06 Mz3 GT severe vibration under engine load

[Z242Pilot]

well my mazda 3 developed a vibration today that shakes the whole car, but is only noticable while the engine is under load(foot on gas) this happens at low speed (10-60kph). i have looked under the front of the car as that is where i think the vibration is coming from, but nothing seems out of place. this car was bought used last holiday and has had a slight vibration that was only noticable above 80kph. car also seems to burn oil. (no blue smoke, but less and less oil). i know the breed as a whole isn't bad, but i am less than pleased with this one, any ideas what might b wrong?

thanks for any help
Dave

[Z242Pilot]

should probably add that this is the 2.3 with about 160,000km

[krimsalt]

Sounds like an engine mount has gone bad

[Kiyomi]

engine mount and go to a higher grade of oil (temporary fix)

[Harbour Rat]

I agree on the motor mount. Check the passenger side mount, near the coolant reservoir, if you see stains on the strut tower like fluid has been leaking then the fluid filled mount has lost its magic juice.

For the oil burning there are numerous threads I am too lazy to search for or link. I've posted my pet theory on the issue in several - the PCV valve. This is a pain in the nuts to replace but if it is sticking then thicker oil won't really help, unless maybe if you go to 20W50 or straight 50, neither of which I'd recommend in summer and definitely a no-go for winter use. Even so, if the PCV valve is allowing oil to pass then it won't matter what you put in the crankcase, it will get sucked out and your engine will eat itself, probably soon.

It is also possible the plastic oil filter cartridge housing is cracked. A few people have had this issue as the cause for oil loss. The potential for sudden engine destruction is probably higher in this case than with the PCV valve because all the oil will pump out quicker than dog can lick itself when this part fails. But it is cheap and easy to diagnose and fix. Just look at the oil filter housing and underside of the engine and car. If it is covered in oil and/or the filter cap is visibly cracked then use another vehicle to go to the dealer and buy a new part and replace it immediately.

Could just be a leaking O-ring on the filter housing too. Again, a cheap easy fix, just change the filter and housing O-rings.

[Z242Pilot]

I will have them check the engine mount when it is brought in later this week, unfortunately it doesen't seem i can drive it to north bay for school on the 3rd so i will be trading vehicles with my parents for a week. as for the oil, i have never found any oil under the car, so i suspect it is being burned, the exhaust pipe has some oil in it, so i am thinking rings or vales, neither one is a cheap fix.

[Harbour Rat]

Yes, if there is no oil under the car and there is soil in the tailpipe then some sort of internal consumption is the likely problem. Hopefully it is just the PCV valve - as expensive as it may be to replace it is probably less than 10% of the cost of replacing or rebuilding a worn out engine.

[O1Kanoby]

if there is oil in the exhaust pipe then the piston rings on one (maybe more) of you piston heads has broken.

[Z242Pilot]

apparently my drive shaft was bent....

[Z242Pilot]

car is all happy now aside from the oil consumption