My truck is a 86 with 225000 mile on it and it is burning alot of oil. i changed the oil about 1000 miles ago and it has burned 2 quarts.

Is this something I should expect from a truck with this kind of mileage?

Mike

Yep. Tossed in my first one at 294K. Do a compression check. Magic numbers are 142-171psi, +/- 4% within each other. That'll tell you whether or not it's rebuild time.

86 carbie, original owner. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Welcome to the board! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

>>>*There is always a limit to how far is far enough.

Sudden oil consumption is a warning sign, the engine has done it's work.
Your mileage is in the norm of what we see for rings, bearings, & a nice tight valve job to correct.

Cheaper to do it before than after, the next warning sign will be noise, right after that is big clouds of smoke...*EB

I don't know if you expect that but, I have 297,000+ and I don't burn a drop! But, like EB said: "There is always a limit of how far is enough!"
"Down the road and on the highway!" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

2 quarts per 1000 miles is low, BUT, if it passes local smog laws and fouls the plugs less than six months at a time, and does not smoke...who cares! This ain't the gospel...but a few plugs/and a few extra quarts of oil is cheaper and easier than a rebuild!

edit: the advice above is counter to the de-facto and shy god of this board (EB, a fella I trust), but your truck may also not be a daily driver. I have a worn 22r 1984 4x4 that is gonna last forever, I hope, as a short-run Home Depot/light wheeling trail runner. My truck passed CA smog "blowing zeroes" using as many TOYOTA factory part as possible.

What weight oil are ya running? Depending, ya could bump it up and possibly cut consumption a bit.

I consider your mileage/oil consumption rate to be about average...."To be expected", if you will.

If she is your daily driver, it's time for a full overhaul. If she is your playtoy, drive her til she breaks.

Go ahead and do the compression test, but what you find will confuse you enuff to get you chasing your tail. One or several cylinders will be low. From there you can play Sherlock and try to narrow it down to rings or valves and all that. But at 225K, don't bother.

Cheer up. Take a sober, good honest look at her.(I had to do this with all my ex-wives). Decide if she's worth your time and a thousand $$ investment. If she is, then plan and budget for a complete rebuild. Myself, I elected to divorce them. Hey, I did all my own legal work and managed to save my house, retirement and 401K.....Maybe you can salvage this marriage tho.

If you decide to try, allow engnblder to supply the parts and Wiretender and Esquire to show you how.