My situation in a nutshell: (B18B1 OBD2b LS)
a. - Burns about 1qt (Valvoline maxlife 10w30) every 1000 miles
b. - Engine has 116xxx miles but burns roughly the same amount since i started looking around 50xxx miles.
c. - I change oil and filter (K&N or Mobil, depends on avail.) every 3000 miles or less
d. - Compression reads nominal 195 psi across the board
e. - Leakdown cyl 1. 7% 2. 19% 3. 7% 4. 8%

Prior posts/threads, professional opinions, literature etc. point to:
1. Valve seals, particularly intake
2. Worn/Defective oil control rings on pistons

I'm going to throw on my gutted cat tomorrow, to improve the visibility and amount of burnt smoke coming out of the exhaust. I'm also borrowing [626]95-GSR's catch can.

Questions about blue smoke: (verify these)
1. Valve seals - smoke when cold start up, high intake vacuum events (downshifts, high rpm shifts, etc)
2. Oil control rings - all the time??? i dont know that one

Thanks guys. Please help.

 

If the catch can reveals that there is excessive blowby (i fill the can up fast), is it possible to single out valve seals and/or bad rings? My previous knowledge says no, but what do you guys think?

 

anyone?

 

when I had a SOHC d15 boosted I noticed that after I changed out the valve seals my comsumption went way down. BUT it still burned a lil bit cause I would drive around in high rpms (freeway at 4k) it was only a 4speed base model.

after you change out the valve seals run another leakdown test and see how the numbers change..that would be your best bet, as well as most cost effictive. why spend the money on changing out your rings when you arent sure if its either or...GL