Hi all,

My 2K Max w/75K miles has very quickly developed an oil burn/blow by issue. During a routine check this weekend the oil was a quart low which has never happened before--this car never burned a drop. This morning when I started it I heard clacking which did not die after a few seconds so I killed the engine. I searched here and given the car has been running OK, thought I'd try replacing the stinking Fram filter I used in a pinch because it may be clogged. I had to start it/run it up ramps and was belching smoke badly. Sure enough, replacing the filter with a Bosch eliminated the clacking immediately. I've been using Mobil 1 for about 20K miles w/no problem, change it around 7K.

It's still burning off oil, I can smell it. Not very visible, but still there. And I noticed exhaust is only coming out the right pipe, can't feel anything from the left (stock system). I'm assuming they're both functional, so now am wondering if something's blocked as well.

I've got a warranty to 100K through 3rd party so not worried about $$. Any thoughts? Do I just have the wrecker come and get it?

Thanks!

If it is running, I would just drive it to the dealership. Less hassle.

in the stock muffler, it has a shut off valve that doesnt open up until somewhere around 2000 rpms...so that parts normal, but i would drive it definitely, its prolly not that big of a deal

Thanks guys--I just took it for a 10 minute spin and did not smell anything upon return; no smoke, nada. Hopefully I dodged a bullet and will drain oil Friday to be safe in case the Fram (the expensive one that uses Slick 50 type filter element) hosed things up. This forum is excellent--well worth the 20 bucks to be able to search and share stuff with people like yourselves.

I know others have had a positive experience with Fram but it damn near toasted the engine.

Have them run a leakdown test just to be on the safe side! If it's burning oil that means oil is getting into the chamber (duh!) It's times like this when I wish our maxes had manual oil pressure gauges instead of idiot lights. Clattering is never a good thing, so hopefully the damage was not severe.

One other thing to check is to pull the line off at the PCV and look for oil smoke coming from the PCV valve or line while the engine is running.

Not a flame but Fram = consistently rated worst oil filter, google "fram oil filter test" sometime (without the quotes.)

Agreed---probably going to take it in next week. I couldn't agree more regarding gauges. My Vette has analog vitals at a glance and there's always the computer display for anything else. I hated wondering if the damn oil pressure idiot light was going to come on...but it never did the whole time.