My 3.0L 82 SC uses roughly a quart per 1,000 miles. 139K miles on the ODO. From this thread, that's actually OK (I thought it was bad). No drips on garage floor.

Recently properly checked oil level was at bottom line on dipstick - two quarts brought it up to top line.

And at the top line, warm weather you run the risk of having some of the oil make it's way into your breather - and smoking... You should really keep the oil level between the botom line - and 1/2 way between the hashes...

John Walker does my work.

I would not do a top end job on a Carrera without also doing the bottom end. For the purpose of changing the wimpy rod bolts out.

You can check your valve guides, but not by looking at the dip stick. You'd have to remove valve covers, turn the engine so a valve is slightly depressed, and then try to rock the valve stem back and forth.

Jeremy good advice, thanks.

I have overheating problems (described on the 'two worst mods' thread) and started thinking that running too little oil might be the cause.

BTW, your car is quite beautiful.

I'd give this guy a call 408.429.0545. His name is Tom Amon. He is mobile mechanic with great experience. He has been working on my car lately, and I'm very happy!

Thanks for his number. His compadre has already PM'd me. They lurk here. Pretty smart actually.

Yeah, there are several threads on this board about Tom, here is one of them:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207617&highlight=tom+am on