2002 Grand Marquis LS

[sxcpotatoes]

My brother got a gold GM LS with ride & handling package (meh, air ride converted to coil) for my nephew's first car. Put a new alternator in it and some 80k mile tires which my nephew proceeded to beat the piss out of and shred due to not rotating (which was free) and a bad ball joint. Either pooched a rim or the spare with it being loose (not sure which yet).

I am trading the beater '90 TC for it, got the upper right ball joint taken care of, and it goes in next week for new Cooper tires/alignment/end links/& sway bar bushings.

The only thing is it uses oil. Blue smoke on startup, don't know how much it uses how fast (I asked if it was 1qt/wk & nephew said "Yeah, it used an entire 5 quarts between oil changes!" You don't change the oil every five weeks, kid). Will get some pictures in the next week or two probably and post more about the problems it has, but I wanted to see what everybody thinks might be the problem causing it to use oil & if it would be worth fixing, changing the motor later, or just run it until it dies. Thanks.

[Kodachrome Wolf]

I've seen some early Whales lately puffing blue smoke when taking off from a light much like the '92-'95 cars have a tendency to do. The worst I saw was earlier in the week when a '98-'02 Town Car merged onto the freeway emitting a humongous cloud from its tailpipe. It lasted all the way up the ramp and he still had a little smoke as it was just cruising. Smelled terrible.

My '97 hasn't burned any oil and has no notable consumption at almost 180K, but I'm curious as to why the Whales are acting up now. The amount used by that '02 is really high. I wonder if the valve stem seals are shot.

[TecNickal]

If you don't change oil, run it hot...guess how much the valve seals and rings like it. 'da hood is driving these types of car now where it's reactive instead of proactive maintenance.

[sxcpotatoes]

Yeah, there's a complete 2002 Town Car motor on CL with a claimed 96k for $300 locally if I need one.

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Pictures

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[87gtVIC]

Looks like she'll clean up. Show your nephew once its done. He may find a new respect for taking care of vehicles once he sees how nice it could have been.

[sxcpotatoes]

Not so sure it'll do any good. He destroyed a 7, or 10 ply tire on my brother's 99 F250 5.4 doing burnouts, thought he'd be smart and change it to the left side/non-drivewheel. Scraped the side of the truck. Claimed someone was too close to the center line, and blew a driver side mirror and housing through impact--TWICE. Put the Taurus into a ditch (same one his mom screwed the passenger side texting and driving, he shouldn't have been going the way he ended up in the ditch either, his mom told him to take the freeway/other direction to get home after dropping her at work). When we borrowed their '09 F150 to pick up a big replacement window (which oldest son backed into rear quarter with the '99 in the driveway) it was full of trash, wrappers, unfinished starbucks drinks etc, stank like a dumpster, and I even found a full bottle of supposed to be refrigerated creamer under a seat.

[87gtVIC]

Sounds like he needs a hefty dose of reality.

[knucklehead0202]

...Sounds like he needs a fuckin' bicycle. People that treat cars like that aren't fit to own them if you ask me, and sure to hell shouldn't have them loaned/given to them etc. Anyhow, kinda seems unusual for a whale of that year to burn so much oil but who knows how shitty it was treated? I'd say if it runs well enough, put oil in it and drive it. Looks like a very clean car otherwise. My '98 had valve cover leaks I fought for a while but once I got that sorted it might've used a quart every 5000 miles. Oil selection does play a part as well. That car consumed a lot more oil before I switched to Motorcraft syn blend. I sold it at about 110,000 miles and it's still going strong. New owner is a buddy of mine.

Anyhow, don't let that dickhead borrow your car, ever, and drive that '02 until it totally shits the bed, then stick a motor in it. 4.6's are boring, but they bloody well run forever.

[BigMerc96]

The usual cause of 4.6 oil consumption is valve seals. However, if that thing is still running the original PCV valve, that'll do it too. My '97 seems to go thru a PCV every 2 years, always the same, I see an increase in oil consumption and find the PCV line full of oil. Dunno why, my '96 and '98 both had/have their original PCV valves. My '97 burns roughly a quart every 1500-2k miles and that'll easily jump to a quart every 500 when the PCV decides to start sucking oil.

[Mainemantom]

Many kids have no clue how to take care of anything. They have not bought "it" with money they have worked hard for. They go to Mom and Dad for a hand out with the "you owe me attitude" That are what parents are for aren't they? Most have the use it and throw it mind set. Parents are to mostly to blame. They do not hold the kid accountable for anything. I can't find a 20-30 year old around here to do any hard work, unless they get paid allot ! Then they show up when they feel like it.

[Rodentkiller]

My Dad gave my immature sister a car she completly trashed the car Dad paid for all of the repairs and she did not maintain the car and one day it shit the bed. Dad let her use his station wagon and you guessed it she trashed the transmission, I finely told Dad do not let My sister use your cars he learned his lesson pissed her off and she threw a whinny shit fit. Dad told her to go out and buy her own car and she did and now she keeps on top of the maintance and repairs.

[gadget73]

The 96+ usually don't have valve seal problems. Not impossible but if that thing is huffing blue smoke at a high rate you may have a more deeply wounded engine. If its been run out of oil, its definitely damaged.

Reality is when people keep giving you things to replace what you destroy, there is no incentive to not destroy things. Sounds like its time for him to buy his own car. I bet that attitude will change quickly.