Replacing the converter and exhaust system have nothing to do with oil consumption......but the old exhaust could have been useful for diagnostics: was the exhaust tip coated with deposits inside?
Has the car been well maintained since new? If so, the engine has enough life in it to justify new valve stem seals - a common source of oil consumption when an engine has high miles. If not that, could need an engine rebuild which may not be cost effective. Or, maybe it's just time to switch to a heavier weight oil.....or one of the "high mileage" blends.
Your 14-year old engine is worn to the point that it is burning oil. Could be several different reasons, but none of them cheap or easy to fix. I suggest you go find a local mechanic who can inspect and evaluate your car to see if it is worth fixing, or if it's time to look for a replacement.
Your cat. conv. is going to have a very short life due to the oil burning.
Your engine needs rebuilt. The rings are worn.
My car has 207k miles on it. Ive replaced the catalytic converter and exhaust and I still have exhaust smoke. Not sure if it smells like oil, to me it just smells like bad exhaust. Ive had to add around 1.5 quarts of oil in the last 1500 miles since the last change. No oil on ground. Ive checked the coolant which appears to be fine and the oil doesnt look milky. What else can I look for and should I be driving it?
