Losing oil, possible valve cover gasket

Hey guys didn’t oil change and it looks like I’m losing a significant amount of oil. I’m estimating at 5000 miles about 2 1/2 to 3 quarts. Pulled my spark plugs and it looks like I got some oil on one of the top parts of the back passenger side plug and had some fresh oil on another plug top part. Two of the coils had a lit little bit of oil midway through as well. I’m thinking the valve cover gasket is leaking but I’m not sure it could be possibly leaking 2 1/2 to 3 quarts. Where else could I be losing the oil? The engines at 195,000 miles. I do have a check engine light, but the only codes are the 420 and 430 which I believe are my cats that I need to get done and just haven’t pulled the trigger on it yet

Edit as bill suggested and from for searching I’ll be checking the ovc valve and will report back.

 

Rear main seal and front main seal can be suspect. Loose filter or pressure sender fitting, oil pan gasket(s) or valve covers as you suggest.

But that much loss would have a big mess under vehicle or engine bay if leaking.

Risk of burning from rings or valve seals is in line with your mileage. For me a compression test would be in order. As well as checking the PVC valve to make sure it's working.

BTW, check your oil more often and keep it topped up.

 

Of course, I’ll be checking it much more now, also this time is went 5k when I usually do them around 3. I will swap out the pcv valve and see what that does.

main seal and rear seal, what is that and how could I inspect that?

The oil filter seems to be snug but I’m
Not sure what the pressure sender fitting

 

Front and rear main seals, on the front and rear of the engine check for leaks. Rear at the bell housing to transmission and front around the crank pulley.

Just pick up and change the pcv valve, they’re cheap and while you’re removing it you may as well put a new one in.

 

Doesn’t look like anything at those points and there is never a drop on the garage floor or work parking spot. Looking at 3quarts in 5k miles in my mind there would be a big leak right?

 

Not at all. Reread the 2nd and 3rd paras in post 2

 

I just replaced my front main seal this week, there was an awful mess everywhere, and the dipstick didn’t budge.. so if you’re burning that quantity i would think Stevie Wonder would notice. i really would check compression as mentioned. Also, make sure you’re taking the skid plates off and making sure it’s not massing there. Any off color in your exhaust?

 

If you need to do VCG’s, then do them.
Verify the PCV is in working order.

P0420 and P0430 suggests the engine may be burning oil past the rings ruining the cats.

Oil consumption gone on long enough is known to do this.

 

Nothing on the skid plate, and I don’t really see any smoke in my exhaust. Honestly, I haven’t paid attention in the mornings much but I’m going to start having me and the wife out there on the first start up to check it out

 

I just picked up a PCV valve and I’ll replace that. do you think it could be the culprit, I’m looking at 3 auarts in 5000 miles.

I can see the gaskets losing a little bit but there’s nothing actually wet. The only thing that was wet was that one plug and it wasn’t filled. For 3 quarts of oil the leak would have to be wet and dripping I would assume?

 

It's not a leak based on your exploration. Its internal consumption, ie burning.

 

I agree it’s gotta be burning it, if it was external you’d definitely see it somewhere.

 

This ^^. If you were losing 2.5-3qts externally you’d see it somewhere.

 

Replace your valve cover gaskets.....it's like the o ring style gaskets around the spark plug holes.

 

agreed, but where I don’t see much smoke if any while running,

is there any testing I can do check anything.

now the cat codes are making sense especially if I’m burning oil like this.

I did change the pcv valve but it was the same as the old one.

i believe the mechanic I went to in 2021 when I originally had issues with the cats did a compression test and found nothing. Would this be caused so quicking 2-3 years?

 

Yes I will if there is nothing catastrophic going on or if there is and it’s worth it to rebuild? I just need to figure out what’s happening

 

Your going to likely have to pull off your valve covers as part of that investigation. Over 5k miles with two cylinders leaking oil via the spark plug holes is a pretty good bet that's what it is...if there is oil on the ignition coils it's likely coming from the valve cover gaskets.

 

Once it gets there it would have to fill up and over flow for that much of a leak right? Could the gasket leak to the spark plug and then slowly make its way past the threads?

 

I think it could.

 

Quick update I took a good long look at the exhaust on start up and the drive in. Nothing at start up up and I work about 2.5 miles away, 8-10 min drive. At about 4 mins and 1 mile I see some white smoke but is disappearing fast so I’m not sure if that the smoke or something else. After I get to work today in about 9 mins the smoke is gone. I leave it in park and see nothing I move it to the black top to see if I see anything against it and nothing. Is that about right?