292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Elephanthead · 03-20-2009, 12:25 PM

What are the usual suspects for this much oil leakage/usage? It looks to be a later model 292, electric choke, hei distributor, where is the oil leaking out of? does the rear main seal on these leak that badly, side inspection covers, valve cover? Should I buy gaskets or use the right stuff? I don't notice any smoke and the thing runs like a beast, just always needs oil. The emission stuff is not plugged off or hooked to a pump if that makes a difference.

BCOWANWHEELS · 03-20-2009, 12:39 PM

if its a hi-milage engine its worn out and alot of blow by. do a compression test and see what you,ve got.
jmo
bob

mr48chev · 03-20-2009, 12:56 PM

Yep to wnat bcowanwheels said. Check for blowby and then check the pcv valve to make sure it is working.

Lots of blowby means pressure getting past the rings and an overhaul is due. Plugged pcv valve just doesn't get the fumes and pressure out of the crankcase and contributes to leaks.

I'd run down to the local carwash (if you don't have a pressure washer) and wash the engine compartment and engine really well and then check for leaks. If it is going through oil that fast I don't think you will have to look too hard to find the leak or leaks.
On engines this old you can expect to have to deal with leaks as a normal part of maintenance.
I'd plan on changing the valve cover, side cover, and pan gaskets along with changing the front and rear seals.

Elephanthead · 03-20-2009, 01:14 PM

Well shiznet, it's not worth rebuilding, I don't get a pool of oil on the driveway so it must be rings. I guess I treat it like a two stroke and buy oil by the 55 gallon barrel.

**El Jay** · 03-20-2009, 02:03 PM

What kind of oil are you using?
If you want to buy a few more miles you could go to something like a straight 50 wt. racing oil.

I'm almost, but not quite, embarrassed to admit this, but I used to have a Vega, fun little car to drive. But towards the end it was using so much oil, I mixed 50 wt racing oil with 90 wt gear lube (I got the gear lube free) 50%/50%.
I DO NOT recommend doing this!

Dark Knight · 03-20-2009, 02:37 PM

check the rear of the valve cover. These old sixes have a bad habit of leaking there.

Tx Firefighter · 03-20-2009, 05:13 PM

That big of a leak sounds like an oil pressure sending unit or guage tube. Look on the passenger side of the engine right above the rear side cover. They will leak like crazy when they fail.

**El Jay** · 03-20-2009, 05:30 PM

I'm just sitting here ruminating.

I'm beginning to wonder if he meant 300 miles, instead of 30 miles?

If he was leaking that much there would be huge spots under the truck & the bottom of the truck would more than "well lubricated".
And if there was that much blowby how far could he run before fouling plugs?

boilrman · 03-20-2009, 08:04 PM

I had a v8 do the same thing. Only I fouled 2 plugs in the #8 cylinder within that time frame as well. Didnt smoke at all. tore it down, reringed the pistons, new bearings on the crank and pistons and slapped it back together. ran like a champ. Not the best way to do it, but definitely a budget saver.

westofb · 03-20-2009, 10:13 PM

I also had similar prob with 350 crate motor with less than 1000 miles on it, it would use a quart about every 40 miles. It was clean with no visible leaks, fouled plugs, or smoking exhaust. Thought I had a bum engine, took off the intake and is was sucking oil from lifter valley. Just to try it, put in new gasket and no more oil loss, I thought that it was weird to burn that much oil with no smoke in the exhaust. I know this is a little off the subject, but perhaps engine is not as bad off as you think, I would check pcv valve first (real cheap). Not really sure what else it would be on a 6 banger...never messed with them too much....good luck with your truck!

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 03-21-2009, 07:10 AM

I had a similar gripe on my last 292 after about [only] 200,000 miles. Besides the obvious ring blow-by -- on disassembly we found that the harmonic balancer was out of balance and had worn a groove thru the timing gear cover on the high side. Around town it was allright, but when I ran it on the freeway, the higher oil pressure forced the oil out the hole. I noticed it was always a quart low after 60 miles on the road at speed.
The 292 can't handle high RPMs in stock form. It was designed as a work truck engine. Five grand is redline. One symptom is the HB "walking".
I was on the 50 weight diet, myself. My new L6 runs SAE 30.

**special-K** · 03-21-2009, 09:40 AM

It could be leaking "only" under pressure,so it won`t leak when parked or maybe not at idle.But,you`d have drips and it would be wet from the leak-back.If you`re burning that much you`d see smoke and your tail end would have dirt stuck to it.The tail of your exhaust pipe would be wet and black,as well as any bodywork nearby.

Elephanthead · 03-21-2009, 10:50 AM

I am thinking the leak is coming out of the rear passenger side, it only comes out when running, since the brakes didn't work when I got it, this is my first real driving, and it is 30 miles. I am convinced it is not blow by, it uses way too much. To cover all my bases I am regasketing the valve cover, inspection covers, examining and or replacing oil sending unit. I parked on a dry spot after driving a long way and enough oil had collected on the block to drip and give me an idea where it came from.

03-20-2009, 12:25 PM	#1
Elephanthead Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 187	292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles What are the usual suspects for this much oil leakage/usage? It looks to be a later model 292, electric choke, hei distributor, where is the oil leaking out of? does the rear main seal on these leak that badly, side inspection covers, valve cover? Should I buy gaskets or use the right stuff? I don't notice any smoke and the thing runs like a beast, just always needs oil. The emission stuff is not plugged off or hooked to a pump if that makes a difference.

03-20-2009, 12:39 PM	#2
BCOWANWHEELS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: KINGSPORT,TN. Posts: 3,035	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles if its a hi-milage engine its worn out and alot of blow by. do a compression test and see what you,ve got. jmo bob __________________ I BELIEVE IN JOHN 3:16

03-20-2009, 12:56 PM	#3
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,451	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles Yep to wnat bcowanwheels said. Check for blowby and then check the pcv valve to make sure it is working. Lots of blowby means pressure getting past the rings and an overhaul is due. Plugged pcv valve just doesn't get the fumes and pressure out of the crankcase and contributes to leaks. I'd run down to the local carwash (if you don't have a pressure washer) and wash the engine compartment and engine really well and then check for leaks. If it is going through oil that fast I don't think you will have to look too hard to find the leak or leaks. On engines this old you can expect to have to deal with leaks as a normal part of maintenance. I'd plan on changing the valve cover, side cover, and pan gaskets along with changing the front and rear seals.

03-20-2009, 01:14 PM	#4
Elephanthead Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 187	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles Well shiznet, it's not worth rebuilding, I don't get a pool of oil on the driveway so it must be rings. I guess I treat it like a two stroke and buy oil by the 55 gallon barrel.

03-20-2009, 02:03 PM	#5
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles What kind of oil are you using? If you want to buy a few more miles you could go to something like a straight 50 wt. racing oil. I'm almost, but not quite, embarrassed to admit this, but I used to have a Vega, fun little car to drive. But towards the end it was using so much oil, I mixed 50 wt racing oil with 90 wt gear lube (I got the gear lube free) 50%/50%. I DO NOT recommend doing this! __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

03-20-2009, 02:37 PM	#6
Dark Knight Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleak, Texas Posts: 420	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles check the rear of the valve cover. These old sixes have a bad habit of leaking there.

03-20-2009, 05:13 PM	#7
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles That big of a leak sounds like an oil pressure sending unit or guage tube. Look on the passenger side of the engine right above the rear side cover. They will leak like crazy when they fail. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

03-20-2009, 05:30 PM	#8
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles I'm just sitting here ruminating. I'm beginning to wonder if he meant 300 miles, instead of 30 miles? If he was leaking that much there would be huge spots under the truck & the bottom of the truck would more than "well lubricated". And if there was that much blowby how far could he run before fouling plugs? __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

03-20-2009, 08:04 PM	#9
boilrman 70 Chevy 3/4t Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Kokomo,IN USA Posts: 1,230	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles I had a v8 do the same thing. Only I fouled 2 plugs in the #8 cylinder within that time frame as well. Didnt smoke at all. tore it down, reringed the pistons, new bearings on the crank and pistons and slapped it back together. ran like a champ. Not the best way to do it, but definitely a budget saver. __________________ Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. 1998 Yamaha V-Star 650 1970 Chevy 3/4t, I6 (rebuilt), 4 speed Kokomo,IN

03-20-2009, 10:13 PM	#10
westofb I really hate wet sanding! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brookfield, MO Posts: 601	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles I also had similar prob with 350 crate motor with less than 1000 miles on it, it would use a quart about every 40 miles. It was clean with no visible leaks, fouled plugs, or smoking exhaust. Thought I had a bum engine, took off the intake and is was sucking oil from lifter valley. Just to try it, put in new gasket and no more oil loss, I thought that it was weird to burn that much oil with no smoke in the exhaust. I know this is a little off the subject, but perhaps engine is not as bad off as you think, I would check pcv valve first (real cheap). Not really sure what else it would be on a 6 banger...never messed with them too much....good luck with your truck!

03-21-2009, 07:10 AM	#11
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,208	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles I had a similar gripe on my last 292 after about [only] 200,000 miles. Besides the obvious ring blow-by -- on disassembly we found that the harmonic balancer was out of balance and had worn a groove thru the timing gear cover on the high side. Around town it was allright, but when I ran it on the freeway, the higher oil pressure forced the oil out the hole. I noticed it was always a quart low after 60 miles on the road at speed. The 292 can't handle high RPMs in stock form. It was designed as a work truck engine. Five grand is redline. One symptom is the HB "walking". I was on the 50 weight diet, myself. My new L6 runs SAE 30. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not. Last edited by '68OrangeSunshine; 03-21-2009 at 07:12 AM.

03-21-2009, 09:40 AM	#12
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles It could be leaking "only" under pressure,so it won`t leak when parked or maybe not at idle.But,you`d have drips and it would be wet from the leak-back.If you`re burning that much you`d see smoke and your tail end would have dirt stuck to it.The tail of your exhaust pipe would be wet and black,as well as any bodywork nearby. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-21-2009, 10:50 AM	#13
Elephanthead Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 187	Re: 292 using/leaking a quart every 30 miles I am thinking the leak is coming out of the rear passenger side, it only comes out when running, since the brakes didn't work when I got it, this is my first real driving, and it is 30 miles. I am convinced it is not blow by, it uses way too much. To cover all my bases I am regasketing the valve cover, inspection covers, examining and or replacing oil sending unit. I parked on a dry spot after driving a long way and enough oil had collected on the block to drip and give me an idea where it came from.



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