WARNING
To avoid personal injury and/or vehicle damage, refer to the service precautions at the beginning of this section.
There are a number of methods for evaluating the condition of the engine. A compression test can reveal the condition of the pistons, piston rings, cylinder bores, head gasket(s), valves and valve seats. An oil pressure test can indicate possible engine bearing, or oil pump failures. Excessive oil consumption, evidence of oil in the engine air intake area and/or bluish smoke coming from the tailpipe may indicate worn piston rings, worn valve guides and/or valve seals. In general, it is acceptable for an engine to use one quart of oil every 1000 miles. Engines that use one quart of oil or more in less than 1000 miles should be checked for oil leaks first. Repair any oil leaks before determining how much oil is consumed by the engine, especially if blue smoke is not visible at the tailpipe.