Date:         Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:27:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Zetec Using oil
Comments: To: Jon Durham <jon_durham@KNOLOGY.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <50FAEF9C.60006@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Burning a quart in 2,500 miles is not any issue at all. Especially when
using the lower viscosity oil this engine is designed for. If using regular
oil you probably should be changing it near 3,00 miles anyway. This normal
consumption is the reason oil need to be formulated not the damage the
emissions system (catalysts, O2 sensor, EGR systems).

Consider a few things. Engine oil is carried up on the cylinder walls by the
oil rings. The walls have to be kept somewhat wet or ring-cylinder damage
can occur. Well, some of the oil at the top of the cylinder is going to be
involved in the combustion process. Often you can't measure it but some will
always be burned.

The Zetec is usually used in a sedan type vehicle, geared to about 2,500 rpm
at 70 mph plus. I have driven a Focus rental vehicle and did 34.7 combined
and 39.7 mpg highway doing 70-80 mph in Florida. In the Vanagon you are both
turning faster at a much higher load. Industrial and truck engines have
service requirements based on hours, miles, and then gallons of fuel
consumed. Yes, you burn more fuel per mile you need to do oil changes,
filters, and engine overhauls more frequently. So if the engine calls for
7,500 mile change intervals in the Focus you are probably looking at <4,000
miles in the Vanagon. Of course you really need oil analysis to determine
the frequency really required and why it needs to be changed. My bet is that
this engine in the Vanagon will need oil changes due to nitration
(breakdown) from high upper ring temperatures just like the water boxer.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jon Durham
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2013 2:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Zetec Using oil

Bostig records show the engine they installed in my 85 Vanagon had 24K miles
on it.

It's using oil. After about 2500 miles I've put in 1 quart. The engine is
not leaking oil, no smoke is coming out the exhaust, and the coolant does
not have oil in it.

Is there a way to determine how the engine is using oil? And id so, what is
the fix?
--
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is
everything. What we think, we become." Buddha