Did you do a "wet" compression test? If the compression number increases, then it is a problem with the rings/cylinder. If not it will be in the valve train, head, or head gasket, or a piston could have a hole in it, at worst case.

High oil consumption can also be caused by a torn diaphragm in the vacuum pump.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Actually, I did a "wet" compression test & the compression did come up. I've heard lots of folks say this, however, what I'd like explained to me is "how" this verifies that the problem is in the rings/lower end.

Wouldn't adding some oil in the cylinder also make it more difficult for air to escape around a very slightly off-seated valve ?

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1987 560SL - 95K
1996 E300D - 183K
1997 E300D - 162K
1982 240D - 160K

OOoooh.... Be very careful, or better yet AVOID doing a wet compression test on a diesel. Remember, diesels run on oil. It can blow the compression gauge to pieces and possibly hurt or best case scare you.

If you need further information do a cylinder leak down test and listen for escaping air. If the problem is ring related you will hear the air escaping when you listen in the crankcase breather hole.

What Larry said. And when you do it, check one or more of the "good" cylinders to see what "normal" sounds like. I have never done one, but it seems like you would need to lock up the crank somehow to make sure the air pressure doesn't turn it (?).

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)