Ford Focus: Oil consumtion

"Mike2" <com> wrote in message
news:talkaboutautos.com... 

What is your usual standard of driving- lots of short slow trips or what? It
sounds to me like you have got sticky rings and the oil is coming up the
bores and being burnt.

Tim..

My driving pattern didn't really change before the sudden increase in oil
consumption.

I do do a lot of short trips in town with speed restrictions and lots of
junctions: about 4.5 miles to work, 4.5 miles back each day and sometimes
shorter journeys in between. Now and again I do a motorway trip of 80 -
150 miles or more and back again but these are not very often at all.

What exactly is a 'sticky ring', what causes it and can it be cured or is
it nothing really to worry about?

Thanks.

"Mike2" <com> wrote in message
news:talkaboutautos.com... 

Sticky rings - the piston rings- they can stick in their grooves which
affects their ability to hold oil down in the sump- hence you get oil being
burnt.

It can, sometimes be caused by short trips and slow running, as well as poor
running-in technique, especially with new diesels.

Before you do anything else, I would fill up with some good quality high
detergent branded petrol (not supermarket, though this is debateable!), have
the oil and filter changed using the correct 5w-30 oil and then give it an
italian tune up. With the engine at proper running temperature make regular
use of full revs and full throttle through the gears- without labouring it.

Check your oil level regularly afterwards. If oil consumption is not
improved (it should be close to zero) then you have a more serious problem,
which ought to be investigated.

If the engine is not reaching full temperature (gauge pointing to 12 o
clock) this needs to be corrected first- new thermostat.

Tim..