normal or acceptable oil consumption?

[FWB]

yep.....or smoke the tires and you won't notice

[Mike Huddart]

Originally Posted by patrickt

That makes sense for oil pressure, but not oil consumption. Was that just a temporary mind-fart or am I missing something?

Actually, bearing clearance, rod side clearance and such have quite an influence on oil consumption particularly if too much clearance is compensated for with a big oil pump. Excessive oil throw off from the bearings can swamp the oil rings.
If you are running something like an Eagle bottom end you might be seeing something like .028" rod side clearance and unless your bore job is on the money then you will see heavy oil consumption. Why do they build so much clearance into those things, I reckon something like 99 % of Eagle assemblies sold will only ever be used for street use so why give you side clearance that is excessive even for race motors.
Have you mentioned what SB you have, why I ask, is a long stroke short piston stroker motor will give you problems unless your bore clearances are at a minimum. Some machinists we have come accross seem to like to give the pistons "an extra couple of thou just to be safe " and just you wait for the smoke !
Mike

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Mike Huddart

Excessive oil throw off from the bearings can swamp the oil rings.

That makes sense.

Originally Posted by Mike Huddart

Have you mentioned what SB you have, why I ask, is a long stroke short piston stroker motor will give you problems unless your bore clearances are at a minimum.

I'm not the OP -- I have an old fashioned FE, that drinks about a quart every 1500 miles or so.

[Mike Huddart]

Sorry, should have asked if anyone has mentioned what sort of SB we are discussing here.
Mike

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Mike Huddart

Sorry, should have asked if anyone has mentioned what sort of SB we are discussing here.
Mike

I just assumed it was a POS SB, like they all are....

[zrayr]

Originally Posted by D111

what might be the normal or acceptable oil consumption for these type of motors ? small block 400 to 500 hp 10 to 1 compression.

more than one quart per 1000 miles investigate. less than a quart, add oil and keep on driving.

just my opinion based on driving numerous SBF's over the past 45 years, including many of 400+ HP & 10.0:1 or higher compression.

Z.

[Dually]

you guys are pretty passionate about oil consumption......

To get back to D111 question, I think it is dependant on too many variables to suggest a one size fits all answer. Driving conditions, engines parts and assembly, type and weight of oil, etc. As long as there are no puddles of oil under the car and no plugs show visible signs of oil consumption in any cylinder, I would go with it. If I was burning 1qt, 1/2 qt or some other amount in any given mile range and I had a spark plug suggesting I had an oil conrol problem in that cylinder, the consumption would be abnormal and I would fix.

I have built and run huge strokers and high winding small blocks and every engine has been different.

If I have a great running engine that shows the same oil usage over a number of miles, it is what it is. If all of a sudden an engine starts using oil that historically did not, gonna find the problem.