My 97 civic is burning oil, is there anything I can do other then keep filling it up?

 

rebuild the motor.

If you're sure it's burning and not leaking, rebuild.

Napa can do it for you, or other places as well.

 

how much would a rebuild cost?

 

I all depends on the engine and who you take it to. My buddy just got his MR2 rebuilt for $1,030. But, he took the engine apart and now he's putting it back together.
Ask around for prices.

 

where is it coming from? motor exhaust? is there a puddle under your car when it sits for a little bit? more information would help us diagnose the problem.

 

its not coming from anywhere... theres just always less oil when i check it

 

Run a compression test and see how the cyl's are doing.

 

"its not coming from anywhere... theres just always less oil when i check it "

Silly question, but how often do you check your oil?
if the cars done a thousand miles theres gonna be less oil in your car.
How much oil over how many miles?

 

hey man i got a 96 and it burns up oil too. its really just unavoidable when i car gets a lot of miles on it. just make sure you keep the oil full. the only thing you really can do is rebuild or swap the motor. and if you dont have then money for that then just keep fillin the oil till you do.

 

Don't rush into an engine swap just yet. Stock motors can go well over 200,000 with limited issues. [/align]
Do you have blue smoke behind the car going down the road? [/align][/align]Has it always gone through oil like this?[/align][/align]What was the prior rate on oil consumption before this?[/align][/align]Have you ever let the oil get so low that the oil pressure light came on?[/align][/align]How often do you change the oil? Do you change filter as well? What oil viscosity are you using?[/align][/align]Now some suggestions:[/align]I'm running Auto-Rx, can be found @ www.auto-rx.com , on 3 out of 4 of my vehicles. It's an ester oil that gently cleans your motor of carbon, sludgeand varnish etc. I'd try this before going for rebuild.[/align][/align]Valve guides could be leaking a fair amount - auto-rx will help. [/align][/align]Might try Mobil 1 10w-30 High Mileage oil. They claim it does a bang up job of cleaning sludge and deposits from your motor. [/align][/align]All you ever wanted to know about motor oil go to www.bobistheoilguy.com - many happy Auto-Rx there as well. Many Auto-Rx users do note increased compression after full cycle of use. [/align]

Yes do a compression check! Before and after.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...ileage_Oil.asp


". . .Mobil 1 High Mileage oils are made with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with an additive system designed especially for higher mileage vehicles. Mobil 1 High Mileage oils are especially recommended for high mileage vehicles even those that have used lower quality conventional oils. (Note 1)
Note 1 -- If your engine has excessive sludge deposits due to less-than-adequate maintenance practices, Mobil 1 High Mileage can help by reducing the sludge left behind by conventional oils. For severe cases of sludge, short oil change intervals (3000 - 5000 miles) are recommended for the first 2-3 oil changes as reduction of the sludge takes place. In cases of engine damage that may have resulted from poor maintenance, even Mobil 1 cannot remedy years of neglect.
..."

Cut from Mobil 1 FAQ:





". . . I'm currently using Mobil Clean High Mileage with good results.Why should I change to Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W-30, which costs more?



If your vehicle has been maintained well, Mobil Clean High Mileage represents an excellent choice.However, if you believe your engine may have sludge through less-than-adequate maintenance practices, Mobil 1 High Mileage may be the more suitable selection.Mobil 1 High Mileage helps reduce the sludge that other oils can leave behind which can result in extended engine life. For severe cases where sludge and other heavy deposits are present, shorter oil change intervals of 3,000 miles are recommended as clean-up proceeds. . . . "