Q: Car burning oil between oil changes.

asked by on January 11, 2016

My car is burning through oil at a rapid rate between oil changes.

Oil level is low Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

When an engine is burning oil at a very rapid rate, a few different things could be the cause. A broken valve or insufficient valve guide can cause oil to drop onto the piston and therefore will get burned when it is running. Faulty piston rings can also allow engine oil to pass by them into the combustion chamber as well burning more oil. I would recommend having a compression test done to ensure the integrity of the piston rings. Have this service done professionally from YourMechanic as this task can be difficult on some vehicles.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I turn on the cargo light?
The cargo light provides extra light to your trunk area. To turn on the cargo light, press the Cargo Light switch, directly next to the light. Press the switch again to turn off the light. Tips If the trunk is...
How do I adjust the air vents?
The air vents are located along the instrument panel, and blow both cold and hot air into the cabin, depending on the climate control settings. You can adjust the air vent in two different ways, to find the ideal setting...
No air coming from vents
Try to put the blower on high speed and move the mode to floor or windshield to see if any air is felt or the noise from the motor is heard. If you hear the blower running but still get...
after stopping at a stop sign my car would not go while I was in drive instead just made this awful loud noise
It sound like the Lucas stop slip only worked for a short period. You may now have a completely gone transmission clutch for the lower gears or an axle that broke completely. I would go with the transmission being bad....
Difficult to control in wind and veers above 60 mph
Hello there. This sounds like a more unusual situation. Ford uses the rollover stability control system as an additional safety feature to help prevent rollovers. A bit of body movement in normal wind speeds would not be abnormal. It should...
My alternator is failing could that cause my air conditioner to stop working
Hello. If your alternator is failing, this can cause many electronics in your vehicle to quit working. This includes the engine, the air conditioning, the radio, the windows, etc. Also, many warning lights can appear on the dash when the...
My car is overheating and constantly filling with water
Thats a good question. I will go through a few steps you can take to see where your problem is occurring. Get a UV light and dye to put in your coolant. Run your car until it is at operating...
4wd engages but vehicle bucks like 4wd is slipping.
There is likely an internal issue going on within your transfer case. The most common cause of transfer case slippage is low fluid. I suggest that the transfer case fluid condition and level is checked. If the two wheel drive...
There's a very loud clicking noise every few seconds from rear of car while driving
Hi there. This type of clicking noise is typically an indication of a brake pad that is dragging on the rotor or wheel bearings that are damaged. Most of the time if the sound increases in speed as the vehicle...

Related articles

Top 10 PZEV Cars for Eco-Friendly Drivers
Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com The whole idea of a PZEV (that is, a partial zero-emissions vehicle), seems paradoxical. You’d think it’d have to either be zero-emissions or not in the category at all. But as contradictory as...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re an Athletic Coach
If If you are an athletic coach, you need a used vehicle with tons of room to transport gear. Once in awhile, you may have to take a player or two along with you as well. What this means is...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Florida in 2012
Florida Florida offers great weather year round, and the fact that snow and ice never factor into the equation means drivers don’t have to focus on the overall vehicle handling as they do in other states. The best selling cars...