Oil Consumption...

[The Big Car, T.C.]

Hey,

How many of you have to add oil to your TC's between changes? It seems that many of them seem to use oil. My 1994 had 264,000 on it when it died and it took 1 qt per 600 miles. It didn't smoke. It ran fine, and the trans puked out, not the engine. When I got it at 102,000 miles it took 1 qt per 1500 miles. My 95 seems to use a little, but not enough to add between changes. I saw a guy at the filling station that had a 1992 TC and he was dumping oil it in. He was an older fella and he said his car has taked 1 qt ever 1200 miles since new. It now had 135,000 on it he said. A guy at work has a 1995 with 210,000 on it and he says it uses 1qt in 800 miles, but it won't smoke. Why dodn't these things smoke if they use that much oil? Oh well, they run good, and oil is cheap.

[Towncar]

I typically run 3 to 4000 miles between changes. When I do finally get around to it, it's a bit low, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 qt low but never more than that.

I'm more concerned with the brownish color of the oil just before the changes.

Although my 89 Camry turns oil black between changes.

[The Big Car, T.C.]

Towncar- your car has only 58k on it right? I've never owned a TC w/ less than 80k on it. I bought my 97 w/ 81k and at 82k the intake cracked... I traded it off. My good running 4.6 Town Cars have all had over 100,000 miles on them when I purchace them. They all have kept the oil clean and if you look down the filler hole, they look nice inside. Who, knows... if they start and run I guess thats cool. If the smoke blue and look like the Uncle Buck Mercury Marquis, then you gotta junk em.

[Towncar]

Actually I just turned over 53k the other day...

Glad to hear these monsters will go into the 200k range !!

[1williamj]

My oil pressure sensor used to leak, after changing it my oil consumption quit. I have an 89 with 140,000.
This part is on the driver side of car connected to the block near the bottom of the power steering pump. there is a wire running through the middle of it. I think it was like a $10 dollar item.

[SUERED]

Check site LincolnsOnline for archives on valve stem seal leaks. The mid 90s towncars are notorious for valve stem seal failure after 100,000 miles. You burn mucho oil just as you describe--through the tailpipe. I have seen many forum discussions on it. They can be replaced but you have to find that info elsewhere. The seals probably cost next to nothing. It's tearing apart the top of the engine that is costly. I hope I got the descriptions right.

JR