# Oil Loss **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mirage, mitsubishi\ **Created:** [December 28, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195 "2010-12-28T01:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/1 "2010-12-28T01:22:09Z")
I have a 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage S, with a buck ninety on the clock. It leaks oil out the front, and occasionally belches a cloud of smoke when I’ve been idling a while. Would switching from 10W30 to 20W50 help? I’ve already tried Motor Honey, but that didn’t make much of a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/2 "2010-12-28T01:24:39Z")
“Restore”…If that doesn’t work, “The Shredder”… ---
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/3 "2010-12-28T01:50:35Z")
Oh, Gawd! “Motor Honey” is just another name for “Restore”. ATC, Mr. Mitsu drips/burns more oil than I’d like but he’s still a long ways off from pulling into a station to fill him with oil & check the gas. (For the record, I used to have a '68 Ford Falcon that was like that with tranny fluid.) ---
**Author:** ![ChrisHarris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ChrisHarris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisHarris)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/4 "2010-12-28T03:42:44Z")
Replace the leaking oil seal and put new valve guides and seals in the heads. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/5 "2010-12-28T04:55:17Z")
Check The PCV System (Tubing And Hoses) And PCV Valve To Be Sure It’s Breathing Easily. CSA ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/6 "2010-12-28T05:34:48Z")
Wrong…Motor Honey is the same as STP, Restore has the same viscosity as regular motor oil… ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/7 "2010-12-28T06:14:08Z")
Where’s the timing belt on this? If the belt has never been replaced then you’ve been driving a ticking time bomb for a long time. If the oil leak is inside the belt cover then the situation is made worse because an oil-saturated timing belt is more prone to snapping. This car should have an interference fit engine and if the belt breaks you will need some pricy cylinder head work, at a minimum. Worst dase scenario would be a complete new engine. ---
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/8 "2010-12-28T23:51:21Z")
I stand corrected. What I used is the viscosity of, well, honey! ---
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/9 "2010-12-28T23:53:39Z")
Oooh! Pricey, but I’ll think about it. Thanx! ---
**Author:** ![whoit32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@whoit32](https://community.cartalk.com/u/whoit32)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/10 "2010-12-29T00:17:51Z")
190 is good for a mitsu…i think its time to start contemplating parting with the car. If you’re belching a cloud, even occasionally, that means you’re leaking a bit of oil. If you’re handy have fun pulling the motor apart…if not I think that it may be just too much cost. But then again I would get it looked at for sure just to be its not something too terrible. ---
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/11 "2010-12-29T02:50:39Z")
I like my li’l Coupe. His performance & quirks are acceptable, considering his age & mileage, but I need another pick-up real bad! ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/12 "2010-12-29T11:25:51Z")
with a buck ninety on the clock Is that 190,000 miles or what? ---
**Author:** ![quibix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ba0ec/32.png) [@quibix](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quibix)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/13 "2010-12-29T22:31:19Z")
Sure is! ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/14 "2010-12-29T22:54:44Z")
Find the leak, maybe it will be a low cost valve cover gasket. Thicker oil etc will do no good, and raising the viscosity with additives or different oil may do more harm than good. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-loss/59195/15 "2010-12-29T23:57:58Z")
Some Vehicles Aren’t That Bad To Put Valve Stem Seals On Without Dissambling A Lot Of The Engine. " . . . occasionally belches a cloud of smoke when I’ve been idling a while." is Classic Valve Stem Seals. I’ll bet those seals are hardened, cracked and not doing much. It might be worth a shot. Do it yourself or get an estimate. CSA