Scott Dorsey wrote:
> > wrote:
> >It's got 43,000, mostly city driving with some brief freeway runs. Two
> >probs. First, it's using about a quart of oil every two or three
> >months. Not leaking on driveway and the car's not smoking. Inside of
> >the exhaust pipe isn't light grey but it's not sooty black either. Is
> >it leaking elsewhere or am I headed for a ring job?
>
> Maybe. Is there any blue smoke? If so, when is it? Could be it is
> using oil when the engine is started for a couple seconds... could be
> it's during acceleration. You might have a seal leak somewhere which
> takes ten minutes to fix, or a cracked block. Could be anything from
> your description.

Yo Scott. No smoke, blue or otherwise. "Could be anything" is what
scares me. So many of my "problems" don't show up on diagnostic; then
legit mechanics will start repairing things until they find the one
that works.
>
> >Secondly, the Low Coolant light stays on long after other dash lights
> >have checked and gone out. After five or six miles of driving the Low
> >Coolant light goes out. There's plenty of coolant in resevoir and the
> >radiator. On secondary startings during the day, Low Coolant light
> >performs like other dash lights; unless over a long stop, then Low
> >Coolant light stays on for five or six miles. This is not an
> >intermittent occurence.
>
> If you disconnect the wire from the low coolant sensor, does the problem
> persist? if so, you have a wiring issue. Otherwise (and what is most
> likely) the coolant level sensor is sticking and ought to be replaced.
> Easy job and not much money. You can do it, or you can leave the wire
> disconnected and check the coolant level by eye occasionally.
> --scott

Hmmmmm. I'm afraid I'd have trouble finding the wire from the low
coolant sensor. But the wire or the sensor is probably the problem. And
a mechanic ought to be able to check that easily. Thanks.