I got asked this today and didn't have a good answer.

If a high mileage engine is burning oil, will switching to another weight help?
Will switching to synthetic help (I say no to that one)
What will help?

It burns ~1 qt every 1000miles

 

t/adreams,

All that switching oil weight will do is delay the inevitable. The problem could be either leaky valve seals or piston rings giving out. The idea is that switching oil will maybe slow the burn rate down but honestly its all in due time that its going to burn enough oil where he won't be able to pass smog any more.

RabiC.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I was hoping against rings, but I think thats a lost cause. Its about time the engine gets an overhaul. It has 175k on it. Gotta love it.

 

If your valve seals are shot, don't even bother replacing them. Odds are then the guides are bad and will leak fuel and exhaust back up and deteoriate the new ones.

How is your compression?