3.8 ENGINE 172,000 MILES AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL THE ENGINE STILL LEAKS OIL AT THE SEAL. IT SLINGs OIL EVERYWHERE. ON THE GARAGE FLOOR THERE ARE DROPS OF OIL ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE A PRESSURE PROBLEM WITH THE crank case system THAT IS MAKING THE OIL LEAK OUT OF THE FRONT SEAL? I SWITCHED ONE TIME TO SYNETIC OIL(AT 145,000) TO MAKE THE OIL CHANGES LAST LONGER 5,000 MILES BETWEEN CHANGES VERSUS 3,000. THE ENGINE HAS ALS OBEE NRAN LOW ON OIL . THE OIL LIGHT AS COME ON A FEW TIMES FROM 145,0000 MILES TO THE CURRENT MILEAGE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE IT HAD 145,000 MILES ON IT. I REPLACED THE VALVE SEALS TWO YEARS AGO. THE PLUGS ALSO ARE GETTING LOADED WITH CARBON. I CLEAN THEM in a grit blast machine TWICE A YEAR. I HAVE ALS BEEN USING SEAFOAM TO CLEAN OUT THE PCV AND TROTTLE PLATE SYSTEM. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE TO THE ENGINE WITHOUT OPENNING IT UP? IS IT WORTH PUTTING IN A NEW ENGINE (NEW ENGINE PARTS/ LABOR) $3,500.00 FOR A 36,000 FORD WARANTY ENGINE. THE DEALER WOULD GIVE ME A 1,000.00 NOW TO TRADE THE VAN IN .
THE ENGINE ALSO PINGS OR DETONATES WITH A LOAD ON IT. TWO Sensors have been changed, but with no lasting effect.
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Running an engine low in oil can cause the piston rings and cylinder bore to wear (you say the plugs get "oil fouled"). If your engine creates excess blow bye (compression leaking down past the rings) the crankcase will become pressurized and will leak oil. Detonation you describe can be due to carbon build up on the piston crows. There is a test called a cylinder leakage test were compressed air is put in each cylinder and judging by the amount of leakage it can be determined whether the piston rings or valves are worn but at the end of the day the engine sounds worn out. Two cheapest things you can try is changing the PCV valve and switching to straight 40W motor oil. Higher viscosity will cause the oil to burn less.
