03 3.7L Jeep liberty oil issue. need help troubleshooting

Hi all,

I recently inherited my wife's 03 Jeep liberty 3.7L since our recent nuptials a month ago.
I don't think she's been good at making sure there is sufficient oil in the engine,

The engine died on an early 2013 visit to me after dinner. Had to fill it up with almost 2 qt of oil. I've been reminding her ever since to check the oil. I couldn't do much as we were dating long distance.

Since it's under my care now, I've been trying to gauge the oil consumption.
Now, I say consumption here as I don't see any gray/blue smoke and there's no signs of oil leak on the road.

Unfortunately, just recently it's been averaging half a qt per 100 miles. :shocked:
This is from the past two weeks. I'm still gauging this to make sure this is correct. I've been refilling with high mileage synthetic blend oil. It was filled with regular synthetic oil during the last oil change.

The oil pan was replaced a few years ago.
I just replaced the PCV valve a week ago. There was some oil in the PCV hose. Nothing murky. I didn't get a chance to clean out the oil in the hose due to time constraint.
I did notice the PCV rattling the next day while the jeep was idling from a cold start. Not sure whether that's an indication of lots of blow by. I've only experienced this once. I haven't heard that rattling since.

This past weekend, I looked around under the engine after changing the serpentine belt after finding a huge split but couldn't find any oil leaks.

The jeep idles well at 600 RPM, no engine knocking, accelerates fine, throttle body looked clean.

The jeep is due for an oil change in a few hundred miles.

This is what I am considering doing first:

1. perform compression test.
going off the pressures references posted here
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/compression-test-38727/

2. inspect the spark plugs for wear and signs of burnt oil.

3. use some STP multipurpose motor treatment or seafoam before the oil change

4. perform another compression test after oil change.

My thought is that removal of sludge might possibly help this oil situation but it could be my naive thinking.

I am also considering using the UV dye technique to find this leak. Maybe it's a leak that occurs while the jeep is moving.

Maybe I should try an oil stabilizer/additive?

:emotions122:
:025:

Any thoughts/suggestions/comments?
Thanks!

It might be a longshot put maybe replace the pcv valve and see if it makes a difference? Maybe a stuck pcv is pressurizing the oil. I'm thinking you're on the right track by checking the compression. Maybe give dino high mileage oil a shot, maybe it will not burn up as quick.

uss2defiant said:

The jeep idles well at 6k RPM, no engine knocking, accelerates fine, throttle body looked clean.

Click to expand...

I certainly hope you mean 600. :ROFLJest:

kage860 said:

It might be a longshot put maybe replace the pcv valve and see if it makes a difference? Maybe a stuck pcv is pressurizing the oil. I'm thinking you're on the right track by checking the compression. Maybe give dino high mileage oil a shot, maybe it will not burn up as quick.

Click to expand...

kage860: I just changed the PCV a week ago. Just a part from autozone. The previous PCV didn't sound stuck with the rattle test.

I'm thinking of cleaning up the PCV hose with some water and dish soap when I replace the radiator fan assembly. There are some reinforced flexible hoses and a long plastic hose under the throttle body. That way I can tell if there's still a bunch of blow-bys. I think some oil in the PCV line is normal. Am I correct?

There's no coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant so I'm good there.

If I'm loosing that much oil, there's got to be a pool of it but there isn't.

Maybe the Cat converter is doing such an amazing job I cant see the blue/gray smoke.
headscratch.gif

dude1116 said:

I certainly hope you mean 600. :ROFLJest:

Click to expand...

Hahahahha. My bad. I was typing this up at 3am AMT.
I've edited the original post. Thanks.

You said the engine died in 2013. Why did it die?

If its going through a 1/2qt in 100miles it has something serious going on. If the piston rings are that bad i would think you would notice a loss of power.

Could very well be the valve seals. Any smoke at all on start up? Say after sitting over night.

JeepJeepster said:

You said the engine died in 2013. Why did it die?

If its going through a 1/2qt in 100miles it has something serious going on. If the piston rings are that bad i would think you would notice a loss of power.

Could very well be the valve seals. Any smoke at all on start up? Say after sitting over night.

Click to expand...

It was due to lack of oil. Had to fill it up with almost 2 quarts of oil.

The jeep runs fine. No loss of power or lagging. Idles fine as well.

I'll give that a look tomorrow morning.

I'm still gauging the oil consumption post PCV replacement but week 1 after the replacement doesn't look like anything changed.

Update: No signs of any smoke during start up.

Can anyone suggest away to put oil in during the wet compression test?
I don't have one of those special oil canisters that squirts it in.

Thanks.

I have a 02 with the same issue ive done everytest taking it to jeep and still no one can give me an answer atleast I ono I always have fresh oil in it lol

Kjx2: how's your oil consumption like? Have you tried any oil stabilizers to slow the consumption down?

Ya tried them all still go through a quart about every 1000 miles

Possibly if she was not too good at adding oil, may not be good at changing it as well?
Oil consumption basics, the engine is either consuming it, evaporation, or a leak somewhere.
I would try a can or bottle of Wynn's Engine Tune first for a few hundred miles and see if a sticky piston ring may be the culprit.
I have used this product on other 100K+ vehicles after experiencing a bit of blow by and found that this cleaner did the trick and used it a few times to clean things out.
Then do oil change and compression test....
For the compression test wet, U can use clear plastic tube/hose and inject oil down into it. You can use a spray can with nozzle as well as in storage fogging oil & tube ...
Here is what the can looks like: (add to oil) Link Canadian Tire - Wynn's Engine Tune-Up customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings
The new bottle looks like this: 6th one down on page..
TUNE-UP TREATMENT CONCENTRATE Part Number 63614A
Link: CAMP // Products // Engine Oil Products
Please post back the cylinder compression results.

Thanks for the reply. Since my household only has one car I had to schedule fixing this car for the 7/26 next saturday.
I haven't see that brand before here in AZ but I'll keep an eye out or order one online.

Fortunately/unfortunately, will have to drive up to Surprise, AZ for sis-in-laws bday.
This is my plan.

1. chevron Techron concentrate 20oz in tank before refueling and 2.5 hours drive up to Surprise, AZ.

2. replace radiator fan and double check pulleys + tensioner.

3. if I have time before the oil change. inspect PS hoses again. I think the high pressure PS hose is chafing off the radiator fan module. Maybe the PS high pressure hose mount came undone or something. I might have to zip tie the lines to prevent chafing. Any suggestions on this? maybe a rubber grommet around the PS hose before I put the zip tie around it?

4. 10 minutes idling w/ STP multipurpose motor treatment in crankcase before oil change.

5. oil change w/ groupon deal. synthetic blend is added. :happy175:

6. remove all spark plug and inspect. (I might get an idea on whether oil is actually being burnt instead of consumed/leaking)

7. compression test.

8. install new spark plug. I'm opting on the same OEM NGK v-power ones.

How does that sound?

I'll post the compression test results then.

Have you tried Restore?
http://www.restoreusa.com/

Sounds like a ok plan. Liberty Likes copper core plugs every 25k miles.
I think those v power are copper core?
I just used the NGK recommended on the under hood sticker part #...
Make sure your fans work right. With AC on they should be running.
On highway runs pull over & take a break yet leave the KJ idling for 10-15 minutes to get it real hot.
AC off and see if your fans come on..then step on gas and see of any blue smoke comes out tailpipe...indicating blow by..
Ya restore not the best cleaner...Risoline may work better for cleaning but the best is the Wynn's for the $5. Call around to find it..very popular product.
Make sure your PS line is not rubbing zip tie why not..you can also add left over rubber hose tube on the outside of PS line to protect it.
Oil are you using a good synthetic? If after all that on hwy it still is loosing mega oil, have a blue bottle of STP Oil treatment and throw that in the oil.
That should greatly reduce much of the oil burn effect.
On the forum BTW we dont call a jeep... a car....it's an insult & bad luck LOL..

:O no offense everyone.
Still not used to the new jeep since letting my car go.

Fletcher's auto uses valvoline synthetic oil. I've been getting my oil changed by them the past few years and have no issue w/ my previous car. The oil consumption on the jeep has been a longer issue. I have no idea how long it has stretched back.

I'll give your suggestion a shot on the long drive up. Thanks.

Just an update, so far the oil consumption has been holding up since replacing the PCV till the recent oil change.
Thanks for the help suggestions.

I'll post again later on the compression test values and how the oil is holding up the next 3k miles. *knock on wood*

Same thing with my '02 Liberty, with 127,000 on it.. A quart of oil for every 400-600 miles.

Oil pan changed because of rusting out corner, and drippy main seal replaced.

It did improve from a quart every 200-400 miles to now a whopping 400-600 miles between quarts of oil.

Runs fine, no excessive smoke, no puddle under her. But do have the smell of hot or burning oil around her.

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but how did this end? I have a new to me 2003 with the same motor and it seems to have burned about 1/4 qt of oil in 150 miles, that would mean I'm on track to burn a qt in 600 miles. No smoke or leaks. I just popped in a new pcv valve. The OEM one with 160k miles was still in and it was a bit sticky in side.

no joy with replacing the PCV.
I am wanting to try the new PCV from the TSB notice that eliminates the foaming issue in the oil filler neck in cold weather locations but I doubt it'll work.

worn down piston right is most likely the culprit I think.

This engine is also known to leak from the valve cover as well. Do you see black smoke from your exhaust? You're loosing quite a bit there.

Just eliminate the PCV system all together, use breathers on each valve cover.

Will that make the CEL come on? Because if so I can't get it inspected