VR6 Oil Use, Oil Leaks, Help!

[wazza 0]

Hello!

 

I'm getting a little more concerned about the amount of oil my VR6 is using. I get a small puff of blue smoke when i boot it, but this seems to be quite usual looking at other posts? But i seem to be re-filling the oil even every 300-500 miles sometimes! This can't be right?!

 

I have also noticed a small trace of oil on the left hand side of the engine block, which seems to be coming from a circular seal in the block. This is only a trace and i'm not leaving any traces of oil on my driveway.

 

The water levels are unchanged so think head gasket is ok, and i'm getting hold of a spark plug tool this weekend so i can take a look at the condition of the plugs.

 

The VW specialist who sold me the car have said they'll take a look at it, but also suggested changing to a thicker oil - and non synthetic - i'm using 10-40 part synthetic GTX at the moment - they say they only use VW oil these days.

 

I've also recently noticed that performance at lower revs is slightly down, the car isn't pulling as well as it used to, and the tappets are a little more noticable these days, or would it be the timing chains?

 

Has anyone got any ideas or general oil use advice? Some time ago i did see some topics on the oiling up of cylinder No. 6? However i can't find it anymore.

 

Please help - i'm looking to take the car down to Spain in September and need to fix this soon!

 

Wazza

 

'94 VR6

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Oh dear and welcome to the forum.

 

Unfortunately your situation is one that many VR6 owners face and in particular, the Corrado! Why the 2.9 engine suffers more than the 2.8 Golf is yet unknown, but we have a few theories, such as:- higher rev limit than the Golf, driven harder than the Golf, smaller engine bay (runs hotter) and some kind of bore defect / tiny water cooling galleries around 1 and 6.

 

A lot of people are also junking the 12V engine infavour of a s/hand 24V engine as it's cheaper to source and install than rebuilding a 12V professionally!

 

Anyway, how much every 300-400 miles? A litre? If so then that is very bad. Mine uses a litre over about 4000 miles by comparison, but I had the head rebuilt at 93K as the guides had gone. Engine is on 136,500 now.

 

Thicker oil.....definitely. Don't use Quantum oil from the dealer if yours is burning it, it's too thin for old VR6s. I use Silkolene 10W/50 fully synth and it's all but stopped smoking on the over-run. You can buy that from http://www.opieoils.co.uk. It's not cheap but then decent stuff seldom is in this world.

 

Bottom line mate, is you're looking at a head rebuild/thicker oil at best and a complete rebuild at worst.

[madscientist 0]

I also have a small oil leak from the seal you mention. Its the rockercover cam seal (i think thats what they call it?). Its only a cheap part but you will have to move all the rest of the stuff out of the way to take the rocker cover off. The last person to take it off either didnt seat it properly or over tightened the rocker cover nuts.

[big_chris1981 0]

mine is having the head rebuilt as we speak, exhaust valve guides were deed.......going to do 5k miles on the quantum that ive already bought for it, and then switch to the silkolene as kev suggests.

 

oh, and my rocker cover gasket was knakered too.....peeing oil out onto the dizzy....

[double-6s 0]

I hate to say it mate but from the sound of it that oil seal is the least of your problems :(

 

Welcome to the (bad) club

[big_chris1981 0]

its not soooo bad...just not cheap.

[double-6s 0]

thats if its just the head.

 

i can't see any way of describing a full rebuild other than bad (and its derivatives)?

[big_chris1981 0]

ah yeah, a full rebuild is past bad and out the other side..........£600 odd of parts alone and thats if you can get away with rehoning the bores and reusing the old pistons and rods....

[Henny 0]

double-6s, how about describing it as "an opportunity for upgrade"? ;) :lol:

[double-6s 0]

thats one way of looking at it mate! :)

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Personally, when my block goes south, I'll be tracking down a brand new 2.8 lump as the 2.9 sucks! I'm sure a brand spanker 2.9 went for a cheap sum on the gay recently? So there must be some 2.8s out there still.... can't be fagged with the 24V thing tbh.

[double-6s 0]

here here. i personally didn't think it was worth it.

 

there was a spankers block and pistons on the gay last week mate.

[Critical_Mass 10]

call me stupid...... stupid

 

but what IS "over run"

[eatthis 0]

over run is when u pootle down hill off the throttle in gear or come off the throttle cant remember which lol