Does my new car burn oil?
Graham Reynolds | 25th May 2023 | 5 minutes to read
As you collect the keys from the car dealership to take delivery of your new car you know that your first 3-5 years of ownership will be trouble free. Manufacturer warranties coupled with regular dealer servicing mean that, apart from filling with petrol and occasionally checking the washer fluid or tyre pressures, you can cruise in style.
But what if your vehicle maintenance schedule was a little more involved than that and you were required to do this even within this new car window?
This article will cover the reasons your car is burning oil and what normal oil consumption looks like:
How Much Oil Should a New Car Burn?
Oil consumption on even new cars or newer engines is a fact and this comes at the trade-off of decreased fuel consumption. A manufacturer can state normal oil consumption to be anywhere up to 2.5 litres per 5,000 kilometres of driving so this is definitely something to be aware of and to closely monitor. A monthly check of your vehicle’s oil dipstick can save you significant costs and potential breakdown when your oil level gets low and starves your engine of critical lubrication.
What Are the Signs That a Vehicle Is Burning Oil?
Anyone who has driven a car that is 25 years old or more may have encountered the familiar puff of blue smoke that exits the exhaust pipe as it starts in the morning or as you take off from the lights. This oil consumption comes from age and wear and derives from oil entering the combustion chamber and burning in the combustion process.
Worn piston rings running against the cylinder walls will allow a certain amount of engine oil to enter the combustion chamber as well as worn valve stem seals that can contribute. Why then is modern car oil burning an issue when there is no engine damage, and the piston rings and valve seals are brand new?
Visible signs of your vehicle burning oil may be seen in engine warning lights on the dash or poor driveability. These will be triggered by blocked sensors and vacuum hoses that need to function properly. Rough idling, hesitation on acceleration, and poor fuel economy may be other tell-tale signs of blocked air galleries or choked catalytic converters; naturally, a decrease in oil on your engine’s dipstick is the most visible sign of oil consumption or loss.
Why Is My Car Burning Engine Oil?
The answer lies in the tolerances that are built into the moving parts by the vehicle or engine manufacturer.
In a bid to decrease fuel consumption, the engine manufacturer will decrease the tolerances of their moving parts to free up friction and frictional losses that force your engine to work harder.
Whilst these losses may be marginal, the weekly expense of additional fuel may be the contributing factor to you looking at other manufacturers’ products.
Vehicle manufacturers are also bound by more stringent fuel economy standards, so this then leads them to look for ways to increase these criteria, often causing your car to burn oil.
Is Burning Too Much Oil Likely To Cause Any Problems?
Whilst consumption of small amounts of motor oil will happen naturally through the combustion process, excessive oil consumption will have detrimental effects on both engine life and many of the essential components attached to your engine.
Intake and exhaust parts such as your catalytic converter, EGR, or PCV valve can become clogged through the burnt exhaust gas build up on the inside of these components. Once clogged or blocked, these either need replacement or a system flush, both of which can become costly.
Which New Vehicles Tend To Burn Oil?
Although by no means an exhaustive list, there have been reported cases of excessive oil consumption from manufacturers such as Subaru, Honda, General Motors, BMW, Audi, VW, Mercedes, and Toyota. Both passenger cars and utility vehicles are affected, and it pays to do significant research prior to purchase to understand both normal consumption and any subsequent issues that result from excessive oil consumption.
As an example, BMW have stated that up to and around 500ml per 1,000 kilometres of driving is considered normal. With service intervals being anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 kilometres it does not bear thinking about when considering the oil consumed over this mileage.
What To Do if My Car Is Burning Oil?
Losing oil through cylinder wall lubrication is a necessary by-product of your engine working, but it pays to understand what is considered normal consumption and what is the maximum permitted oil consumption for your vehicle.
Having owned both a Mazda 3 from new and a low kilometre 2012 Holden Commodore, I have been surprised at the oil consumption of these vehicles. Neither displays leaking oil and both are serviced at their scheduled intervals with the manufacturer’s recommended grade and viscosity of oil for their oil change. Even with this I have had to top up my oil by up to 1 litre (one quart) at selected periods between services to ensure the oil stays within the high and low range on the dipstick.
It is also not recommended to top up and overfill with more oil as this can promote issues such as increased crankcase pressure which may cause an oil leak and thereby require additional repairs.
As oil consumption is not considered a safety issue there are limited methods of recourse if seeking compensation or action against an engine manufacturer. It pays to do your homework and be armed with both the knowledge of what your vehicle is expected to use and a schedule to check and top up your engine oil.
If you believe your vehicle displays excessive oil consumption and this has been verified by your local mechanic or workshop you may want to speak to the manufacturer about this.
Keep Your Oil Consumption Issues Under Control With Quality Engine Oil From Repco
From this detail it could be concluded that all modern vehicles or most engines are consuming oil at a rate far greater than most expectations. Stay on top of this engine oil consumption with a top up bottle of engine oil from Repco.
Available in handy 1 litre bottles through to 5, 10, and 20 litre drums, we have the right grades and viscosities to ensure your engine performs to its optimum level no matter what you drive.
