Oil problem

[andrew21]

hey folks,
just got this sweet little '89 festiva, and got it running nice again after putting in a new distributor/ignition module, thanks to the help of folks on here. It's running great except, after taking it out on the highway and driving a couple hundred miles, it's now really leaking oil, coming out all over the valve cover. There's oil getting in the air filter compartment and I think then seeping out onto the valve cover (i'm not totally sure that's the only place it's coming from yet). I replaced the PCV valve. Any ideas from you folks?
andrew

[blindcornbread]

Waiting to hear the answer. I have the same problem!

[hofficergrover]

the oil control rings are bad mine did that it needs new piston rings thats your best bet or teh pvc valve is pluged in the intake or it may be bad

[WmWatt]

Was the PCV valve dry or oily?

[sanjeet]

If you have a mechanical pump that is the most probable cause, my Festy had this problem and it took me a while to diagnose, I had replaced the rocker cover seal twice and in the end I placed cardboard around the engine bay...

What happened?

The mechanical fuel pumps rubber diaphragm had a small hole and was pumping oil out and releasing it, the oil was all over the place, the mechanical pump has a small hole allowing the oil out in the casting, The parts are interchangeable but just check the Mazda one as I think it may have a longer cam follower

[jglutz]

If the car drives well...accelerates up hill...down shifts well...I would not sweat the rings or oil pump yet.

Drain the oil while the engine is hot...change the oil filter...and refill with some fresh oil. One or two additional oil changes at 250 plus miles each may helpo drain any bad oil sludge in the engine.

Definetly chang the PCV and your probalbly looking at a ne valve cover gasket.

[ejp2fast]

where is the oil leaking from?

[hofficergrover]

he said its going into the air cleaner my car did the same thing but alot worse like half hour it would be bone dry of oil and his case sounds just like it and mine never stugled until one random week and it was done.

[j-stauf7]

Seems like rings, but check the PCV valve first.

[andrew21]

hmmm....

thanks for all the ideas, guys. I did already replace the PCV valve, and I changed the oil and the filter. I cleaned off the engine really well and am watching again to see if I can isolate for sure where all the oil is coming from. I cleaned out the oil from air filter compartment, and one day later, there's oil in there. It seems to be seeping out from there, but maybe not as much as before. I'm not totally convinced yet that thats' the only place oil is coming from. I did one of those oil treatments from the store that you pour in with the oil to help the seals and some of the problems of blowby. I'm wondering if those things I did could possibly help with a little bit of time, since the car had been sitting for two years. Maybe the seals need to recondition themselves and it'll improve a little? Wishful, I know, but seems worthwhile while I'm still figuring out other ideas. I'll keep you all updated.

[andrew21]

more

thanks for the idea, Joe. It does have good power up hills and everything, downshifts well. Everything seems strong.