Oil consumption
Everything you need to know about why oil gets consumed and how to fix it
Oil consumption in an engine is usually seen as an indicator of its technical condition. It’s often the question of oil consumption that kicks off negotiations when buying a used car. In reality, though, increased oil consumption doesn’t always point to serious engine problems, just as the absence of any consumption can’t guarantee the engine is in perfect shape either.
So if your engine has started using more oil than before, that’s still far from a reason to scrap the car or send the engine for an overhaul — you need to weigh everything carefully and, first of all, figure out exactly where and why the oil is going.
- Top up or change? Why topping up with fresh oil is not enough when consumption is high: combustion products build up in the engine, so the oil still has to be changed on time.
- Why Does Oil Consumption Happen? Is It a Lot or a Little? Is a litre of oil per thousand kilometres a lot or a little? It depends: for V6 or V8 engines it's almost within the norm, for inline small-displacement engines it's definitely a lot.
- An oil leak Six typical engine oil leak points, from the valve cover and cylinder head gaskets to crankshaft seals, and three causes: unsuitable oil, overfilling, long standstill.
- Burning oil: how to spot it in the exhaust How to recognise burning engine oil by bluish smoke and a ring at the exhaust tip, what drives the amount, and why a modern engine’s dipstick level can mislead.
- Why Does Oil Burn Off? Five reasons oil burns off: unsuitable viscosity, worn valve seals and piston rings, scored cylinders, crankcase gas pressure; and what to do about each.
- Why Does Oil Consumption Happen? Where Does the Oil Go? Is 1 litre of oil per thousand kilometres a lot, and where does it go? It leaks or burns off, and consumption can often be cut simply before any overhaul.
- Higher oil consumption High oil consumption has two causes, a leak and burning: a leak is simply repaired, while burning can be reduced without a major engine overhaul.
- Where does the oil disappear to? Even a newly bought engine slowly “eats” oil. A higher-viscosity oil and a calmer driving style help cut burn-off; the main points in brief.
- On the causes of engine oil consumption Every engine burns some oil, even one that was only recently bought. More on the causes of oil consumption.
- On the causes of oil consumption You can significantly cut how much oil your engine burns by using a more viscous oil and changing your driving style.
- High engine oil consumption in the engine The two main causes of high engine oil consumption are burning and leaks: a leak must be fixed, while burning can be reduced well before an engine overhaul.
- Cutting engine oil consumption significantly Every engine burns some engine oil, even a brand-new one. An article on the causes of engine oil consumption.
- Higher engine oil consumption (more viscous oil) A short note: every engine burns oil, even a new one, and a calmer driving style and a more viscous oil can noticeably reduce how much is lost.
- Where does the oil go? A short note on the two causes of higher engine oil consumption, leaks and burn-off, and why burn-off can be cut noticeably without an engine overhaul.
- High oil consumption Even a new engine uses some oil; burning can be cut by changing your driving style and using a thicker oil, while third-party additives put the engine at risk.
- High engine oil consumption Even a newly bought car can burn oil; changing your driving style and switching to a higher-viscosity engine oil noticeably reduces the consumption.
- On the causes of engine oil consumption A short note on oil burn-off: even a new engine burns oil, and consumption can be cut noticeably with a more viscous oil and a different driving style.
- Higher engine oil consumption In brief, how to cut engine oil consumption from burning: switch to a more viscous oil and change your driving style, since even a new car burns off some oil.
- Causes of engine oil consumption: in brief In brief, the two causes of higher engine oil consumption, a leak and burning: a leak is fixed, and burning can be reduced without an engine overhaul.
- Causes of oil consumption A note on oil consumption: every engine, even a new one, uses some oil, and a more viscous oil and a calmer driving style can bring consumption down.
- Where does engine oil go? (how to cut down burn-off) Even a new engine consumes oil. This note explains that burn-off can be cut significantly by switching to a more viscous oil and driving more calmly.
- Higher engine oil consumption (changing your driving style) Oil burns off in every engine, even a brand-new one. This note explains that a different driving style and a more viscous oil cut consumption from burning.
- Where does engine oil go? (leaking or burning off) Engine oil either burns off or leaks. A short note on why both causes of oil consumption can usually be fixed without an engine overhaul.
- Burning oil: does it call for an overhaul? Burning oil does not always mean an overhaul: it is often cheaper to just top up the oil, and if the burning is very heavy, replacing the engine costs less.
- An engine oil leak A short note: not every spot where engine oil can leak is visible with the bonnet open, and not every garage mechanic knows them. See the oil consumption article.
- How to reduce oil consumption A short note: before you commit to an engine overhaul because of high oil consumption, try some less drastic ways of reducing it.
- On the causes of oil consumption Engine oil either burns off or leaks out. A short note on why a leak is easier to fix, and why fighting burn-off is not always worth the effort.
- On the causes of engine oil consumption in the engine There are only two causes of oil consumption: the oil either burns off in the cylinder block along with the fuel, or it leaks out of the engine.
- Why Does Oil Go Down? There are only two reasons for engine oil consumption: in reality the oil either burns off in the cylinder block along with the fuel, or it simply leaks out onto the ground.
- How to prevent excessive oil consumption? The two main causes of engine oil consumption: leaks through seals and gaskets, and burning in the cylinders from worn valve seals, rings or an ill-matched oil.
- Causes of engine oil consumption: a detailed list Causes of engine oil consumption: leaks past gaskets and seals, burning with bluish smoke, worn valve seals and rings, wrong viscosity, turbo, crankcase pressure.