> Has anyone had any experience if this will help the minor oil loss or if

> it'll make a difference?
> 
> Someone told me to try a different oil other than 5W30 but I don't want
to 
> mess anything up. I could use 10W30 because it doesn't get too cold
where I 
> live. Not too often it goes below freezing and the summers are not too
hot.

Even though you were told the engine was rebuilt it doesn't mean they 
replaced the rings.  The 3.8L engines had a head gasket problem and many 
had to be replaced as they had a propensity to leak.  What someone might 
call an engine rebuild may have just been a head gasket replacement. 
Usually a remanufactured engine will be installed before the existing 
one is rebuilt as this is typically less expensive.  My guess is the 
"rebuild" was really a head gasket replacement if it is consuming oil now.

If it is burning oil then it might be seeping through the valve guides 
and/or getting past the rings.  If it is going past the rings then using 
a thicker viscosity oil will slow the rate down some.  You should be 
able to use 10W-30 without any problems.  Personally, I wouldn't worry 
too much about it unless it is burning more than a quart between oil 
changes.  My 1989 LX 5.0L burned between 1/2 to a full quart between 
3,000 mile changes ever since it came from the factory.


As for synthetic oil, don't waste your money.  It doesn't provide that 
much more protection than regular oil that is changed every 3,000 miles. 
   You can buy regular oil blended for high mileage engines and that 
might help to reduce the consumption and keep the gaskets in better 
working condition.  The best advice I can give you is to change the oil 
and filter every 3,000 miles and this will maximize your engine's 
lifespan, whatever there is left of it.