Is it normal for a 1996 3,5 V6 to use 1 pint of oil for every 2 tanks of feul? His got 328000km on the clock and I feel safe driving to London in him. His also got a little tappet noise but nothing serious I hope. The compression is like new according to all tests.
Tjoka,Tjoka wrote:Is it normal for a 1996 3,5 V6 to use 1 pint of oil for every 2 tanks of fuel? His got 328000km on the clock and I feel safe driving to London in him. His also got a little tappet noise but nothing serious I hope. The compression is like new according to all tests.
A bit of oil usage after 300000 km is quite normal. Even at 175000 mine uses a pint per 4 tanks. Make sure the sump plug doesn't leak. You'll be amazed to see how much oil can disappear through a slow leak in the sump. Watch your dipstic for water bubbles, and watch your coolant level. Once smoke clouds bellow from the engine, you may need to consider reconditioning!
The "tappet" noise you are hearing is probably the hydraulic lifters. If you do not hear it, your engine is probably off! The lifters noise is quite normal. You can replace them at high cost (24 X R100+), and only find within 30000 km that they are noisy again. Once they do not settle (noise reduces or disappears after a while) you may need to consider replacing, but rather try to sit it out to the next major work.
I believe the compression test is what you should use as guide. Keep looking at the temperatures and do another 70000 k's on it.
Last edited by tonton on Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Look out for the saltwater crossing from France! You may pick up some rust problems thereafter!Tjoka wrote:His got 328000km on the clock and I feel safe driving to London in him.
Anton
Thanks for that. There is no water in the oil I had a look there. The radiator, clutch, propshaft and gearbox was all done or replaced in the past year so I believe all is well on Simsons side.
LOL Anton there is some rust and that is the next big job on the list. 
Do you get a bit of a plume of smoke when you pull away after idling for a while or when getting back on the accelerator after coasting down a longish hill in gear? If so, I would venture a guess that it is the valve stem seals and/or valve guides that are letting some oil slip by.
The bottom ends on these motors are rock solid and can do huge mileages, but the valve stem seals don't last quite as long. If would suggest keeping an eye on the oil consumption (and obviously on the oil level) for now. You can consider replacing the valve stem seals or doing a full top end rebuild if the oil consumption gets out of hand or starts increasing rapidly.
The bottom ends on these motors are rock solid and can do huge mileages, but the valve stem seals don't last quite as long. If would suggest keeping an eye on the oil consumption (and obviously on the oil level) for now. You can consider replacing the valve stem seals or doing a full top end rebuild if the oil consumption gets out of hand or starts increasing rapidly.
Gerrit Loubser 
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
Hi all .I have a 94 swb 3500 pajero 210000km.My oil consumption was 90 percent cured by using !/2 tin of subaru upper cylinder cleaner sprayed into engine (oil filler).Adding dexron3 as a flush.blew out camcover breather pipes and used subaru cleaner sprayed into breather tubes to clean camcover breather plates'Filter replaced .Start and idle for 5mins.Turn off
engine and remove air intake pipe and spray subaru cleaner in past throttle body and into idle control valve hole.
Use a product called MBL8 which is diluted with .5lt of 10/40 oil.then top up with the rest of the oil.Start engine and spray whats left of the tin in though a vacuum point on throttle body.worked for me. use the spray every oil change.(its a product
used to dissolve carbon buildup in egr systems).Can also be used in the fuel.
engine and remove air intake pipe and spray subaru cleaner in past throttle body and into idle control valve hole.
Use a product called MBL8 which is diluted with .5lt of 10/40 oil.then top up with the rest of the oil.Start engine and spray whats left of the tin in though a vacuum point on throttle body.worked for me. use the spray every oil change.(its a product
used to dissolve carbon buildup in egr systems).Can also be used in the fuel.