Blow-by...synthetic oil consumption

[AndrewMac]

I'm using 15-50 Mobil1 in my SC which I'm attempting to drive every day when the CIS isn't creating misery. I went to check the oil and I have a significant and noticiable amount of white smoke puffing out the filler tube. It did this to some extent when I was running 15-50 conventional oil as well. Is this normal? (I know that I need to check the pugs to see how they look but haven't done that yet). Because my usual driving is start-stop short trips I hate to use heavy 20-50.

The other issue is the consumption rate of the syn oil....it seems to drink it by the litre. It does leak a little but not at nearly the rate it's disappearing.

So \
Is the smoke out the filler normal?
Am I creating my own problem by using syn instead of dino oil?

Finally, I want to do a compression and bleed down test but don't know the procedure. Are they oulined anywhere here on the site? I know for teh bleed down test you have to get the valves in a certain position and somehow presurrize the cylinders...yes?

Will just the compression test tell me anything the plug diagnosis won't?

[s_wilwerding]

Has the engine always used synthetic oils? I've heard bad things about people switching from dino oil to synthetic in older engines, which I'm assuming is what you have in your SC. I'm not sure just going back will solve your problem, however - the leaks may still be there.

OT, it's nice to see another SC owner from Omaha. Are you in the local PCA? Will you be attending the DE at Glenwood on Sept. 14-15? Do you plan on driving your SC everyday, including the winter?

When I bought mine, I briefly kicked around the idea of making it an everyday driver. However, mine was in such good shape that I just could not drive it in the snow and salt. So, it's just a Sunday afternoon car.

As for the leakdown, I have no idea - I'd imagine you'd have to take it to a mechanic for that sort of thing.