Hello everyone. I have been reading posts on here for a while and now I have become a member. Great site with good information as well. I have a 72 Custom Cruiser wagon with the original 455, rebuilt with approx. 6K miles on the rebuild. It has consumed oil since the build. At first I thought it just needed a little time for everything to "seat in" but it still consumes oil. I don't see any smoke, but can smell it in the exhaust at times. Also, I pulled the plugs and all are tan to white except #7 and #2 which look more like they are rubbed down with oil,,,not dripping oil and wet but definitely not dry. The engine runs strong and has good power. It was rebuilt by a reputable machine shop/builder. I would greatly appreciate any advice as to how to troubleshoot some things before having to pull anything and take back to the machine shop. Thanks!

 

How much oil does it consume? You could possibly have some defective or not seated wires, sparkplugs, cracked dist cap, or possible intake bolts loose.


You can perform a cylinder leak down test. You may be able to borrow or rent a set up from your local parts store.

 

Hi! Welcome aboard - I see this is your first post. Nice to see you come out of lurking in the shadows.

Before you start getting a lot of advice about what to do, may I suggest you take the car back to the engine builder and show him the trouble plugs, and tell him your concerns as you've outlined them here? If he's reputable, he will address/fix the problem out of pride. No one (especially a good mechanic) wants his work picked apart by others, especially if he hasn't been given a chance to address it first hand. Yes, 455's will use oil but not huge amounts unless there's something wrong or it's being used stressfully.

If anything has to be re-machined as a result of workmanship already done, that cost shouldn't be born by you, it should be a warranty issue - period.

72 CC's are beasts. I love em.

It sounds

 

It uses about a quart every 600 miles. I have talked to the engine builder and told him about the situation. His shop is about an hour away, so it makes it a little inconvenient on my part to take the car over to him. I have thought about doing a leak down test on the two cylinders in question.

 

What is his 'unseen' diagnosis? That's a bit high on oil consumption for a new rebuild.

 

he has not given me an indication of what he thinks might be the problem. he did recommend a leak down test on the cylinders. all I have done so far is give him the information that I have provided on this thread.

 

Well from what you've posted in permalink 1, it looks like he needs to do some work on both heads.

 

Were new valve guides and seals put in? I'd assume so but that could cause oil usage also.

 

make the 1hr trip and have him do the test, sooner the better. First hand information for them will eliminate further discussion.

 

as far as the valve guides and seals,,i see valve stem seals on the invoice,,,,,not sure about the guides.

 

I think it needs to go back to the shop. Let them figure it out.

 

i agree take the trip back to the shop even though its a pain in the ***... really no sense in you trying to figure this unless it something very obvious but it could be many things and since you didnt put the engine together its best to take it back and have them figure it out. you should not be smelling any oil maybe guides or misplaced valve seals