Expert: Sean Halliday - 10/10/2006

Question
I would like some possiblities as to why my 99 mazda protoge (it has about 167,000 miles) keeps needing a lot of oil put in (when I never did before, maybe it has a leak?) and now whenever I drive it, while I am driving it idles really high then it goes back to normal. There is also a clicking sound when I accelerate sometimes.  If I may have these possibilities as to why this happens, I would very much appreciate it.  Thank you for your time.  

Answer
Reason for a lot of oil use,is it has high mileage and possibly a leak also.It depends on what your maintenance is like.As the engine gets older the rings wear and burn oil very slighlty which amounts over time.The cure is new rings/rebuild.The high idle may be the EGR valve or a leak at the vacuum system or intake manifold.