I have a 1987 245 w/236,000 miles. For the past months, occasionally 1/2 quart of oil disappears. It happened 3 times on a 250-mile trip all highway with 100 miles of Interstate. Once on the trip BACK it didn't lose any oil at all. In-between these longer trips, around town w/some highway driving, it doesn't lose oil either. I cannot see any external leaks, engine looks clean, maybe a little smeared but no glissening oil patches. Don't notice smoke out the tail pipe. Power seems up to normal. I've had this car for 4 years, it never leaked on drop.

One shop listened, then said that the engine is failing and that I am most likely looking at a $ 4000 repair. They said that valves etc can fail that quickly and there will be no quick fix. I had an oil-burning Volvo before and drove it for 1 year before the engine failed - but there was also noticable loss of power over the months, and my current Volvo had good compression just last fall. Another shop said it's not losing THAT much and oil loss is not unusual for that old a car, and I should just keep an eye on it, provided the seals are tight which is what they will check for next week.

I am thinking and hoping flame trap? It was replaced 3 years (24,000 miles) ago. Is it possible?

Thanks!