Sudden High Engine Oil consumption - '85MB-190e
 

With approx 100K miles on the clock, the engine suddenly began to use approx 1qt of oil for every 600 miles. Prior to this, the dipstick typically read a shade under 1 qt low at every service interval (5000 mi)

I can't imagine its suddenly broken a oil ring... there has got to be a vaccuum port pulling oil over somewhere...

Any thoughts?

ob1jeeper,

It is a relatively common problem for cars of your vintage and engine type to need valve seals by the mileage you are showing, or earlier. This was so common, in fact, that MB developed a set of procedures for most cars without removing the head. If you do a search on valve seals you may get some added information, including some do it yourself hints. Good luck, and I hope this helps. Jim

The valve guide oil seal problem is so pervasive and so easy to solve that it ought to be included at 100k servicing IMHO. The 2 to 2.5 hours it takes combines readily with spark plug removal and valve cover resealing (leaving only an hour or hour and a half extra labor) which would already be part of a large service done around that time (maybe the 120K service).

The rings are never the problem!