Why would a 1988 Dodge Dakota two wheel drive pickup lose a quart of oil every thousand miles with no smoking or leakage?

Answer 1

valve guides are worn. Have it done when the engine is rebuilt probably in 50,000 miles.

That could be it...also try switching to synthetic oil. My 94 Dakota was losing a quart a month/thousand miles, then we switched to synthetic, and by the next oil change we were losing none at all. We were using Valvoline Max Life Full Synthetic. It actually strengthens the seals and reduces leaking that way.