My XJ8 is Burning Oil or I have an unknown Oil Leak? When parked in the garage, I don't see any oil leak on the concrete. But if I go out on my job which is about a 220 mile round trip it will burn almost a half to full quart of oil. Any suggestions where it could be leaking from?

 

It probably isn't leaking if you don't see any oil. Try disconnecting the partial load breather near the front of the left bank and cleaning the port with a 3/32" drill bit.

Burning that much oil could destroy the cats, so come back if that doesn't help for more suggestions.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Now I got to find were you are talking about. I assume I will have drive the car up on ramps like doing a self oil change. I will have to get underneath the car right? I'm a rookie, ... left bank = driver side, correct?

 

Is this done while standing by the front of the left bank or underneath the car?

 

can you smell burning oil? if so, look around your valve covers VERY closely to see if theres any residual oil leaking from there

 

It comes out of the valve cover, which is at the top of the engine.


PART-LOAD BREATHER CLEANING Photo Gallery by Max Heazlewood at pbase.com

 

How do you open up partial load breather or pull it out because it doesn't want to come out and I didn't want to break it? I tried turning it and pull up but it still doesn't want to come out. Do you take some needle nose pliers and try squeezing the sides to open it up? Or is there another way?

 

There is a special tool, of course, but try slipping the needle nose jaws under the sides and cause them to spread while pulling and twisting gently. Others have used two nails, but I'm too clumsy for that.

 

That worked and its not clogged. Seem like there is/was oil leaking around the valve covers as mcm97 suggested. So I guess that is valve gasket job???

 

If you are leaking over a half qt. from the valve covers in 220 mi. There would be oil everywhere, including the ground under the car.

 

What viscosity oil are you running? If the outside temperature is 90 or 100F, and you are scooting along, a thin oil might be getting past the rings. If it doesn't drop below freezing where you are, 20w-50 might cure, or reduce the oil consumption. Then if you really like the car, just factor it into the running costs, and check it every day.

 

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I am having a similar issue, burning or leaking oil, however not at that rate. I live in Wisconsin, so cold winters and warm summers (I do a lot of driving). So far we have had a lot of 70-80 degree days, and it seems like this is when I smell burning oil the most. Would changing to a heavier viscosity oil remedy this issue somewhat possibly?

Would it be unsafe to run 10w30 or 10w40 rather than the 5w30?

I use full synthetic oil also.

 

FWIW, my Jag has been very good at not burning oil. I did have a leak once. I could smell oil burning off of something when I parked the car. It turned out to be coming from the oil filter coming a little loose. That may not help you guys much, but my bet would be on a leak. If the valve covers have been off, someone may have over torqued them and warped or cracked them. Also, don't top the oil off unless it gets down to the "add" mark. The car might like to stay at 1/2 or 3/4 down from the full mark.

 

Reply to Bcrary3, if you can smell the oil burning, then it is probably leaking from the cam covers. If you do remove them, there needs to be a dab of sealant placed on the joint between head and front cover.