Lower Intake Leak?

[tshaner]

I've been reading a lot about the infamous lower intake gasket and oil consumption. And I have a few questions.

My X (94 Limited) is using about a quart every 1000 miles or so. Does not seem to be burning it, no leaks that would explain it, and no oil smell. #5 plug does seem to have oil on the threads so I suspect the lower intake. Question is, wouldn't a vacuum test show a leak like this? Or would it be small enough to cause the oil problem but not a vacuum issue? The X runs fine, although it seems to have less power than I think it should, but that could just be me. In any case, the only things I can think of are the lower intake or oil getting blown out the breather. There is SOME in the air intake, but not so much as to explain the amount of oil consumption. I hope... (bad rings = bad news)

Any thoughts out there?

 

[jimmiecakes]

The lower intake leak is an insidious little bugger. It seems to affect different cars different ways..... About the easiest way to check is to disable BOTh sides of the PCV system and feed propane into the crankcase. RPM gain would equal intake leak.

Judging from the frquency of complaints ( not to mention the mickey mouse way of attaching the lower manifold to the block rather than the heads ) I would consider doing the lower manifold "just because". It IS cheaper than a lot of things you could try and HAS proven to be a real bone of contention.