Alright, check this out. First things first. I changed the oil and filter on my car, and I went from valvoline vr1 racing 20w50 to like quaker state 20w50. Well, after I changed the oil, it like started smoking REALLY badly. It would smoke out like crazy, then it would FINALLY clear up once it got warm. Well, I check it tonight (and it has only been like three days), and I am like three quarts low!!!!!!!! The thing is, is that I get the same mileage as I always got, I have just as much power as I've always had, and the car runs fine. I just don't see why and how it could be burning that much oil and smoking that much. I thought that if my apex seals were shot, then I would be getting crappy mileage and having a power loss. My mechanic told me that it could be the fact that I changed kinds. Could this be true?

Thanks in advance!
<>< <>< Matt ><> ><>

 

Quaker state SUCKS. Go back to what you were using before. If it was the apex seals it wouldn't be smoking.

BTW I've been told to use nothing but Havoline or Castrol GTX in rotaries, because they are the most oil seal friendly oils out there. I've used them with zero problems. There was a thread on Mobil 1 and it also looks very promising. I've also been told that Pennzoil and Quaker State are the two worst oils you could possibly put in the rotary, so I'll bet that's why your engine suddenly started smoking.

 

Man, that just sucks! Peejay is right about avoiding certain brands. I swear by mobil 1. I doubt that by just changing oil you are smoking so bad. Gotta be an oil seal if you are 3 quarts low!

 

The burning definitly sounds like an oil seal has gone bad.

Also check the oil cooler, my oil cooler is leaking oil all over the place right now (along with my transmission and a part of my coolant seal for the engine...YAR rebuilt only 20k ago and already leaking coolant...lucky for me it is only about a tablespoon a year right now and it is leaking OUT of the engine and not INTO the engine =)

 

Are you guys talking about Mobil 1 synthetic? I remember reading somewhere that there was some kind of procedure for switching a rotary over to synthetic.

 

I use mobile one Tri-Synthetic...but I also change oils ever 1800-2000 miles

 

Hey where is the oil cooler and how do I check it for leaks? Thanks alot.

 

It's the first radiator looking thing in the the mouth of the front fascia. It has two lines on the far right of it. When those lines leak they tend to make the engine bay and underside of the car quite juicy.

 

Hmm...sounds like my car. I guess I should check that, lol. Thanks.

 

Umm, look on the ground perhaps?