Burning Oil

[jonbowen]

I came home in the van the other day, and my partner needed to take the van out again straight away, so I left the engine running. Went inside then came out again, and there was a stench of burning oil. The exhaust was really smoky. As my partner headed off down the road, clouds of smoke out of the exhaust, especially thick when she changed gear. Checked the oil when she got back, yes, it's lost about 1/4 litre over the last month ...
Oh no, I thought - a new engine needed ... but hang on, I only got a recon engine 9 months ago, it's still under warranty. Still a grand to get a replacement fitted under warranty though.
Now, 2 days later, we've done 50 or so more miles, the exhaust is completely clean, no smoke, no smell. What might be going on here? I thought engines either burned oil or they didn't ... not burn a bit on Wednesdays but fine on Sundays!
Thanks everyone, Jon

[Red Westie]

This could be down to over filling.....when over full, engines have a habbit of blowing the excess oil up the breather and into the air filter/inlet manifold which gets drawn into the engine and burnt, thats why after a few miles it runs clean again.
As it is still under warranty it may be worth giving the company who supplied the engine a call, they may suggest a few things and at least you have it covered if something does go wrong.
Martin