[s-cars] So my car is burning oil?

[djdawson2 at aol.com]

Shawn,
I don't know how many miles you have on your engine, but I would be most inclined to believe it is coming from your cylinder head.  You mention that it does it on startup, and that is a typical valve guide/seal symptom.  Oil coming from the turbo seals is usually constant, and most often it will turn into a major failure quickly.
 
Cost... well, that depends on how you go about it.  You *can* replace valve stem seals with the head still installed.  Me, I would never do it that way, simply because if there is significant mileage on the engine, you can bank on the exhaust valve guides needing replacement.  Replacing the seals alone will only provide a temporary cure.
 
Total cost is going to depend on how much you do on your own.  Take the car to a shop to have the top end rebuilt, and I've heard several stories on this list that have been as high as $3500.  However, pull the head yourself, and you can reduce that a ton.  You can expect to spend about $400-500 at a machine shop for a valve job, new seals, and new guides.  Then you'll need a head set of gaskets ($150-ish).  That is the bare minimum to do the job.  At $550-650, no too bad compared to a few grand.
 
However, while you've got the head off (famous last words), I'd urge you to at least replace the timing belt and the water pump.  Other options would include idler pulley, crank seal, possibly head studs.
 
HTH,
Dave
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: ELLIEOLSEN at aol.com
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Sent: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 4:01 PM
Subject: [s-cars] So my car is burning oil?



Recently, Ingo Rautenberg  (V8 + URQ) was on a quick Central Texas  visit 
from Detroit and he mentioned that he thought that my car smoked  (blue) a 
little 
too much on startup..The car also will blow some smoke  during heavy 
acceleration.. so the million dollar question is: 
Valves or Turbo?
 
My question to you all is where do i start...
 
1) Valve seals...about WHAT DOES THAT COST? and how likely is it that I am  
having valve issues? Are there tests to see if there is leakage??
 
2) Turbo, I replaced original Turbo with a rebuilt one about 3 years ago I  
know how to replace this bugger, but this is very different from the last  
Turbo's failure ??? does this seem like typical turbo failure....here is no  
smoke 
at extended idle like my last Turbo failure???
 
 
What do you think any direction or BTDT's appreciated
 
Regards,
 
Shawn Olsen
Austin TX
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