Geting blue smoke on start up and a little when driving out of the exhaust. Engine seems to be burning 1 quart every 500 miles, sometimes more. It's not leaking so what are these engines known for? Bad valve seals? Bad rings?<IMG src=smileys/smiley6.gif border="0">

 

Probably just a head gasket. <FONT color=black>But still, it'll be kinda hard to diagnose without seeing in person. Does it tick or make any other weird noises? Drive sluggish or stresses to accelerate? Also, check the coolant level, see if it's also leaking anywhere. If the coolant level is also going down at a somewhat steady rate, it's most likely just the head gasket. </FONT></P>


<FONT color=black>If you can, do a compression test on the motor. It's not that hard and would only take about ten minutes with a few tools. The compression test will tell you which cylinder the oil is leakinginto. When you find the bad cylinder, you can do a leak down test to determine if the piston rings are worn or if the head gasket's failing. Both the compression test and leakdown test are easy to perform and can be done in your garage with regular hand tools.Only the compression test will need one or two custom tools, but they shouldn't cost more than $20 total. The leakdown is best done on a weekend since it takes sometime, ~10 hours if done properly. Don't be discouraged though, the actuall amount of work that you'll have to do will only take about hlaf an hour. The rest is just waiting. You can instructions for each on the internet. Check the VFAQS for instructions, or any other website.</FONT></P>

 

I doubt it's a head gasket, as we're loosing oil and not coolant. Thank you for your reply and suggestions though.

 

Ishould have been more clear, it's very possible to only lose oil through a head gasket. Coolant loss would more than likely *prove* that it's the head gasket, but a failing head gasket can also only allow for the oil to be burning. A failing head gasket is a common problem on higher mileage vehicles, and a car that is 10 years or older may be more susceptible.