Is your car's oil level low between oil changes. Check the causes and troubleshoot this problem @PartsAvatar.

Troubleshoot problems, causes and ways to improve oil consumption capacity of your car – Tips from PartsAvatar Auto Parts.

Oil consumption is one of the most alarming situations a car owner faces.If your car’s engine is working fine, then there is no need to add oil. New cars have the benefit of almost working on no oil. Mostly new engines consume less than half quart of oil in 3000 miles. But it’s a grave problem for older engines. Engine is either burning oil due to worn piston rings or the oil is making its escape by leaking due to bad gasket. This could cost you heavy expenses for repair. First we need to properly diagnose our problem.

In this article, you will get the answers to the questions like, how to determine whether the consumption is high or low? What is its cause? How to fix it?

How to determine whether the consumption is normal?

As the vehicles age, there fuel or oil consumption also increases due to wear. So how much is considered normal? Let us read it in detail.

Not every engine consumes same amount of oil because of their different specifications of engines. There is not a specific guideline for this issue.

BMW tells its customers that the normal consumption can be in the range of one quart within 2000 miles on a properly driven or serviced drive. Sometimes answers vary as different professionals and mechanics have varying views over oil consumption.

So as a uniform rule, engines with fewer than 50000 miles should not use much more than a quart of oil between oil changes. Engine might be showing the signs of leaks if it demands oil every 3000 miles. This could also point to other engine problems related to combustion, worn out piston rings or worn seals.On the hole you can expect increase in oil consumption after 75000 miles under normal conditions.

For heavy engines like V6 or V8, manufacturers permit oil consumption up to 1 liter per 1000 km. many newer engines use low viscosity oil. This increases the chances of oil consumption as the thin oil slips over worn out rings, seals and gaskets.

It is very important to timely check for engine oil level and leaks in the engine. Visit your mechanic as soon as you encounter any problem regarding oil consumption. If you suspect leaks, get the element fixed or replaced otherwise the repair cost would be quite expensive if the damage increases. Consumption also depends upon the type of driving we do on the road. If you practice moderate driving on the road the consumption might be 0.1L per 1000 miles.

What is causing increased oil consumption?

Check the following symptoms for increased oil consumption.

No Smoke from Exhaust

If there is no trace of smoke in the exhaust, there is high possibility that oil level is low.Check the following root causes in this case.

Check the PCV Valves and replace them if they are not working properly.

The engine might have been undergoing some internal mechanical problems so diagnose and fix them immediately.

If the engine is not burning the oil properly then there are chances that engine’s valve seals are damaged. Visit your mechanic and get the valve seals replaced.

There might be some issue with engine’s gasket. Sometimes damaged or worn gasket or seals may increase the oil consumption. Get the gaskets and seals checked and repaired at the same time by a professional.

Coolant appears Brownish and foamy

There are many symptoms here like the most common being dirtied coolant. There aren’t any leaks visible but still your vehicle is losing oil and the engine is consuming more oil than normal. If you detect these symptoms then it is better to check the following causes.

Blown head gasket and cracked cylinder head are on the top of the list. It’s better to start your inspection by examining the head gasket and cylinder heads. If you find them not working up to the mark, then it is the right time to get them replaced. Aftermarket auto head gaskets and cylinder head are quite reliable and increasingly purchased by most owners.

Sometimes a crack or leak in the oil line could cause the oil to slip into the cooling system and ruin it. In this case replace or your car's engine oil cooler.

Oil puddles under the car

If you notice puddles of oil under your car, there is probably a leak. The oil level is not proper and sometimes you may notice burning smell of oil when the engine is idle. Keep your engine filled with proper level of oil and check for the following reasons that could prompt these symptoms.

In this case, you might have to check and replace your engine’s damaged PCV valves if necessary. You can also visually inspect the engine’s gasket and seals for any sign of damage or wear.The oil might be escaping due to loosened oil filter. Check car's engine oil filter out and tighten it. If you feel the need of replacement, then go ahead as it is a very simple DIY job for you.

Engine uses more oil and there is some smoke in exhaust

There are many symptoms like the Engine is consuming more oil than normal.The oil level gets low and engine’s oil is being burnt due to the smoke in the exhaust. If you notice that your car engine is losing its capacity and power then you will have to check the following causes.

A clogged PCV valve can cause the oil get sucked through air intake into the engine. In this case, it is better to get car's PCV Valve replaced by a professional.

A worn piston ring is a danger to the engine as it allows the engine oil to slip past. Oil might get on the wrong side of the ring so call your mechanic immediately if you notice any damage and replace auto piston rings if necessary.

Similarly, you will need to check the valve seals, as they might also be allowing the oil to slip through where it should not. Get the Valve seals replaced by professional if you detect this issue.

How to fix it?

The very first step towards fixing is to always use good quality oil in your vehicle. It is very important to maintain the proper level of the engine oil. If you ever notice oil contamination or carbon deposits on the oil neck, replace the dirty oil with the new high quality one matching your engine’s standards.

As explained above, if you notice the symptom and after detecting the damaged parts, get them replaced by your mechanic. Not every replacement job is a DIY, so secure your vehicle in the hands of mechanic or a professional.

For oil leaks there are some products called stop oil leaks available at online auto parts stores, so you can also choose this method to stop the leak.

In the end Parts avatar advises to use premium quality oil and the most important thing is to check and maintain your car regularly for best performance. You can also check Partsavatar.ca if you wish to shop for more Auto parts or accessories at cheap prices.