sudden oil consumption

Don't know where you are at, the mileage of the car or its history: I don't know if the following applies to the particular car you mention:

http://home.att.net/~ferrari/oil3.htm

The "sudden" onset of oil consumption in a 308 (emissions versions) may be a broken or badly worn rings or excessive pressure in the sump due to poor venting. You might wish to check all the emissions "crap" to ensure that nothing is clogged in that system before considering a "tear down" of the engine. On an engine with some mileage, an increase in the sump pressure may be enough to force oil past moderatly worn rings. The increase in the sump pressure may also be noted, in some instances, by unusual amounts of oil appearing in the intake system. After checking for excess pressure in the system and repairing any problems in that system, you may wish to do a compression test.

If there is a mechanical breakdown causing a sudden consumption of oil a compression check should identify the problem area fairly quickly. A "leakdown" test can be done if the compression check idicates that there may be a bad cylinder or cylinders.

Good Luck

Best wishes

 

Check the oil vapor seperator on the left side of the motor bolted to the bell housing. They should be removed and cleaned occasionally. They can get water condensate in them and rust to the point they get clogged and won't let oil return to the sump allowing it to get back into the induction system via the breathers.

 

How do you clean the vapor seperator? - mine has a little rust in it and is currently off the car.

thanks

 

Did you check for gas in the oil? Has the mileage gone to hell in a handbasket? If yes to both, I'd suspect an oil ring. But as stated, I wouldn't tear the engine apart without checking the other stuff. Even a worn rotor can cause the gunky plugs, although probably not the oil consumption.

Ken

 

I let them soak in solvent for a couple of hours and then alternate blowing them out with a garden hose and compressed air. Soaking in WD40 or similar to get rid of as much rust as possible isn't a bad idea either. If it's very rusty, replace it. They can rust clear through and leak.