Greetings everyone, this is my first post here.
I have owned a Sprint and a Metro XFI previously,
and just bought a 92 Metro recently.
I am posting here because my Metro has a similar problem:
It is burning a great deal of oil, it goes through at least a quart every 100 miles; I have tried using thicker oils and a viscosity increasing oil additive and they are not effective.
It is definitely burning it, as it puts out constant bluish smoke.
The odometer reads 73K, and I tend to believe that it is 173K on the engine.
I do not believe this engine has been rebuilt or had major work done.
I just did a compression check, and all three cylinders registered solid readings of about 195.
I have pulled the PCV and it seems to work as it should.
There was some oil in the top of the throttle body when I first bought the car, but I tend to think this may be because the previous owner had overfilled the oil; it appeared to be close to a quart high.
With the solid compression ratings, I think I can rule out a problem with the rings and also with the valves and valve guides. My thinking has been that most likely I have one or more of the valve seals that have failed; due to the amount of oil consumption, I would guess that one has completely failed: like fell apart basically.
However from what I have read here, I am keeping in mind other possibilities, like the head gasket, and also I have read here about an oil pressure regulator? valve? that is mounted either in the block or head. I was wondering just exactly what would happen if this was not working? would the top of the head fill up with oil? and would the oil then back up through the PCV system and into the top of the throttle body?
I am going to start tearing it apart today, so I will let you all know what I see as I go, any suggestions or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I am also going to replace the timing belt while I am at it, since I don't know when or if it has been replaced in the past, do Metros usually require anything else replaced along with the belt, like a tensioner or guide or something?