Strange Motor Problem, Oil Consumption

[wrogers55]

Yes it is a Mass-Flow and the sensor wires were oil coated when I first looked. Called mass-flow and got some advice and a clean up process. Worked fine but no change at all to my problem. More like a symptom of my problem.

I think I have enough info to proceed pretty comfortably with the intake gasket.

Actually found a couple of service bulletins on Dodge V6s and one from Ford describing my problem exactly, oil consumption, smoke under high vacuum, and ping off idle under load...all related to an internal leak of the intake gasket at the valley.

I'm just going to get after the intske gasket and will post pictures of what I find for others with the same issues.

Very helpful board that is a blessing to all of us.

Thanks for all the posts!

[wrogers55]

Long thread but the problem has been found. Intake gasket slippage when installed it appears. Double gaskets, no sealer, except at water ports and the intake side slipped a bit as you can see. Kind of the sway back horse look of one gasket in the photo. It dropped down just enough not to seal up the intake side from the valley and started sucking oil and pinging/ratteling on the the two middle cylinders where the gasket failed. Or the builder failed. Something failed.

I'm putting a SCE premium gasket back in and really temped to seal it up with something......I still have two unopened tubes of Hylomar Blue and man it is tempting to coat that gasket, stick it to the head first and hope I never have to do this again.

Pictures for those interested or still suffering. The manifold was installed with a double gasket, black side to black side. It easy to see where one gasket slipped down and uncovered the intake port to the valley. Those are the middle two ports and the intake side looks droopy in the picture. Just enough to really create a problem. I don't know why the double gasket, or maybe that's the way the Corteco that failed is designed.

This is the first time I have been confident that I really understand and can see the problem. It all started with a one side ping, got worse, started using oil like crazy but little smoke and it comes down to a failed intake gasket. Actually, I'm pretty happy. Could have been much worse, assuming this fixes it.

Hope this helps someone (including me).

Thanks for all the posts. I'm on the way to recovery!