My car keeps burning oil?

(2011-11-28 15:20:17)

1. Georgie Says: I waste about two quarts of oil almost every month and had the vehicle since August of 2011... It's a 1994 Plymouth 2.2l I4 with 30,000 miles. Whenever I turn the power on the oil pressure light is on but when I turn the engine on it goes away? What could the problem be to resolve the problem? My mechanic always told me to try 5w 30 then 10w 30 but hans't helped. Thanks!

2. kevusaborn Says: If you purchased this car used it really sounds more like it's got 130,000 miles. I'd look into this.

If you've got a light and loosing oil pressure your probably burning it out the exhaust. Have a

friend follow you on the highway and see what they tell you is coming from your tailpipe.

The engine needs to be warm or hot to do this.

Next is a compression test. following the results, and providing you've got good compression
you might be looking at replacement of the oil pressure switch.

Take another look at where you're parking your car at night. No oil spots...?

Good Luck... as far as the oil ( follow the owners manual recommendations )

3. Nehhhh Says: How is it you guys don't know this...in EVERY "motorized vehicle" whether it be a Car, Pickup, Semi, Earthmover, Grader, bobcat, gas powered generator,motorcycle or electric wheelchair. - there are indicator lights that come on at a point when you rotate the key. >That is to show you the bulbs are good and work<

This happens everytime you turn the ignition switch on. They are not party lights. Every model of car has them and has had them since the beginning ( 100 odd years )
Once the engine runs, the lights go out IF and only IF you have oil in the crankcase and your engine is good enough shape to create oil pressure. No oil pressure= red light=you shut it down immediately----that is if you want to save the motor from seizing up.

If the generator or charging light comes on you know something is wrong there. Usually a broken belt. Not as serious. You can haul down the highway for 500 miles on a decent battery before the battery dies(middle of the day, no headlights) Otherwise figure 50 miles and then you are dead meat.

As for the oil burning situation. Your car was meant to run on 10W30 not 5W.
So move up to straight weight 30 and maybe a can of "No burn". You still are burning oil, but it is less visible.

You need to see a mechanic maybe before you put in the "NO BURN" additive so he can see it and determine whether it is a head job or a ring job.

With your car going through oil that fast, I would drive it to autosalvage and leave it there.

Heck, my diesel uses oil(which is normal) but 1 qt between oil changes, part of which leaks away.