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High oil consumption in cars is a common problem. Everyone has had to deal with a car that consumes oil. Normally, the oil consumption of a car is acceptable if it does not exceed 1 liter at 5000 km. However, manufacturers claim that a consumption of 1 liter per 1000 km is still permissible.
There are a number of different causes for oil consuption:
- Stuck or worn oil scraper springs
- Increased crankcase pressure
- Leakage along seals
- Leakage along valve guides and rubbers
Each of these causes will be addressed with the possible solution!
Oil consumption is often not the only problem. The cause of oil consumption usually causes an engine to perform less. Too high oil consumption cannot be solved in all cases, because if an engine is worn out, only overhaul remains, which is quite expensive and therefore not an option in most cases. However, depending on the cause, there is often something to do about it. In this blog we give some tips to improve oil consumption.
How much oil consumption is normal?
In principle, a car should not consume oil. However, every old car consumes some oil, this is not a problem. With an oil consumption of 1 liter at 1000 km, the chance is not very great that it helps, in principle, this is a mechanical problem such as worn or broken piston rings. But under the guise it does not harm it you can always try it. We advise you to have the car checked at the garage. If you use less oil than described above, an oil additive can reduce oil consumption.
Causes high oil consumption
There are several reasons for high oil consumption. In most cases oil consumption is caused by internal wear, leakage and / or pollution. The causes at a glance:
- Oil scraper springs that are rigidly charred or worn
- Compression springs that are solidly charred or worn
- Leakage by camshaft and / or crankshaft oil seals
- Valve stem rubbers that harden and valve guides that wear
Stuck or worn oil scraper springs
A common problem is that the oil scraper springs get stuck. The purpose of oil scraper springs is to scrape the oil that ends up on the cylinder wall (to lubricate the cylinder wall and pistons) in the crankcase.
However, if they stick around the piston due to carbon deposits, oil will remain on the cylinder wall and some oil will enter the compression space, which will then burn with it.
By first loosening the oil scraper springs with a good cleaning additive, you can try to reduce oil consumption reasonably cheaply!
Increased crankcase pressure
Excessive crankcase pressure is a result of worn compression springs or carbon compression springs that have become trapped around the piston. The compression pressure then blows along the piston and the cylinder wall into the crankcase and through the crankcase venting the crankcase vapor, mixed with oil vapors, is blown back into the inlet and then burned.
There is no oil film on the cylinder wall at a cold start, this creates metal-to-metal contact, causing the piston rings to wear. This can be prevented by adding an additive to the oil that creates an oil film on the cylinder wall. This oil film ensures that metal-to-metal contact no longer takes place and wear is prevented.
The Lindemann Engine Performance Treatment is an example of an additive that, thanks to its composition with Teflon, ensures a permanent lubricating film on the cylinder wall, which prevents damage, especially during cold starts. For older cars that already have some wear, we recommend the Lindemann Worn Engine Treatment. Compression springs can get stuck because many short distances are being driven or because of the so-called “new driving”. In addition, it is also due to the current long maintenance intervals. Our advice is to change the oil at least every 15.000 km.
Stuck piston rings can also be prevented by using better quality oil or by adding additives to the oil that ensure drier crankcase vapors that do not stick.
Leakage along seals
Oil consumption can also be a result of leakage. Often it is the seals of camshafts and / or crankshaft that cause this by losing their flexibility. The Lindemann Oil Stop Leak can remedy or reduce this. Many Oil Stop Leaks contain plasticizers that often have a temporary effect. Lindemann’s Oil Stop Leak does not contain plasticizers, but large Teflon molecules that restore the original suppleness and sealing ability. The extra-large Teflon molecules also fill in small irregularities and thus stop the leakage.
Leakage along valve guides and valve rubbers
Leakage along valve guides is either a matter of hardened valve rubbers and these can also be repaired by the Lindemann Oil Stop Leak, or it is a matter of valve guide wear. With minimal wear, the Oil Stop Leak can still be tried, with extensive wear, overhaul is the only option.
In conclusion, we can say that an oil consumption that is to high does not always have to lead to an early farewell to your car or an expensive overhaul of your engine.
With Lindemann additives we can often reduce or remedy excessive oil consumption, but preventive use can also prevent this. Reduce high oil consumption? Continue to “Order here”.