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Dear Bosn Higgs,
Hope you're well. Scientists at the Sandia National Labs will want to speak with You. The contact phone number is: (505) 844-8066.
Oil loss, at the rate of a quart in 400 miles, is a huge loss.
More seriously, does the car emit clouds of blue smoke? If so, this is a sign that oil is being burned. That shouldn't happen, unless the car has upwards of 300,000 miles on it, and has been poorly maintained.
Put clean paper (newsprint will do) Under the engine, after you park the car for the night (or day). See if there are oil spots or puddles on the paper, and make a note as to whether they are at the front or back of the engine, or if on the side, right or left.
Next, is this a turbo or a non-turbo? If it is a turbo, when were the hoses, that take oil to the turbo, replaced? If they are factory-original, they are at the end of their working life.
If this car is a non-turbo, is the dome cover - the black cover on the top of the engine - wet with oil. If so, this is a sign that: (a) there's excessive crankcase pressure, caused by a clogged oil breather system and/or (b) that the oil filler cap gasket has hardened with heat/time and needs to be replaced.
If this is a non-turbo, when was the flame-trap last cleaned? It is located between the intake manifold tubes Nos. 2 and 3. Have a replacement insert and a spare housing. The housing has a side nipple, which gets brittle with time, so it might snap-off, as you remove the hose. Check to see that the manifold nipples - to which the breather hoses attach - are not clogged with glop (a very technical term).
If the oil breather system is clogged, oil will be forced pass gaskets and seals. If oil leaks from the back of the engine (just before the tranny), that suggests the real main seal is leaking. If oil leaks from under the dome cover (top of engine), that suggests the dome gasket has been compromised. It is also possible for oil to be forced pass the front seals. If so, the timing belt will have been softened by the oil, and should be replaced.
Please post back with your findings.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
Spook
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