My 1995, 850T has never used or leaked oil and has 150k miles on it. In the past several weeks it has been leaking oil by the front radiator and puddles about the size of an orange when parked. Oil consumption is now about a quart every 300 miles. Have replaced oil filter line from the turbo, and the car shows no fault codes at present. Also had engine oil blow-by which was resolved by a new seal on the oil cap. Car runs great otherwise. Any thoughts about what might be causing the oil consumption?

First of all, a little terminology here.

Oil consumption usually refers to oil being burned, and oil leakage refers to oil leaking. I assume that your "Oil consumption is now about a quart every 300 miles" refers to oil leakage, and not burning.

Assuming that is the case, you also mentioned "had engine oil blow-by." I assume you mean that your car was experiencing high crankcase pressures and, consequently was leaking, or blowing, oil from the oil cap. You then state: "which was resolved by a new seal on the oil cap." I'm afraid that by replacing the oil cap seal, you did not resolve the problem, you just forced it somewhere else--possibly to the rear main seal.

If you were having high crankcase pressures, replacing the oil cap seal didn't reduce those pressures. If anything, it increased the pressures and forced some other engine component to relieve those pressures. Usually it is the dipstick that "pops," But the rear main seal may have been the weak point.

If the rear main seal did blow, you've got bigger problems now. But, regardless, you need to find the source of those high crankcase pressures, and resolve the originating problem. Otherwise, you are just going to blow your new rear main seal.

My 94 855T has 145k and I've experienced almost identical symptoms. After removing the plastic pan and steam cleaning the bottom of the engine, I've found a steady drip-drip of oil from the weep hole in the bottom of the intercooler. Is this from failure of the seal and bearing in the turbo charger itself? I understand a bit of accumulation in the bottom of the IC is normal, but a sudden drastic change in oil consumption is definitely not. Could it be leakage from somewhere within the IC or external oil cooler? After a 300 mile trip my back window was completely coated with oil, yet the tailpipe has no oil residue-just dry soot. Went from no oil leaks and minimal consumption to half a quart per 300 miles and a four inch wide puddle overnight. I religiously change oil at 3k. Help! I'm scared of a turbo rebuild.

The intercooler weep hole increase sounds like the turbo seal on the intake side. This is certainly not a leak at the engine crankshaft seal like gregs had.

Sounds like rear seal. Just had my '94 done @161,500. 10 hours labor, unfortunately.

Search for "rear main seal leak".