The oil on the dipstick seems lower than what it was two weeks ago. There isn’t any oil visible in the area around your parked car. The space below your car’s engine does not seem to have been moistened by oil.
In addition, you have not seen a large cloud of blue smoke exiting the rear of the car. Where did all of the oil go?
Diagnosing why your car is burning oil but not smoking can be difficult because not all forms of oil consumption will result in a noticeable amount of blue smoke coming from the tailpipe. Even a small amount of oil can enter the combustion chamber and burn with the air/fuel mixture without producing a large enough volume of smoke to be seen from the driver’s seat.
Oil can also be drawn into the intake system via the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system, pass through a turbocharger, or escape through a leak that only occurs once the engine reaches its normal operating temperature.
This does not necessarily mean that the engine is worn out. Oil consumption can occur during normal engine operation, and automotive manufacturers utilize specific procedures for their respective vehicles to determine whether or not the amount of oil being consumed is excessive.
For example, General Motors states that oil consumption is impacted by such variables as driving style/conditions, vehicle mileage and engine design. GM’s service manuals also provide specific procedures for determining how much oil is being consumed rather than relying solely upon visual evidence of smoke.
As an owner, the initial inquiry should be relatively straightforward:
How much oil is the engine truly utilizing?
Once this information has been established, it will be significantly simpler to identify where the oil is disappearing.
Can a Vehicle Utilize Oil Without Creating Visible Smoke?
Absolutely.
It is entirely feasible for a vehicle to be utilizing oil without producing visible smoke.
Engine oil surrounds the pistons, cylinder walls and valve train during normal engine operation. Some portion of the oil film may enter the combustion chamber and burn with the air/fuel mixture.
Toyota’s technical documentation indicates that oil utilized to lubricate valve stems can enter the combustion chamber and subsequently be consumed. Toyota also indicates that oil consumption can vary based upon several characteristics including oil viscosity, oil quality and operating conditions.
The quantity of oil consumed is critical.
If only a small quantity of oil is consumed by the engine, the exhaust emissions may appear to be completely normal. You may never observe the traditional blue smoke associated with an engine consuming excessive amounts of oil.
The presence of smoke can also be intermittent. Smoke may be present only during engine startups, rapid accelerations, rapid decelerations or other specific operating scenarios.
Therefore, observing the exhaust emissions for a short duration following parking your vehicle will not serve as an effective means of evaluating oil consumption.
Rather, evaluating the dipstick readings and the total amount of oil added over time will yield substantially more pertinent information regarding oil consumption.
Begin by Verifying That the Oil Level Is Indeed Declining
Prior to conducting extensive evaluations of piston rings, valve stem seals or turbochargers, verify that your engine’s oil level is indeed decreasing.
This may seem elementary; however, conducting inconsistent evaluations of your engine’s oil levels can cause a properly functioning engine to appear as if it is consuming oil.
Evaluate your engine’s oil levels in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Typically, your vehicle should be positioned on level ground and sufficient time should be allotted for any remaining oil in your engine’s upper regions to drain into the oil pan/sump prior to evaluation if recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
Toyota’s owner documentation provides explicit instructions for evaluating your engine’s oil levels and cautions against failure to evaluate your engine’s oil levels periodically can result in severe engine malfunctions.
Do not compare a “cold” evaluation of your engine’s oil level conducted first thing in the morning with an evaluation conducted immediately following prolonged operation of your engine.
Utilize a consistent evaluation procedure each time you evaluate your engine’s oil levels.
Additionally, recording mileage whenever you evaluate your engine’s oil levels will prove beneficial.
Record any additional oil added to your engine; for example, if you add 500 mL or 1 L of additional oil to your engine record this occurrence.
Following several evaluations of your engine’s oil levels you will possess concrete data from which to evaluate your engine’s oil consumption patterns rather than merely speculating that your engine is utilizing excessive amounts of oil.
Your evaluations will provide historical data for your engine’s oil consumption patterns.
A Reduced Oil Level Does Not Necessarily Indicate Your Engine Is Consuming Oil
This is where numerous evaluations of oil consumption malfunction.
If your engine’s dipstick reading is lower than anticipated, it is possible that your engine is losing oil externally rather than internally.
External leakage can originate from several locations including valve covers, oil pans/sumps, filter housings, drain plugs/capsules, oil cooler lines/connections/fittings, crankshaft seals/gaskets or other gaskets/seals located within your engine.
Certain external leakages are obvious; however, others are not.
Oil can flow down the surface of your engine prior to exiting at the bottom; thus making identification of the precise source of leakage difficult.
Furthermore, a small external leakage can occur onto a hot component within your engine and evaporate prior to exiting at ground level.
You may perceive an odor of hot oil following parking your vehicle; however you may never observe a puddle beneath your vehicle.
Manufacturer service procedures reflect this distinction.
Volkswagen’s 2024 oil consumption procedure mandates that technicians examine your engine for signs of external leakage prior to initiating formal evaluation of your engine’s oil consumption patterns.
If external leakage is detected it must be repaired prior to proceeding with measurement of your engine’s oil consumption patterns.
Similarly, General Motors service documentation calls for inspection of areas such as your engine’s oil pan/sump, engine covers/covers/covers/oil lines/oil fittings when investigating loss of oil from your engine.
Therefore, if your vehicle is consuming oil but not exhibiting visible smoke do not automatically assume that your vehicle’s engine is consuming oil until evidence of external leakage has been ruled out.
Why Some External Leaks Never Produce a Puddle
A slow external leak can be surprisingly challenging to locate.
Consider a valve-cover gasket that only leaks once your vehicle’s engine has achieved its normal operating temperature.
Oil begins to exit from beneath the valve cover gasket and runs onto another component within your vehicle’s engine prior to reaching a heated component within your vehicle’s exhaust system.
The oil burns at this point.
When you park your vehicle there may be nothing beneath it.
Similarly, certain types of external leaks can occur with certain types of oil lines/seals.
Consequently, an odor of burning oil can serve as valuable diagnostic information even when your driveway is devoid of oil puddles.
If you detect an odor of burning oil following operation of your vehicle particularly when your vehicle’s engine is at its normal operating temperature inform your technician.
This information can assist in limiting the scope of investigation into potential sources of external leakage within your vehicle’s engine.
Internal Oil Consumption Can Be Caused by Worn Piston Rings
Piston rings represent one component that technicians evaluate when an engine is consuming more oil than normal.
Piston rings are situated between your engine’s pistons/cylinder walls/valve train and serve two primary functions: sealing combustion pressure within each cylinder and regulating the thickness of the film of oil on each cylinder wall.
Of particular relevance to oil consumption are the oil-control rings located on each piston.
If piston rings become worn/damaged/stick due to carbon buildup or other deposits more oil will remain on each cylinder wall and enter into each respective combustion chamber.
Once oil enters into each respective combustion chamber it will combust with the air/fuel mixture.
Therefore, a vehicle that is consuming oil but not exhibiting visible smoke can experience an internal oil consumption problem regardless of whether or not a continuous stream of blue haze exits from your vehicle’s exhaust system.
Piston ring wear cannot be diagnosed based upon oil consumption patterns alone.
Technicians may consider conducting compression testing/leak-down testing/spark plug inspection/historical oil consumption patterns prior to rendering a decision regarding whether internal engine wear is contributing to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
General Motors has published service procedures for certain engines that exhibited excessive oil consumption patterns resulting from piston/ring problems.
These service procedures are specific to affected engines and should not be considered representative of all engines currently in service regardless of manufacturer/model/year/etc.
As such replacing piston rings represents a significant repair/replacement operation within your vehicle’s engine.
A vehicle should receive a definitive diagnosis prior to engaging in this type of repair/replacement operation within your vehicle’s engine.
Valve Stem Seals Can Contribute to Internal Oil Consumption
Valve stem seals regulate oil surrounding valve stems within your vehicle’s engine.
Once a valve stem seal becomes worn/hardened oil can exit past the valve stem seal and enter into each respective combustion chamber where it will be consumed.
In some instances this will result in a recognizable symptom such as a brief puff of blue smoke exiting from your vehicle’s exhaust system following sitting idle for extended periods of time or following idling for extended durations.
However, this does not occur universally across all vehicles in a readily apparent manner.
Small amounts of oil passing through valve stem seals may simply manifest themselves as gradually increasing oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Your vehicle’s engine may continue to operate normally; however it may gradually exhibit increased oil consumption patterns within its engine over time.
If your vehicle’s engine continues to exhibit decreasing oil levels within its engine and evidence of external leakage has been eliminated valve stem seals should be considered among potential contributors to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
The PCV System Can Introduce Oil Into Your Vehicle’s Intake System
The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system serves an essential function in regulating crankcase vapors within your vehicle’s engine during normal operating conditions.
Some combustion gases will pass beyond piston rings into your vehicle’s crankcase during normal operating conditions.
The ventilation system routes these gases into your vehicle’s intake system so they can be burned rather than discharged into ambient air surrounding your vehicle.
Additionally, the ventilation system must regulate misted oil within your vehicle’s crankcase during normal operating conditions.
If your vehicle’s PCV system becomes restricted/damaged/fails to regulate crankcase pressure properly oil can be drawn into your vehicle’s intake system.
Once oil enters into your vehicle’s intake system it will ultimately participate in combustion processes within each respective cylinder.
Therefore, malfunctioning of your vehicle’s PCV system can produce oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine without an obvious external leakage emanating from your vehicle’s engine.
Modern engines can exhibit more complex ventilation arrangements for their crankcases than a mere replaceable PCV valve.
Certain engines incorporate oil separators/diaphragms/components integrated into valve covers within their engines.
Therefore, “replace the PCV valve” may not represent a comprehensive diagnosis for malfunctioning ventilation systems within your vehicle’s engine.
Therefore, evaluation of ventilation systems and crankcase pressures within your vehicle’s engine must be conducted collectively.
Turbochargers Provide Additional Means for Oil Loss
Turbocharged engines present additional areas requiring consideration when oil consumption patterns increase within their engines.
Turbochargers require engine oil for lubrication/cooling purposes within their engines.
Oil is delivered to turbochargers via dedicated passages within their engines and must drain away properly from turbochargers following delivery within their engines.
Malfunctions with drainage/crankcase pressure/oil delivery/sealing systems associated with turbochargers can enable oil to migrate into either intake/exhaust systems within turbocharged engines.
Garrett’s technical materials specifically warn that turbocharger oil leakages can occur due to various reasons and replacement of turbochargers may not resolve problems associated with oil leakage within turbocharged engines if other failures exist elsewhere within turbocharged engines.
Therefore, technicians should recognize that finding oil surrounding a turbocharger does not necessarily mean that turbochargers themselves have failed within turbocharged engines.
Instead technicians should recognize that ventilation systems/drainage systems/delivery systems/sealing systems/pressure conditions associated with turbochargers within turbocharged engines may require evaluation as well.
Why You May Not Observe Blue Smoke
Although blue smoke represents an important diagnostic indicator relative to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine it is not a prerequisite for oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
The amount of oil consumed within your vehicle’s engine may be insufficient to generate a visible cloud emanating from your vehicle’s exhaust system.
Furthermore, smoke may only be present within your vehicle’s exhaust system under specific conditions.
Examples of conditions under which smoke may be present include:
- Following startup of your vehicle’s engine
- Following idling of your vehicle for several minutes
- Following rapid acceleration of your vehicle
- Following certain periods of deceleration of your vehicle
- Following operation of your vehicle under heavy load
Conversely, smoke may not be present within your vehicle’s exhaust system during routine operation of your vehicle (i.e. cruising).
There exists a distinction between what drivers can observe from inside their vehicles versus what technicians can detect during controlled evaluations of their vehicles’ exhaust systems.
Therefore, evaluating your vehicle’s exhaust emissions for smoke should be viewed as an evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine rather than as an evaluation of smoke detection patterns within your vehicle’s exhaust system.
How Technicians Evaluate Oil Consumption Patterns Within Your Vehicle’s Engine
One of the most beneficial aspects of diagnosing oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine is evaluating your vehicle’s oil consumption patterns over a defined distance traveled within your vehicle’s engine; however this aspect of diagnosis is frequently overlooked within fundamental automotive maintenance advice.
An accurate evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine involves:
- Establishing a baseline quantity of oil present within your vehicle’s engine prior to commencing evaluation
- Recording miles traveled following commencement of evaluation
- Controlling additions of additional oil throughout evaluation
- Calculating quantities of additional oil consumed within your vehicle’s engine during evaluation
Although specific methodologies for evaluating oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine vary among manufacturers generally evaluations involve establishing a baseline quantity of oil present within your vehicle’s engine prior to commencing evaluation; recording miles traveled following commencement of evaluation; controlling additions of additional oil throughout evaluation; and calculating quantities of additional oil consumed within your vehicle’s engine during evaluation.
Volkswagen’s 2024 service procedures provide very specific methodologies for evaluating oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
These procedures require technicians to examine your vehicle’s engine for signs of external leakage prior to commencing evaluation of your vehicle’s oil consumption patterns; utilize a controlled evaluation methodology following examination of your vehicle’s engine for signs of external leakage; and indicate that differences in measurements as small as 50 grams can alter calculations of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine by approximately 0.1 quart per 1000 miles traveled within your vehicle’s engine.
Differences in calculations of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine attributable to differences in measurements illustrate why “I added a liter last month” does not provide sufficient information for technicians to accurately evaluate oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Technicians require knowledge regarding:
- Quantity of oil present within your vehicle’s engine prior to commencement of evaluation
- Distance traveled by your vehicle following commencement of evaluation
- Quantity of additional oil added to your vehicle’s engine during evaluation
- Whether or not additional oil was lost externally from your vehicle’s engine during evaluation
- Oil specifications utilized within your vehicle’s engine during evaluation
- Operating conditions under which your vehicle was operated during evaluation
Once technicians possess this information they can compare calculated oil consumption rates for your vehicle’s engine against manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle’s engine.
There Does Not Exist a Universal Limit for Acceptable Oil Consumption Patterns Within All Engines
Be cautious when reading articles that state there exists a universal number for acceptable oil consumption patterns within all engines.
This statement is inaccurate.
Each manufacturer/engine type/year/model/etc. possesses unique specifications regarding acceptable oil consumption patterns within its respective engines.
For example, General Motors 2024 service information provides a specific acceptable oil consumption guideline for vehicles/conditions covered by this bulletin; however it does not represent this number as universally applicable for all engines in service today regardless of manufacturer/model/year/etc.
Similarly Toyota states that oil consumption patterns within engines can vary based upon several characteristics including oil viscosity/oil quality/driving styles/etc.
Therefore, owners’ manuals/manufacturer service information are relevant when assessing whether oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine are acceptable/unacceptable relative to manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc.
If one type of engine utilizes X ounces/quarts/liters/etc. of oil over Y miles/kilometers/etc. traveled within its engine this does not necessarily imply that another type of engine exhibiting similar consumption patterns within its engine possesses similar problems associated with oil consumption patterns within its engine.
Vehicle mileage also affects oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Older engines exhibiting extensive wear can behave differently than newer engines exhibiting less wear within their engines.
Driving style also affects oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Vehicles exhibiting higher average speeds during extended durations can exhibit different consumption patterns within their engines relative to vehicles primarily utilized for short-distance/light-duty driving within urban/suburban environments.
The correct reference point for comparison when assessing whether oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine are acceptable/unacceptable relative to manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc. is the specification provided for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc.
Short Trips Can Obscure Evaluations of Changes in Oil Levels
Short trip operation can also complicate evaluations of changes in oil levels within your vehicle’s engine.
Toyota’s technical documentation addresses fuel/moisture dilution within engines operating on repeated short trips.
Under certain circumstances this dilution can cause observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine to appear elevated beyond expectations.
Once your vehicle is operated for sufficient distances to eliminate volatile contaminants (such as fuel/moisture) from your vehicle’s engine observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine can decrease significantly following elimination of volatile contaminants (such as fuel/moisture) from your vehicle’s engine.
Such fluctuations in observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine can lead drivers to believe that their engines suddenly began utilizing large quantities of oil; however historical data regarding operation of their vehicles provides contradictory evidence regarding such perceptions.
Therefore, conducting evaluations of observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine periodically rather than relying upon evaluations conducted at isolated times will provide more accurate assessments regarding oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
What Evaluations Should Be Conducted Before Assuming Damage to Your Vehicle’s Engine
If your vehicle is utilizing oil but exhibiting no visible signs of smoke do not commence investigations into expensive repairs/replacements within your vehicle’s engine.
Instead conduct investigations into simpler possibilities first:
- Evaluate your vehicle’s oil levels in accordance with manufacturer specifications using level surfaces.
- Record odometer readings each time you evaluate your vehicle’s oil levels.
- Record each addition of additional oil to your vehicle’s engine; do not estimate quantities of additional oil added to your vehicle’s engine.
- Inspect your vehicle’s engine for signs of external leakage including valve covers/oil pans/sumps/filter housings/drain plugs/capsules/oil cooler lines/connections/fittings/crankshaft seals/gaskets/other gaskets/seals located within your vehicle’s engine.
- Evaluate your vehicle’s engine for odors of burning oil following operation of your vehicle particularly when your vehicle’s engine is at its normal operating temperature; odors of burning oil can indicate oil contacting hot components within your vehicle’s engine/exhaust system.
- Evaluate your vehicle’s PCV system including valves/hoses/separators/components associated with your vehicle’s PCV system.
- Evaluate your vehicle’s turbocharger if applicable including oil delivery/drainage systems associated with your vehicle’s turbocharger as well as intake systems associated with your vehicle’s turbocharger.
- Evaluate spark plugs installed within your vehicle’s engine for evidence of oil entering individual cylinders.
- Conduct compression/leak-down tests on your vehicle’s engine if necessary; results from compression/leak-down tests can aid in identifying internal issues within your vehicle’s engine; however results from compression/leak-down tests must be interpreted in conjunction with all other available diagnostic information pertaining to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
- Conduct an accurate evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine; if technicians cannot identify contributors to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine through other methods; conducting an accurate evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine will provide technicians with quantitative data from which to base decisions regarding further investigation/repair/replacement operations within your vehicle’s engine.
What If Your Vehicle Continues to Operate Normally?
It is entirely possible that your vehicle will continue to operate normally despite exhibiting oil consumption patterns within its engine.
Vehicles can continue to operate normally while consuming oil; however normal operation does not imply that oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine are acceptable/unacceptable relative to manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc.
Therefore, continuous monitoring/evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine is warranted regardless of whether or not your vehicle continues to operate normally.
When Should You Commence Investigations Into Serious Oil Consumption Patterns Within Your Vehicle’s Engine?
Continuous/gradual/stable consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine differ from sudden increases in oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Therefore, pay closer attention to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine if they suddenly increase significantly following periods of relatively stable consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine; or if they suddenly increase significantly following periods during which no additions of additional oil were required to maintain adequate oil levels within your vehicle’s engine between service intervals.
Additional indicators warranting immediate attention/evaluation include:
- Significant increases in oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine
- Oil levels within your vehicle’s engine reaching or falling below minimum recommended levels within your vehicle’s owner’s manual/manufacturer service information
- Blue/blue-gray emissions exiting from your vehicle’s exhaust system
- Odors of burning oil emanating from your vehicle’s engine/exhaust system
- Fresh oil accumulating around components within your vehicle’s engine
- Oil accumulating within components within your vehicle’s intake system
- Misfiring within cylinders within your vehicle’s engine
- Decreased performance within your vehicle’s engine
- Abnormal sounds emanating from within your vehicle’s engine
- Oil pressure warning lights illuminating within your vehicle’s instrument cluster/dashboard display
The illumination of an oil pressure warning light within your vehicle’s instrument cluster/dashboard display should receive additional consideration relative to other indicators listed above.
Illumination of an oil pressure warning light does not merely indicate that your vehicle’s engine is consuming oil; rather it indicates potential problems with oil pressure within your vehicle’s engine.
Continued operation of your vehicle’s engine without sufficient lubrication can result in catastrophic failure/damage within your vehicle’s engine.
Should You Continue Adding Additional Oil to Your Vehicle’s Engine?
If oil levels within your vehicle’s engine are low; restoring oil levels within your vehicle’s engine to manufacturer recommended levels is essential.
However, adding additional oil to your vehicle’s engine should not be considered an end-point for investigations into oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Suppose you continually add 1 liter of additional oil to your vehicle’s engine every 1000 kilometers traveled within your vehicle’s engine for one year; then your vehicle’s engine has consumed a substantial quantity of additional oil within its engine.
Even though your vehicle’s engine continues to operate normally; the reason why your vehicle’s engine consumes additional oil within its engine must be determined.
Maintain a simple record:
| DATE | MILEAGE | ADDITIONAL OIL ADDED | ADDITIONAL OIL LEVEL | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | 82,000 km | — | Full | No visible leakage. |
| 6/20 | 82,700 km | 500 mL | Near low mark | No visible smoke. |
| 7/8 | 83,400 km | 500 mL | Near low mark | Odor of burning oil following highway travel within your vehicle’s engine. |
Maintaining a record similar to this will provide technicians with concrete data from which to initiate investigations into oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Maintaining a record similar to this will also assist in preventing a common occurrence: forgetting how much additional oil has actually been added to your vehicle’s engine over several months.
Do Not Replace Components Based Upon Speculation
A decreasing oil level within your vehicle’s engine can cause vehicle owners to become concerned; particularly when vehicle mileage is high.
Nevertheless, this does not imply that replacing turbochargers/valve stem seals/engines within your vehicle represents subsequent steps following discovery of decreasing oil levels within your vehicle’s engine.
Rather technicians must initially determine causation for decreasing oil levels within your vehicle’s engine before recommending replacement components within your vehicle’s engine.
If technicians discover external leakage emanating from within your vehicle’s engine; technicians must repair/resolve external leakage emanating from within your vehicle’s engine before recommending replacement components within your vehicle’s engine.
If technicians discover malfunctioning PCV systems causing oil to enter intake systems within your vehicle’s engine; technicians must repair/resolve malfunctioning PCV systems causing oil to enter intake systems within your vehicle’s engine before recommending replacement components within your vehicle’s engine.
If technicians confirm malfunction/damage to turbochargers within your vehicle’s engine; technicians must repair/resolve malfunction/damage to turbochargers within your vehicle’s engine before recommending replacement components within your vehicle’s engine.
If technicians confirm piston ring wear/cylinder wall wear within your vehicle’s engine through testing; technicians must discuss options for repair/replacement components within your vehicle’s engine with supporting evidence from testing.
Garrett’s own technical guidance supports this concept concerning turbochargers: oil leakage can have multiple causes; therefore replacing turbochargers may not resolve problems associated with oil leakage within turbocharged engines if other faults exist elsewhere within turbocharged engines.
This same principle applies across all components within your vehicle’s engine.
What Does Burning Oil But Not Smoking Actually Tell You?
Burning oil but not smoking does not necessarily indicate severe malfunction/damage within your vehicle’s engine.
However it does indicate that monitoring/tracking observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine must continue following discovery of decreasing oil levels within your vehicle’s engine.
Oil may be entering combustion chambers within your vehicle’s engine via piston rings/valve trains within your vehicle’s engine; oil may be pulled through PCV systems within your vehicle’s engine; turbochargers may contribute to oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine; or your vehicle’s engine may exhibit external leakage that does not reach ground level beneath your vehicle.
Measuring oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine is the first step in addressing oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
Measure observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine according to manufacturer specifications; record miles traveled following measurement; record each addition of additional oil to your vehicle’s engine; look for signs of external leakage emanating from within your vehicle’s engine; pay attention to odors emanating from within your vehicle’s engine/exhaust system as well as changes in operation characteristics within your vehicle’s engine following measurement/addition of additional oil to your vehicle’s engine.
If observed oil consumption patterns continue within your vehicle’s engine following measurements/additions of additional oil to your vehicle’s engine; conducting an accurate evaluation of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine will enable technicians to determine actual rates of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine.
This type of quantitative data will provide technicians with significantly more useful information regarding oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine than waiting for visible signs of smoke emanating from within your vehicle’s exhaust system.
If actual rates of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine exceed manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc.; technicians must identify reasons why actual rates of oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine exceed manufacturer specifications for your particular vehicle/engine type/year/model/etc.
A clean driveway/clear exhaust system does not prove that an engine is not consuming any oil within its engine; sometimes observed oil levels within your vehicle’s engine are the initial location where issues associated with oil consumption patterns within your vehicle’s engine manifest themselves.
