97 lesabre excess oil consumption

[john4759]

Hi
I'm new to this forum, I tried doing a search but found nothing. So if this topic has been covered please bear with me.
I have a 97 lesabre I bought for my son about a year ago. It had about 120,000 on it. It was a one owner car and very well maintained. It runs great except for one thing, it uses an unbelieveable amount of oil. About 2-3 quarts every 2 -3 hundred miles. There are no leaks anywhere, and I don't see any in the coolant. I have noticed some blue smoke at start up, I assume valve seals. But this would not account for so much oil use. My question is could all the intake problems they have had be the cause? I have only heard about coolant loss. Any info would be a help.
Thanks

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. Wrong or stuck pcv is one possibility, leaking lower intake gaskets, oil can be drawn into the intake manifold up thru the inside end bolts also. I have a 98 3800 that has 250k that uses about 1,500/qt., but I will say none of the stated issues usually cause this type of usage.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by john4759

Hi
I'm new to this forum, I tried doing a search but found nothing. So if this topic has been covered please bear with me.

I have a 97 lesabre I bought for my son about a year ago. It had about 120,000 on it. It was a one owner car and very well maintained. It runs great except for one thing, it uses an unbelieveable amount of oil. About 2-3 quarts every 2 -3 hundred miles. There are no leaks anywhere, and I don't see any in the coolant. I have noticed some blue smoke at start up, I assume valve seals. But this would not account for so much oil use. My question is could all the intake problems they have had be the cause? I have only heard about coolant loss. Any info would be a help.
Thanks

ARe you sure it was well maintained by original owner? Good oil brands? Regular changes?

PCV valve would be my next check. It's an easy replacement. Be sure both o-rings are on it. If you take off the oil cap with the engine running, is there a strong suction indicating an o-ring is missing?

Valve seals are one choice.

People's opinion on additives vary, but I also would add a quart of Rislone and drive it a few hundred miles gently then drain and refill with good oil. My opinion is that it frees up stuck rings nicely. The additives in fresh oil mean that additives are not needed. But I use Rislone myself about twice a year but add about 1/2 quart before an oil change.

By comparison my 98 leSabre has had oil changes from 2500 to 4000 miles with a good brand of oil that's been on sale at stores through its life. It has 165000 miles and uses about a quart in 1500-1800 miles.

Change your oil and carefully check level. Then drive car and monitor oil usage.

[john4759]

Thanks,

I already checked and replaced the PCV. That didn't help, I'm leaning towards intake gaskets, just because the oil seems to disappear.
I also have a '02 lesabre with 156,000 on it and it uses no oil. Go figure.