2.3L Valve Cover Gasket - Oil Consumption

[baymoe]

Had my spark plugs recently replaced and I've noticed quite a bit of oil on the plug threads and even some of the base of the contact area where it meets the coil boots. The car has been burning/consuming a ton of oil for the past little while. If I'd have to guess, probably 1L of oil every 1000-1500km. It's ridiculous.

Seeking assistance for anyone that has replaced the valve cover gasket and whether it has help reduce oil consumption. Car currently have 180,000km.

[Reddie1337]

Changing the cover gasket isn't difficult, the problem is if you were actually loosing 1L in the valve cover alone you'd see it on the engine, and the boots would probably be FULL of oil.

[baymoe]

It was definitely wet, but not sloshing in the way you described it. I couldn't quite pinpoint the issue. Coolant looks clean and I don't see any smoke in the tailpipe.

Facing the engine, the right most piston (Cylinder 4?) was wet looking down the plug hole whereas the others were dry.

[Reddie1337]

Well, it definitely could be leaking. It would be an easy thing to fix, and possibly stop your oil issues. Do you have oil leaking other places too?

[shift8]

Replaced mine and definitely helped. Prior to that I was getting oil leaking all down the one side of the engine. Since changing it I am no longer leaking. This was last summer.

[baymoe]

No oil leaking issues externally.

It was previously leaking quite a bit by the timing chain cover near the block of the engine and Jimmy resealed it. That was about 3 years back. Perhaps the valve cover seals deteriorated during that time. Thinking back, I should have had it replaced also.

[baymoe]

Replaced mine and definitely helped. Prior to that I was getting oil leaking all down the one side of the engine. Since changing it I am no longer leaking. This was last summer.

This gives me a bit of relief knowing I wasn't the only one. How long did it take to replace it?

[shift8]

This gives me a bit of relief knowing I wasn't the only one. How long did it take to replace it?

Hard to say. Took me about a day, but I spent time cleaning the cover and preping for paint then painting it. I work from home so I think I took a couple nights to do it.

If you don't paint, maybe 2-3 hours? I'm self taught and slow as balls though :)

I just followed the instructions in the mechanics manual PDF I found online.

[baymoe]

Just changed the gaskets and everything was quite straightforward. Here's hoping this will curb my oil consumption.

http://i59.tinypic.com/2ltiz9s.jpg

It appears oil is seeping into cylinders 2 and 3. Still not confident this is the main cause for the high oil loss though.

http://i60.tinypic.com/2whp5bq.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/2vki48x.jpg

http://i61.tinypic.com/2nhgq6g.jpg

[baymoe]

Now that I think about it, is there suppose to be a bolt here? It is threaded....

http://i58.tinypic.com/kcez6d.jpg

[nepal1344]

no that's where the fords put their coolant temp sensors. Mazda doesn't use it so it's not drilled all the way down. I've had high oil consumption in the past and it seemed to always be my PCV valve. It's behind the intake manifold and a pain to change but i've had to do mine every 70-90,000 kms.

[baymoe]

no that's where the fords put their coolant temp sensors. Mazda doesn't use it so it's not drilled all the way down. I've had high oil consumption in the past and it seemed to always be my PCV valve. It's behind the intake manifold and a pain to change but i've had to do mine every 70-90,000 kms.

PCV valve was changed recently and I agree, pain in the rear to access it. What was Mazda thinking to put it there? Geez

Awesome, so nothing to be paranoid about regarding that hole. Each time I changed the sparks, I often wonder if they forgot to put an additional fastener in LOL.

[nepal1344]

the only other explanation other than that are scary engine issues...

[shift8]

the only other explanation other than that are scary engine issues...
Yay!!!! Time to rebuild the engine for mad HP :)