How Will I Know my Ford is Burning Oil?

Before we answer why your car may be burning oil, let’s discuss the warning signs of excessive oil consumption:

• Engine oil light appears on your dashboard persistently.
• Blue smoke emits from your vehicle’s exhaust pipe.
• You notice a steady drop in oil, but with no noticeable leaks.
• You may smell burning oil.

If you’ve noticed any of the above, your car may be burning oil. To double check oil levels yourself, you can remove the dipstick from your cooled engine, wipe off the oil with a clean paper towel, reinsert, and remove the dipstick again to check the levels.

Why is my Car Burning Oil?

Your vehicle can be burning oil for many reasons. In fact, it could be happening because your vehicle is burning oil internally or externally. Let’s check out what could be happening inside the engine when your vehicle is overconsuming oil:

• Damaged Valve Seals or Guides—Valve seals are designed to keep oil from seeping into the combustion chamber. So, when worn, this can cause oil to leak more easily.
• Worn Piston Rings—These rings both compress the air and fuel mixture in the engine and help clean up oil on the cylinder walls. So, once they deteriorate, more oil can get gunked up in the engine, which is then burned off.
• Blocked Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve—The PCV valve can be clogged from oil vapor, which pressurizes the tract and can force oil into the valves and combustion chamber.

When your engine isn’t burning internally, this means oil is leaking outside the engine due to:

• Leaking Valve Cover Gasket
• Broken PCV Tract
• Damaged Turbo Oil Line
• Loose Oil Filler Cap

To best diagnose why your car is burning oil, you should schedule an appointment with our technicians as soon as possible.

What Should I do Next?

If you suspect your vehicle is overconsuming oil, there are a few things you can do. For starters, it’s always a good idea to bring your vehicle to a mechanic. They will thoroughly inspect the engine to find the culprit of the issue.

You can also keep an eye on your oil levels by routinely checking the dipstick or looking for any leaks in the engine compartment. After all, one of the best ways to steer clear of burning oil is prevention. Make sure you change your oil at its recommended intervals and regularly replace engine parts to ensure their lifelong health.