I am really stuck on a problem 

My 1.2 petrol -03 Skoda is losing about 3 litres of oil a week.

 

There are no signs of leaks in the engine - I also use florescent tracer - and there is nothing coming out of the block

No visible white smoke from exhaust 

The oil is not mixing with water 
 

Any ideas of where all the oil might be going? 

 

 

Burnt and into the atmosphere, seemingly. Catalytic converters can do quite a good job of cleaning up what used to be obvious smokiness, for a short time.

When was its last MOT and was it using oil then?

Sounds as though that engine is unfit for continued use.

Edited 24 August, 20205 yr by Wino

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

Burnt and into the atmosphere, seemingly. Catalytic converters can do quite a good job of cleaning up what used to be obvious smokiness, for a short time.

When was its last MOT and was it using oil then?

Sounds as though that engine is unfit for continued use.

MOT was over a year - Covid extension...

 

140,000 on the clock 

 

I am guessing an emission check would determine if the piston rings are shot? 

 

Thanks for heads up on modern catalytic converters...   
 

 

Is it not noticeably smelly when idling?

My sister has taken it out today, but I will check later and update.  Regards 

Worn valve guides are more likely than piston rings, a compression and leakdown test will confirm this.

21 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

Worn valve guides are more likely than piston rings, a compression and leakdown test will confirm this.

 

Whether it is piston rings or more likely valve guides. I guess the question is, would it even be worth repairing. It is a 03 plate 1.2 petrol with 140,000 miles? 

 

When I replaced the clutch, thanks to the help of this forum, I noticed just how poor engineering quality has been normalised in modern vehicles. That and now this - does not fill me with much confidence. 

 

The cost of leak down and compression test, properly re-sleeving valves just make me think - scrap the car for parts and replace. 

1 hour ago, Davidmb said:

scrap the car for parts and replace

Having very recently been through a major engine rebuild I would say that unless you have a lot of spare time to DIY it all, it won't be financially worthwhile.

I didn't go as far as doing anything to the block, just head and timing chain, but even those take a lot of doing. Everything 'sealanted' to everything else and over a hundred bolts to undo to get enough apart. The theory says that the piston rings and crank-related stuff isn't repairable on these anyway.

Dropping in a replacement engine would/would've be(en) considerably easier and quicker, so that's a possible avenue to explore if there are any scrappies in your area.