Sooty exhausts

[OXO]

Hi,

I have recently bought a 2001 Mk3 in super condition, only 42,800 miles with only 1,500 miles in the last 5 years - I have the MOT's.
An old chap has had it.  
The trouble is that the exhausts are coated in thick soot. I cleaned them out on Friday (looked like new)
Then went on a 450 mile motorway round trip.
Just had an oil and filter change before the trip.
The car seems to perform really well with no issues.
When I got home, the exhausts were full of soot again and it's used 1 litre of oil on that trip.
I am only getting 34 mpg so with the oil, it's a costly overall mpg.
There is no oil on the garage floor.
Any suggestions
Help..............
Mick

[Carolyn]

Sounds like oil control rings (and possibly valve stem seals).  Common problem, I'm afraid.

[cptspaulding]

What Carolyn said on the oil rings.

It's likely to have gone a length of time without an oil change & gummed up the oil rings. Keep checking & topping up your oil.

& since it's burning oil you'll want to get the precats out if they haven't already been removed.

[OXO]

Thanks
Oh no, Sounds like I have some work needs doing  !
Mick

[Carolyn]

If you have some tools, getting the engine out is not too difficult.  Quite a bit of work, but you can do it.  Once out, you will need to do a 'mild rebuild' as the pistons have to come out to sort the oil-control rings.  As that means you'll have the head off, it's a good thing to do the valve seals as well.  With such a low mileage engine all you should need is a head gasket kit (with head bolts) and some new rings.

[mr mr2]

Just keep a eye on the oil  change it regularly and it can last for a good few years I'd definitely get the pre cats out not a hard job and gives a bit of peace of mind and will make it sound a little better


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[shnazzle]

Just keep a eye on the oil  change it regularly and it can last for a good few years I'd definitely get the pre cats out not a hard job and gives a bit of peace of mind and will make it sound a little better


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Dave! You're back!   s:) s:)  

I agree. I think the whole oil burning thing is seen too much as a terminal "can't drive this anymore" thing.

It's not. Run some 10w40 oil if it starts to get a bit bad, that'll give you another year or so.

There's an argument for that you do more damage to the bores the longer you run it, but so far some pretty knackered engines have been brought back to non-oil-burning life by a rebuild so...
Don't freak.
Just plan/save for the inevitable but enjoy it until it then

[Carolyn]

Shnazzle is probably correct.  However, there is a level at which it takes out the main cat and you can't pass MOT.  Might be worth popping into your friendly (if you've got one) local MOT tester and do a voluntary emissions check.  450 mile per litre is on the high side.

[Ardent]

Mildly drifting off topic.
Just find this an interesting observation on the general car buying game.
no specific ref to this thread or the op
Many cars for general sale are sold at a premimium with low miles.
And yet here we have an oil burner wit only 42k.
Yet plenty of 100k+ 2s on here with no issue.
Makes you think

Back on topic
Mr T gives an acceptable oil usage upto 612 Miles/litre.
Clearly 450 is out of spec.
If you like and can spanner, then a light rebuild as per Carolyn suggestion = result.
If not an engine can be had for £350ish
Or keep wacking the oil until it does go. Which could be quite some time.

[OXO]

It passed the MOT just before the motorway run, so the emissions shouldn't be a problem ?
After reading some really good threads on here...... I checked the PCV valve, which had a little oil, but worked fine.
The air filter was very clogged up.
Now just need to put a new set of spark plugs in  (what is the recommended gap)
I will monitor how she goes when she's all back together.
Thanks for helping
Mick

[Carolyn]

Hi Oxo,

On the PCV: There is no way to 'check' the valve.  It relies on having the correct spring tension.  It can appear to be working fine but that's no guarantee. The symptom is a puff of blue smoke in the mirror when you get back on the throttle (especially after coming down a hill on over-run).

The clogged up air filter might explain the soot.

The plugs are generally correct out of the box, 1.0 - 1.1 mm or 39-43 thou.

[OXO]

Thanks Carolyn,  do you know where I can get a PCV from ?   I have searched the net and can't find any over here ?

[Carolyn]

Hmm  This one is getting harder.

They are saying out of stock, please contact.

 m http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/parts-i ... earchPart= m

This one is correct - about twice what I last paid!!

 m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Toyot ... #vi-ilComp m

Tip:  with a lot of parts it works better to search for Toyota 1ZZ

[Topdownman]

Steve at D1 customs just fitted a new pcv valve for me part no 12204-22051 (£23.69) for the part.

If you are anywhere nearish to Loughborough definitely worth going to see him (I am 2 hours away but worth the travel to see someone who really knows these cars).

Are you coming to Ding Day? If so, you could consider having your engine carbon cleaned there.

[OXO]

Hi,
Now I am starting to apologise for being a nusiance................... I bought the new air filter and plugs (and new plug spanner as mine was too big).
I took the battery off. Air filter replaced, plugs replaced.
Re fitted everything in reverse order.
Now it's a dead as a dodo, nothing at all ?
Lock on key doesn't activate, key in ignition - no lights or anything at all.
Help

[jonbill]

Did you refit the battery in reverse order?  s:eek: :eek: s:eek:

[OXO]

NOTE TO NEWCOMER................ MAKE SURE YOU RE CONNECT ALL THE BATTERY TERMINALS

Sorry to have been a pain, One of the terminals had slipped down the back of the battery and I hadn't noticed.
I will know next time.
I haven't worked on an engine for 20 odd years, these days under the bonnet is just a plastic cover.
I am learning fast !

[Carolyn]

I admire your honesty.  

Stay on the spanners- you'll get there!

[Ardent]

OXO

Like Carolyn says, your last post has bought you some kudos points for honesty. Rest assured there are many tales of dropped clangers on here.

[shnazzle]

I found a 10mm spanner, 1 small screwdriver and 2 bolts last time I took off my rear bumper. So...don't fret  s:) s:)  Enjoy it and learn

[Call the midlife!]

And I've got 4 newly fitted reversing sensors in my rear bumper that are nothing more than "adornments" as they're fitted too low. Maybe there's the beginnings of a new thread, "what have you clocked up on your MR2 today?"...


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[furbern]

Before you strip it try some Forte flush or BG109 and another oil change. It does clean up the inside of the engine, but it may just free off your rings. At worst it'll be cleaner to rebuild.

[OXO]

Hi Furbern
The BG109 sounds really good (if it works)  I am sure it's worth a try. The other one says not for retail ?

Thanks

[OXO]

Hi Folks,
Since I first posted about my sooty exhausts I have tried all the easier/cheaper options that have been suggested on here, on you tube etc.
The last one was "Seafoam"  put some in each cylinder for 24 hours one a day over 4 days, started the engine without the plug to remove it and so on. Did a full oil and filter change.
Went for a run and it purred like a kitten for a good half an hour....... until I found an empty road, I dropped the gears and floored it, it went like the wind....... until the oil light came on !
I slowed down and there was a sound similar to if you were on a push bike free wheeling and the chain is in nutral.
I stopped and checked the oil.... full to the top. Waited 20 minutes and set off again, no oil light.
After 20 minutes going up a hill it came on and the sound returned, it only made the noise if in gear and pulling, if I eased off so did the sound.
Stopped waited 10 minutes, set off all ok.
Back home in the garage I have had it running 3 times for a good half each time revved up to 6000 no oil light, no sound.
I am just terrified to go out in it now.
Garage said it would be a full strip down which is expensive so probably put a new engine in ?
It's only done 45,000 miles I have read where these engines easily do over a 100k ?
Help and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

[smarty72]

As I'm sure you're aware, the oil light doesn't warn you when the oil level is low, it warns you that the pressure has dropped.

I can't see that anything you've done would have affected the oil pump.  You have just changed the filter though, so could this perhaps be faulty and restricting the oil flow when the engine gets to high revs?

Or maybe there is a restriction on the oil pick up from the sump???

But if I would you, I would wait for someone with far more knowledge than me to come along (Carolyn, where are you?)

Fingers crossed for you though.