What would cause a car to burn oil? I ask this question because for the second time, I went to get an oil change (not from my mechanic, he charges wayy too much) And I was told the cars oil was low and it seems to be burning oil. there are no leaks, I get it done every 3,000 miles religiously, my car has 106,000 miles on it. Any way to find out what the cause could be? Thanks

 

lots of things cause cars to burn oil

1. worn valve stem seals
2. worn piston rings
3. crack in block or head somewhere
4. leak somewhere

why don't you change your own oil next time and verify to the full mark and then check on a regular basis

one sure sign is soot on your exhaust pipes and or puffing of teh blue smoke and a burnt oil smell. also you can pull your plugs and see which ones have oil on them.

 

How much low was it. A little? a quart? not reading on the dipstick? More info would be helpful.

 

-if at full mark and driven 5000-7500 miles of normal use, will be down to the add mark at oil change time--thats perfectly normal

3000 mile changes makes me ask why?, thats old school and oils are way better now-
or do you drive very short trips- low annual miles- hard on the oil?

look at the dipstick when cold now- wipe and insert-read level
ck it every week or every few days if you can
track any useage--let it get down to the add mark

blue smoke from exhaust would be rings- which can be glazed from not getting driven enough--try seafoam in oil for 200 miles before next change
Lots of water come out of the exhaust too?

 

Hi Hitlayers :

I've got the same problem. I use about half a quart month which is allot since I don't drive much. I'm not seeing any blue smoke and I'm not leaking any.

Where's it going ?

smartypants.

 

you can be blowing smoke thats not visable in the mirror

I would run a half can of seafoam in the oil for a few weeks/few hundred miles,,,up to 500 miles with monitoring of the dipstick for sludge
Install a new filter first-- to catch the crud that will come loose
If its a glaze prob that should restore ring action

Cars driven very little tend to glaze the piston rings- sticking in the piston groove instead of moving slightly to keep oil or compression in control

A compression test will show if its a ring problem, a leak down test will say if its valve seals but Im going with clean the system and see whats what

on my car- I would ck the compression dry- and wet (a few drops of oil added will raise pressure if its rings)

set the oil to full and watch the miles and consumption

you can remove the inspection plate between trans and engine- if engine rear main seal leaks it goes inside there and is hidden

 

Thanks for the responses guys, one thing I can admit to is that I do not drive the car that much and it is a little low the guy said, no type of smoke nor smell is coming from the car, I will do the seafoam thing, after putting in a half can of the seafoam and driving it 500 miles, would I have to change the oil again?

 

yes thats it exactly- you can wait till next oil change or bite the bullet and spend the cash to redo the job soon

Since the filter on there is new, if you do it now you can use that filter.
if you wait till oil change time again- throw on a cheap filter- drive- change oil and filter

 

of course- do the monitoring of actual use first
you have no idea where the level really was at change

 

"... a little low... " is open for interpretation. Monitor it yourself closely. Be sure to park on level ground each time first before checking the level.

 

Im hoping the tech said a little low meaning at the add mark
that would be ok

If it were well below the add mark- the expression should have been a more dramatic DUDE you are blowing oil from this thing!!! Look at this dipstick reading!!!!

so as not to be sexist: DUDETTE!!!

you seem to be using considerable oil- let me show you how to ck it each week and you let me know what it does. ok??

 

Ok, thanks.

 

Exactly. Where is it on the dipstick. Also What kind of oil? What weight of oil?