2 Common Causes Of High Oil Consumption In Cars

Oil leaks are a common automotive problem, yet one that many people learn to live with instead of correcting. Not only does this approach mean you'll be paying way more for oil than you should, but it may also leave your car susceptible to more serious issues. If you've noticed that your car seems to be consuming an excessive amount of oil, read on. This article will introduce you to two common causes of high oil consumption.

External Leaks

The oil circulation system in an automobile consists of a large array of different components, including all of the following:

• oil lines
• crankcase drainage plugs
• valve cover gaskets
• oil pan gaskets
• camshaft bearing seals

 Because of the complexity of this system, it is common for leaks to occur at the points where one or more components connect. Even a relatively minor leak--a drop here and there--can lead to a huge spike in the oil consumption of an automobile.

If you suspect that your car is suffering from an external oil leak, consider affixing a section of light-colored fabric to the underside of the engine. Be careful to ensure that the cloth isn't so loose as to get tangled up, or so tight as to interfere with any moving parts. Then take your car for a short road test. Afterwards, inspect the cloth for any signs of dripping oil.

Damaged Or Worn Out Main Bearings

An automobile's main bearings fulfill the important task of allowing crankshaft rotation. They do this not only by keeping the crankshaft in its place, but also by redistributing the large amounts of force generated by the pistons. When main bearings become worn down or damaged, however, they inadvertently begin to allow the passage of oil upward into the cylinders.

The greater the amount of wear, the greater the amount of oil throw upward into the cylinders. At first, the pistons and rings may be able to control this problem. Yet soon this excess oil soon becomes too much to handle. Because the cylinders are unable to evacuate the surplus oil quickly enough, it begins to burn inside of the combustion chamber.

The issue only becomes worse as oil is consumed in this fashion. You see, before long your car will have burned through a large part of its finite oil supply. In other words, soon there will no longer be too much oil in the cylinders but too little. This greatly increases the amount of wear on your pistons and rings. It is therefore a good idea to have your engine evaluated by a professional mechanic if your car has been consuming oil at too great a rate. You may need a new set of head cylinders, such as from CHI Cylinder Heads International.