How to Troubleshoot of Losing Engine Oil
The following steps can be used to assist you in troubleshooting aggravating oil consumption issues.
1. The first step in troubleshooting an engine that appears to be burning oil is to carefully inspect the exterior of the engine itself. This ensures that the leak itself is indeed internal, rather than external.
2. Next, perform a compression test and leakdown test on each of the engine’s cylinders. Readings from these tests should be compared to those specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Lower than specified compression readings would likely indicate worn piston rings and/or valve guides/seals. This too, is likely the source of your engine’s oil consumption.
3. You should also check the engine’s cooling system for signs of contamination. Oil contaminated coolant will be muddy or murky, much like sludge, and often appears brown or gray in color. Contamination of this type would most likely indicate a cracked block, cracked cylinder head, brown head gasket, or compromised intake gasket.
Are Some Vehicles Just More Prone to Losing Oil?
Yes, some vehicles are more prone to losing oil than others. This is due to a variety of reasons, including the longevity of certain internal engine components. It seems as if almost every automaker has a couple of models, or particular engines that are known more prevalently for oil consumption and oil loss.
With this in mind, there is not a single engine that has ever been built that is not prone to oil consumption and loss of some degree as miles and internal wear/tear begins to stack up. Some vehicles just prove more problematic in this regard than others.
Will an Oil Additive Help?
The topic of whether or not oil additives will help oil consumption is highly debated. The simple answer to this question is, “Yes”, oil additives can potentially reduce oil consumption to some degree.
However, this is usually accomplished by increasing the viscosity (thickening) of an engine’s oil to reduce loss and consumption. However, this does nothing to repair or mitigate the root cause of an engine’s oil burning or consumption. The problem with this is that it is often rather invasive to perform such repairs.