Why a Car Consumes Oil
Anyone who has a car and wants to keep it in perfect condition will know that from time to time you have to fill the oil. There are some who simply do it when they have to take it to the mechanic, but if we check with the rod we will see that as we go miles, the oil level of the car goes down.
Why a car consumes oil ?
Where will stop that we regularly filling oil ?, When we consider that consumption is excessive? And if so how can you avoid the consumption of engine oil?
In the following article of ONE we will try to solve all these doubts so that you learn a little more about the operation of your vehicle and you can keep it in the best conditions for its performance and safety are the best.
- Main cause of car oil consumption
- Piston lubrication consumption
- The oil in the lubrication of the valves
- Consumption of oil by evaporation
- Causes of excessive consumption of petrol engine oil
Main cause of car oil consumption
To begin with it should be noted that absolutely all cars consume oil, in fact this element is essential for the proper operation of the engine and that is why it is necessary to change it frequently . Among the functions of the oil we find lubricating the parts of the engine that are in motion – rods, crankshaft, valves, cylinders, etc. – in order to protect them from wear and tear. The oil forms a thin layer that separates these pieces, avoiding that the rubs will wear them. Here you can read what happens if you go without oil in the car .
But, why are there cars that consume more oil ?, What happens when there is excessive consumption? Firstly we would have to establish what we mean by normal consumption of oil and this limit is in 1 liter every 1,000 kilometers , however, depending on the type of engine, the way of driving and other technical aspects and deficiencies of the vehicle can vary. In fact, it is very simple to check if a car is consuming oil, because when it does the exhaust smoke takes on a bluish color.
Unless there is a leak, the external ones are easy to detect by the puddle that they leave, the consumption – excessive or not – can be due to the following causes that we will explain to you.
Piston lubrication consumption
As we have already told you, the main cause of engine oil consumption is lubrication. Essentially, the oil lubricates the remaining spaces between the walls of the cylinders and the pistons. A part of it enters the combustion chamber , where it is burned. Therefore, the faster you turn the engine, the more oil you will consume.
Just as excessive consumption is troubling, it can also be problematic if the car does not consume oil. Failure to burn this fluid means that there is no layer that protects the piston and cylinder, causing damage to both.
The oil in the lubrication of the valves
The valve is like a long nail with a big head. It is through this piece that the mixture between air and fuel enters, also there where the combustion gases that finally cause the movement of the engine.
The car’s oil also serves to lubricate the space between the valves and their guides. The stems are parts that prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber, but as with the piston, inevitably a part of the oil that lubricates the valves just enters the combustion chamber and, consequently, burns.
Since it is when the piston lowers that the valve absorbs the mixture, it will pass through it, when the engine rotates at idle or decelerates, with a larger hole in the orifice, the engine oil consumption increases.
Consumption of oil by evaporation
But combustion is not the only reason for consumption of the oil, but also evaporates. The oil that serves to lubricate the valve is subjected to high temperatures by the gases that escape from there, so that it finally ends up evaporating.
The faster you turn the engine, the more oil you will get into the valves, so that more oil will eventually evaporate and the greater the consumption. In the same way the cylinder gases and temperature will also increase.
Causes of excessive consumption of petrol engine oil
- External leaks, either by improperly fitting the plug, because there is wear on the gasket or because the pressure sensor has problems.
- Some fault in the engine parts that makes it require more lubrication.
- If the engine has turbocharger may be due to some defect in this element.
- The engine rotates often at high speeds, so it is the fault of the driving mode.
- If it is a problem of the lubrication of the piston by the exhaust would emit blue smoke, at the same time that the engine would lose performance.
- In this article we teach you how to measure the oil level of a car .
Depending on how high the oil consumption is, the extent of the fault can be determined. In any case, whenever you notice that your car consumes excess oil you should take it to the workshop to have it reviewed and take the necessary measures so that it does not go over.