Many people complain that the oil levels in their cars become low frequently, and they have to add them regularly for better engine performance.
Why is My Car Burning Oil So Fast? A car burning oil so fast is due to damaged piston rings, leaky valve seals, poor maintenance, faulty PVC valves, use of wrong oils, depending on cars, blown out gaskets, and poor lubrication of engine parts. Moreover, it is because of poorly attached filters, bad driving habits, and worn-out oil and filler cap.
The excessive burning of motor oil increases overheating in the exhaust area and leads to the failure of the catalytic converter. Moreover, you can also feel a burning smell and see cloudy smoke from the exhaust tailpipes.
Causes | Solutions |
Damaged piston rings | Avoid cold starting your cars |
Leaky valve seals | Oil leak stop additives |
Poor maintenance | Use the correct type of oil and change them |
Faulty PCV valve | Maintenance and cleaning of PCV valves |
Blown-out head gaskets | Replace the blown-out gaskets |
Poorly attached oil filters | Tighten the oil filters |
Poor driving habits | Avoid excessive idling and sudden braking |
Worn-out oil pan and filler cap | Safe driving and tightening of filler caps |
Damaged piston rings
The primary function of the piston ring is to create a barrier between the piston and cylinder walls to keep the moving motor oils away from the combustion gases.
Moreover, it also controls the movement of lubricating oil. The failure of piston rings allows their uncontrolled movement into the engine compartment, and you can see their low levels.
In addition, these can also enter the combustion chamber and burn there because of damaged piston seals.
The increased pressure inside the chamber and wrong seals cause their displacement from the original location and disturbance of the barrier.
In addition, these can also go bad due to overheating in the compartment. Avoiding cold starts of cars to decrease the risk of wear and tear on piston rings.
Clean the rings properly and also remove the residues from the oil return holes for their efficient functioning.
Leaky valve seals
The valve seals prevent the seeping of motor oil into the combustion chamber. In addition, it also regulates their movement for the lubrication of metal parts inside the engine compartment.
It controls the consumption and allows their movement in a minimum amount sufficient for lubrication.
The worn out or damaged valve seals cause movement of motor oil into the combustion chamber and their burning.
The issue comes due to worn-out or cracked valve seals over time. The overheating in the chamber increases the risk of damage. These can crack easily because of their less-strengthening rubber material.
The poor installation of seals causes leaky valves. You can resolve the problem by using oil leak-stopping additives because these contain chemicals, ceramic particles, and fibers for sealing.
Poor maintenance
The oil burning depends on the age and model of the cars. The older ones consume more because of their poorly lubricated and damaged parts.
In addition, some cars use more motor oils to lubricate the moving engine parts than others. Poor maintenance causes this issue and increases your refilling cost.
People often use the wrong ones for lubrication, which can increase their consumption. The problem also occurs when you use the ones with incorrect viscosity.
You can face the problem of not properly maintaining the parts and changing the old and contaminated motor oils.
The worn-out and poorly lubricated parts consume more motor oils. Change the contaminated oil and select the ones with the right viscosity and consistency that suit your vehicle.
Faulty PCV valve
The PCV valve stands for positive crankshaft ventilation valve, allowing the outside airflow when pressure increases in the chamber.
Sometimes these valves get stuck and malfunction easily. The stuck or bad valves allow the oil to enter the chamber and eventually lead to excessive burning and high consumption.
It can also increase the risk of misfiring in the engine and the usage of motor oils. The failure of PCV valves can stick from exposure to high pressure and temperature.
The continuous application of forces from high pressure can produce cracks in them. The proper maintenance and servicing of your vehicle reduce the risk of failure of these valves.
You can also use carburetor cleaners to avoid clogging and sticking problems.
Blown-out head gaskets
The head gaskets create the seals between the cylinder walls and engine heads. It maintains the pressure in a combustion chamber formed by the spark plugs.
Moreover, it hinders the seeping of motor oil into the cylinders. It also keeps their mixing with coolant and releases colored smoke from the exhaust system.
The oil levels deplete quickly when head gaskets get damaged or blown out. The plastic ones are more prone to damage because of overheating in the engine compartment.
The high mileage and age of the engines produce wear and tear in the metallic ones. Therefore, you should install them properly and avoid leaking issues.
It is also necessary to replace them if you see cracks in their surface.
Poorly attached oil filters
Filtering motor oil is necessary because contaminated ones can build on engine components and increase the wear and tear risk.
The filters remove the contaminants and allow the flow of clean lubricant in the metal parts for smooth movement without any friction.
The poor attachment and installation of oil filters allow more lubricant to flow into the engine parts and their excessive burning. You need to add or refill them frequently because of their consumption.
The issue also comes due to the installation of wrong-sized filters. Check its seals that these are correctly attached with filters.
Moreover, use the correct size of filters according to car brand and model. You can also tighten them with your hands for a correct adjustment instead of using a wrench.
Poor driving habits
Poor driving habits increase the risk of more oil burning in your vehicles. In addition, many people leave their cars in idling for a long time which can increase motor oil consumption and damage engine parts.
Moreover, frequent short drives and sudden application of brakes also cause this problem. The harsh acceleration not only affects the engine but also affects the tires and causes maintenance issues.
People often press the accelerator so hard to come off from the dead spots. However, you can reduce oil usage by maintaining your driving habits.
Avoid the application of sudden brakes and excessive idling while waiting in your cars for a longer time.
Worn-out oil pan and filler cap
The oil pan is part of the lubrication system and is attached to the engine’s bottom end. It is attached to the lower parts with bolts and screws.
It acts as the reservoir and keeps the oil in the lubricating parts. The worn out or damaged pan causes leaking and more burning.
These can get damaged when you are moving on roads with low-lying parts. Moreover, the problem comes while driving on unpaved and bumpy roads.
The reservoirs are also prone to wear and tear, increasing the risk of leaking. Road debris can also hit their surface and produce cracks and holes.
Many people also face the issue of damaged or worn-out oil filler caps. These are made of plastic or metal material, and you add fresh oil.
The damaged seals of caps allow the uncontrolled movement of motor oil into the engine parts, and their levels become low.
I always drive carefully on bumpy roads. Avoid driving in areas that have low-lying parts because it can produce cracks in pans and reservoirs.
It is necessary to close the oil filler cap after refilling to avoid any leakages.
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