VY Ecotec Using Oil

[ben315vz]

Hey guys, posting this up for a mate.

"I bought a vy ecotec series 2 v6 last year. It had only just done 68,000km and always was serviced at the local holden dealer. I serviced it at 70,000 and use Mobil 2000 10/40 semi syn and within 3000 Kms I had used over 1.5 litres of oil. I thought I may had bought a dodgy batch. I then tried magnatec 10/40, same thing. So I thought I may have a slight rocker cover leak, so I replaced both gaskets, and rocker cover bolt seals. Tried penrite hpr fully syn 10/50, happened again. There are no oils leaks anywhere, rear main, timing cover etc. Plugged it into a mechanics expensive tech 2 and it said everything was hunky dory. I am not blowing any smoke blue or white. Does anyone think this could be rings or valve stem seals???? I've owned a few ecotecs and never had a oil thirsty v6 like this before........any advice?"

Cheers,

 

[MRNICK]

Opened the radiator cap and checked there? Oil in the radiator can indicate one of two things:

a) intake manifold gaskets
b) something more serious

Being that it is an ecotec, I'd be looking at the intake manifold gaskets if you do find a sludgy, oily substance underneath the radiator cap.

 

[Happymonaro]

Car going like new, no oil in coolant, underneath cap is clean, I'm the guy who this post is about am a newb to these forums, sorry

 

[Pollushon]

Some of that will just be normal Ecotec usage, beyond this it could be the PCV valve. Mine started using 750-1000ml between 7500k services, drove me nuts, couldn't find anything wrong. Found the issue when I installed the manifold insulator. It wasn't enough at a time to cause any issues with driveability/performance so if it wasn't for the insulator I'd never have known. Easy to check, pop the plenum cover off and run your finger over the bottom RHS. If there's a coat of oil, PCV valve is probably letting more than gas through.

 

[Happymonaro]

Could it be a glazed bore, possibly piston rings???? Thanks pollushon and mr nick. Thank you to scvsv6 for getting me started here :beer chug:

 

[Pollushon]

I reckon you'd see tell-tale signs out the exhaust if it were a ring issue with 1.5L over 3k. Not impossible but certainly not common on an Eco.