My first engine real engine "problem", Nooooo! My car is getting old! Options

[UTSlickVic]

Ok my car is eating up oil. I'd say it goes through 3qts in ~4months. For a long time I did have an oil leak and I knew it was because of that. But my mechanic "fixed it" awhile ago. Well I definatly does not have an oil leak. But it still eats up oil. No white smoke coming out of the exhaust (if there is its very very very minimal). I have not checked my plug to see how it is firing.

So what is the most likely problem? Is it Valves? It is a head gasket? Is water getting into the oil?

PS: I'm getting depressed about my car getting old and I'm starting to look for a replacement
BMW 335i Coupe is my choice if I do pull the trigger.... yeah I know... all my family and friends keep hinting at me to upgrade.

This post has been edited by UTSlickVic: Sep 4, 2008 - 9:49 AM

[GriffGirl]

It sounds like your car is using oil at a perfectly normal rate, assuming it's your daily driver. STs are notorious for burning oil some, and it sounds like while yes, your car is getting old, it's really not doing anything too abnormal. Seals age, so there's going to be some slight leaking which burns off while you drive. You could replace all the seals (IIRC it's the valve seals in particular) but really, you're not going through oil enough to warrant the expense and labor. I've got around 238k on mine now, with about 110k on the engine, and I'm going through 3 quarts at about the same rate as you, maybe a little faster (but I commute 40 miles a day 5x/wk) At oil changes I'm usually barely above no a read.