re: V6 oil consumption

[Daniel Jones <captaudi@ma.ultranet.com>]

At 01:51 PM 1/14/99 -0700, you wrote:
>	I have a 1996 A6Q Wagon and I am experiencing the same oil
>consumption.   I too have no apparent leaks and have noticed a light black
>coating on the back of the car, so I believe that it is leaking through the
>valves or something and vaporizing in the cat.   I have very low miles on my
>car and the I use about a quart every 3000 miles.   Any ideas on how to fix?
>
>
>	One quart in 3k is considered minimal on these engines,  if somone asked
me to fix this I would tell them there is not much that can done.  Also I
dought if this is the cause of the black residue on your car.  Even cars
that are burning 1qt per 400-500 miles don't exhibit this.  You say you
have no apparent leaks,  but on this engine leaks can hide themselves.  The
valley pan under the intake can leak and not really be seen,  and the oil
pans (2) have a lot of surfaces that can leak.  The last common leak is a
relief valve plug on the face of the oil pump,  usually loose.  This can't
be seen unless the timing belt is removed.  Although just in front of the
crank pulley is a flat section of the oil pan that often will show oil that
comes from this and can be seen easily.

HTH
Daniel Jones