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Oil Loss with no leaks or Smoke

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czm View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 Jul 16 at 12:00
hi all 
Finished my EJ25 Subaru conversion a few weeks ago on my 1985 VW T3.
Had the heads skimmed, replaced all gaskets/seals ect new water pump, cambelt ect.

Been running sweet and very happy however I seem to be losing oil somewhere.
Checked yesterday and almost empty!
I got it up on the lift had a REALLY good look and no leaks whatsoever. Dry as a bone.
Also point of note is there is zero smoke form the exhaust. HAve had a friend follow me and tried cold, warm, redline, up hill the lot. Nothing.

So where the chuff is the oil going. I can only think it is getting burnt some where but with no loss in performance and no smoke I am scratching my head here.

Any help/info would be great 
Thanks
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nick1973 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nick1973 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 16 at 11:26
My money would be on the rocker gasket
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ob1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ob1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 16 at 11:55
No leaks. No smoke. Good performance.

The only explanation I'm afraid is its being burnt - glazed bores or piston rings shot in one or more cylinders.

Sorry but if it ain't leaking out then it's being burnt. No other logical explanation is there?

If the oil scraper rings fail then you leave a thin glaze of oil on each cylinder on every stroke which is then burnt. Not enough to produce smoke but think how many times a second that's happening in each cylinder? That's where your oils going...

That's my guess!

Edited by ob1 - 14 Jul 16 at 11:58
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czm View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote czm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 16 at 09:44
Thanks for the input guys

I have now checked the compression on all cylinder and all around 200psi and all within about 3% of each other.
That rules out worn rings are bad valve seats/seals.

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ob1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ob1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 16 at 19:01
There's no turbo on that I presume?

Valve stem oil seals? If it's not leaking it must be being burnt! Can't just vanish...
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ob1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ob1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 16 at 19:03
How much oil are you losing?
You don't actually say... Litres per mile?

My old knackered JX use to burn a litre of oil every 400 miles! No smoke as such just one poorly oil scraper and a scored cylinder wall.

Edited by ob1 - 27 Jul 16 at 19:03
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Tiggerandfish View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tiggerandfish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jul 16 at 21:05
Just a thought - what's the coolant like ? I'm guessing you've checked there's no oil contamination ?
Simon
1985 LT 28 2.4D
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