Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance whenever I add oil runs like sh%t for 20miles

Originally posted by james05:

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Hello Guys,

Hopefully someone can helpme trying understand problem has happened few times in past year. If oil becomes low or oil light comes on I add some oil and bam car runs like [censored] for like 20miles smokes bad out tail pipe etc tried few different types of oil. This past weekend had real bad problem I did like month ago two and it basically fixes itself alos gave complete oil change today and last month runs better but the past two times liek this weekend it was really smoking bad and making like a pinging knocking type noise I thought engine was going blow and now everything is fine I don't understand what is going on with this car anymore. 98 ford contour se seems like i blew head gasket or something thats how bad it was running and smoking I took it home let sit for 20 mins before going get stuff do an oil change ran better now but went ahead changed oil today runs great now but has be something I'm missing. Thanks for any help

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Firstly I CANNOT believe you think the Oil Light is a sign for you to add oil. That my friend is IGNORANT. The oil light means you oil pressure is too low - nothing to do with the level, although in your case the oil pressure is low because you don't have enough oil in the pan - thus not enough to go around = not enough oil pressure.

Now, this vicious cycle usually happens when your engine is FUXORED. And in your case it sounds really screwed - so start saving your money for a new motor, and try and read the owners manual so you can understand that you need to MAINTAIN a car not run it into the ground and wait till the oil light comes on before you add oil (service interval anyone? ).

So why is the car running like crap when you add oil and it's smoking?
Well that my friend is because when you run it low on oil, there isn't enough to go around so anything that has a bearing or metal to metal contacts - WEARS! And in your case it sound like the valves guides and main bearings are worn goo, from the knocking sounds and the blue smoke. Anyway when you wait until your light goes on, and then add oil via the valve cover - where do you think all this oil goes, yep it drips down the valve stems past the valves and into the combustion chamber and then your motor has to burn all this oil off - hence the blue smoke and the car running like crap.

In summary - either you or whoever owned this car before you basically kicked the poor thing in the balls and your poor lack of maintenance and obvious ingorance is the function of the instrument cluster and motor aren't doing it any favours.