Causes of Burning Oil in Car Engine

Worn Piston Rings

Worn piston rings are the most common cause of oil burning in car engines. Piston rings are located around the circumference of each piston and help to create a seal between the piston and the cylinder wall. This seal prevents combustion gases from leaking into the crankcase and oil from leaking into the combustion chamber. When piston rings become worn, they can no longer form an effective seal, which allows oil to leak into the combustion chamber and be burned.

Worn Valve Guides

Valve guides are located in the cylinder head and help to guide the valve stems as they open and close. They also help to prevent oil from leaking into the combustion chamber. When valve guides become worn, they can no longer effectively guide the valve stems, which can lead to oil leaking into the combustion chamber and being burned.

Worn Valve Seals

Valve seals are located on the valve stems and help to prevent oil from leaking into the combustion chamber. When valve seals become worn, they can no longer effectively prevent oil from leaking into the combustion chamber, which can lead to oil being burned.

Damaged Turbocharger

A damaged turbocharger can also cause oil burning in car engines. Turbochargers are used to increase engine power by compressing the air that enters the engine. When a turbocharger is damaged, it can leak oil into the intake or exhaust system, which can lead to oil being burned.

Other Causes

There are a number of other factors that can also contribute to oil burning in car engines, including:

Overfilling the engine with oil
Using the wrong type of oil
Driving the car aggressively
Having a faulty PCV valve

Symptoms of Burning Oil

The following are some of the symptoms that may indicate that your car is burning oil:

Blue smoke coming from the exhaust
Low oil levels
Oil leaks
Rough idling
Loss of power

How to Fix Oil Burning

The best way to fix oil burning is to diagnose the underlying cause and address it. In some cases, a simple repair, such as replacing worn piston rings or valve seals, may be all that is needed. In other cases, more extensive repairs, such as rebuilding the engine, may be necessary.