Q: Every 500 miles, 'check engine' light comes on and oil has to be added
My car was pre-owned. Around every 500 miles, the 'check engine' light comes on and I have to add oil at that time. The dealership can't find anything wrong, but I have to keep adding oil! What is your opinion about this kind of oil consumption?
Recommended Services
| Oil level is low Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Hello. It is common for this engine to consume oil as it ages. Typically the oil consumption comes from the valve stem seals. The only way to repair it is with rebuilding the cylinder head. I usually will look into the PCV system first to make sure it is functioning right. If it is not, then it will consume oil. Most of the time though it requires that the head be rebuilt. If you need to have it further inspected for this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your oil consumption issue and let you know what can be done.
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
What others are asking
How do you erase the garage door codes programmed into the universal remote?
While the universal garage door opener in your car is certainly handy, there are times that you might want to erase the codes you’ve stored. You may be selling the car or trading it in. You may be moving to...
Air conditioning blows hot on one side and cold on the other side
There are two possible scenarios that could be causing your problem: As crazy as it sounds, I have had a low refrigerant charge in the a/c system as a cause of this, so it may just be that your a/c...
Sensor messed up
Hello. There should be a Check Engine warning light on the dash display. It could also be a loose connection if you recently had exhaust work done. If you have any failure in the catalyst sensors or wiring, it should...
Convertible top is stuck open - 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320
Hello. Most of the time this is caused by the lift motor failing. The motor will lose its ability to lift the top, which will cause all of these symptoms. It can also be an electrical issue, but this is...
It seems like the engine isn't receiving fuel properly.
Hey there. It is possible that there is a weak fuel pump issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement), but there are several possible problems that can cause an engine to misfire (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-misfiring-inspection). There could be a faulty ignition coil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement), a bad fuel injector...
Electrical - car battery positive temporarily touched negative - where is the problem?
Reverse polarity, at the battery, in a 12 volt electrical system on a car can cause a variety of effects including damaging the alternator, diodes and the numerous microprocessors on a vehicle such as those in the powertrain control module...
Is it possible to fit a LT4 Supercharged 376ci / 6.2L Engine into a 1997 Z28 Camaro?
When changing the engine over from a Z28 to a LT4 Supercharged 376 CI engine, you may have to adjust the engine mounts to accept the engine transferring over. The blocks are about the same size and will both bolt...
Are 96 2 door tahoe ball joints bolt on or push in?
The upper are bolt on. For the lower, both riveted and press fit styles were used. The riveted joints can be replaced with the available aftermarket bolt on ball joints. There were many different versions (different dimensions/attachment styles) of the...
Were my rotors really replaced?
The vibration you are talking about can indeed be caused by bad brake rotors and solved by replacing them. However, there are a few parts of the job that, if done incorrectly, can cause the problem to return very soon....
Related articles
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Evaporative Emission Control Canister
Common signs include the Check Engine Light coming on, raw fuel smell coming from the back of the car, and a collapsed or leaking fuel tank.
P2137 OBD-II Trouble Code: A Camshaft Position Actuator Control Circuit Low Bank 2
What What the P2137 code means? P2137 is an OBD-II generic code for the engine control module (ECM) detecting the throttle pedal position sensors B and C voltages do not correlate to each other for return voltage to the ECM....
P2635 OBD-II Trouble Code: Fuel Pump ‘A’ Low Flow / Performance
P2635 P2635 Code Definition A P2635 code is a generic powertrain code related to computer output circuit issues. It means that the fuel pump 'A’ is registering a low flow, or one not within the preset parameters. Codes related to...
Browse other content
Maintenance
Estimates