Hemi issues. Help me diagnose. Coolant, oil. Etc

[Topcat]

Do you know how many miles are on the Hemi?

[anlauto]

I think he said 900 miles....
What I suggested is just one idea of a possible "quick fix" it may not be the proper solution to the oil burning.
Not sure of any brand engine conditioner 

[timbbuc2]

Before I would tear into a engine with only 900 miles, which is not knocking with only visible smoke on start-up I would do what Alan said. And put some miles on it, if not miles letting it run for long periods of time.
 
And keep a eye on the oil level

[MopSquad]

Thx everyone! I'll try the Lucas oil conditioner and see how it affects the oil consumption.  Since I've attempted 3 flushes already of the coolant, and significant rust still prevails, I'll get a local garage to complete.

[MopSquad]

The car looks great ... but maybe it's really a lemon underneath that glossy paint ... I could do you a favor and take it off your hands for you if you want to start over with something else ...

Thank you for your insight and thoughtfulness.  And your sacrifice to take this lemon off my hands. Lol

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've been thinking about your coolant issue. I remember "back in the day" my girlfriend (now wife) has a mustang with lots of rust /coolant. Back then you could buy a flushing T that you could attach a garden hose too. I seem remember letting that hose run an hour before I got clear water out of it. Then drain and fill with coolant/rust inhibitor (in your case?) No clue if you can still buy those but I'm sure you could make one. Over the years I've prolly sent a few thousand to the shredder.

[Finoke]

On the oil I'd be pulling the intake... Hemi intake gaskets are prone to failing in the proper torque sequence isn't followed... Seen plenty of engines use a quart in 100 miles & still the plugs look pretty clean....

I've had my hemi in 2 cars over the last 10 years. The biggest thing to check before buying anybodys hemi  car is the health of the engine. They can be tricky to assemble and dial in. Even reputable builders let a few out to the public that have issues. It doesn't mean you have a lemon. It just means you need to dig in over the winter and do some engine diagnostics.

That being said I can't agree with Wild R/T enough as far as oil loss. Stock hemi intakes / heads have a small mating surface on the valley side and are hard to seal. Poor idle quality or poor vacuum at idle is a good indication. They will pull oil up through the gasket undetected. Check the torque in inch lbs now in the proper torque sequence.

Also, like you said already. Do a compression test and a leak down test. With 900 miles on the engine the rings should be set. Both are easy to do and will eliminate a lot of guessing.

[MopSquad]

Thx guys.  Will probably do the compression test this weekend. Leak down as well if I have time.

[1 Wild R/T]

Thing is compression & leak down really won't tell you much, the oil getting in the cylinder will seat a ring issue, valve guides don't effect cranking compression... What a compression test will show you is a burned valve, a head gasket... Not an oil consumption issue...   

Alan mentioned valve seals & thats a possibility but honestly the guides would have to be toasted to use a qt of oil every 100 miles... If you do decide to dig into the valve seals don't work about the exhaust seals, they are under pressure, lots of engines don't even run exhaust valve seals...The intake seals are under vacuum & try to draw oil into the combustion chamber.. But thats also why an intake gasket will draw so much oil, it's under vacuum... And I've seen a intake gasket cause minimal drivability issues while burning a qt of oil in 20 miles... Why? Cause the oil seals the intake leak & you don't induce enough air to effect how the engine runs.....

[anlauto]

Would there be a trail of constant blue smoke if that was the case ?

[brads70]

Have you pulled the spark plugs? If oily on only one cylinder or one side would narrow things down. I've had a bad PVC valve suck a lot of oil before also. Valve covers have the proper baffles? 

[MopSquad]

Have you pulled the spark plugs? If oily on only one cylinder or one side would narrow things down. I've had a bad PVC valve suck a lot of oil before also. Valve covers have the proper baffles? 

I've pulled a plug but I'm not versed in the ways of the hemi.  The plug had fresh oil on it but was not fouled.  Could it just be the oil sitting on the head (dripping onto the plug on the way out)?  Other OHV engines have the plug into the side of the head.

Compression test and leak down - just for my own peace of mind.

[Finoke]

I was going to say the same thing. Do the compression test and leak down. Easy to do.

Also check the intake torque value. I had to retorque a dozen times before success. Even then proper torque wont solve a leak if you need a thicker gasket or the geometry would be off a hair.

Also it's possible when your pulling plugs to see fresh oil. Mine always did that until I bought and installed hemi spark plug tube seals.



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[RzeroB]

I've pulled a plug but I'm not versed in the ways of the hemi.  The plug had fresh oil on it but was not fouled.  Could it just be the oil sitting on the head (dripping onto the plug on the way out)?  Other OHV engines have the plug into the side of the head.

fresh but not fouled? Hmmm? Does your elephant have a hot aftermarket ignition system like a MSD 6 or 7 on it? Maybe the hot ignition system is able to disguise the tell-tale signs of oil burning (fouled plugs, blue exhaust haze, etc) by being able to more thoroughly burn the oil?

[brads70]

I've pulled a plug but I'm not versed in the ways of the hemi.  The plug had fresh oil on it but was not fouled.  Could it just be the oil sitting on the head (dripping onto the plug on the way out)?  Other OHV engines have the plug into the side of the head.

Compression test and leak down - just for my own peace of mind.

"I've pulled a plug " I'll assume just one plug? Id pull them all. Make a cardboard holder with holes for the plugs, mark each cylinder 1-8 then post a picture here of what you find?