We all have the idea that our car’s engine consumes fuel to generate the power we require to ride it where we want to. However, when someone entails us that he/she is burning oil, what exactly do they signify?
For the beginners, the burning oil can be a symptom of future expensive fixing. For the experienced car owners who have depth knowledge about their automobiles, the burning oil needs a more complete assessment prior to taking of any real steps toward its outcome.
What Does Car Burning Oil Mean?
Whenever they state that your vehicle is burning oil, they usually refer that you have got an escape somewhere in this closed system. In case oil leaks into a section where it should not flow, then you are having burning oil, right? But why? In any way, the passageways for oil are somewhat blistering. In case you pour oil into a boiling surface, it will enhance its interior temperature and burn.
Furthermore, there are two elementary types of burning oil. The first one is that happens outside of the engine and the second one is happening right inside the engine’s combustion chambers.
Why Does Oil Burn Inside the Engine?
As we said earlier that burning oil can occur anywhere there is exposure between the motor oil and a very blistering surface usually produced by an escape in the system. In case your car is burning oil on the inside, signifying it happens inside the car’s engine, this is typically triggered by a number of things.
Issues with the PCV
The problem with the PCV is one of the possible reasons for the interior oil burning. SO, it is a fault or breakdown in the positive crankcase ventilation mechanism (PCV). In case the PCV regulator or valve is jammed, it will not be eligible to force a small amount of the air-fuel combination also called the blow-by back into the engine. This blow-by rests in the crankcase and can result in dilution of the motor oil. At the same moment, the pressure in the inner crankcase is enhanced, pushing motor oil into the cylinders of the engine where it is blazed or burned. The upsurge in the crankcase pressure can also result in blown gaskets and seals. This can enhance the danger of burning oil inside the engine in the future.
Moreover, the PCV regulator or opening or valve also splits up the oil so that the latter will not flow in the inner combustion chambers. In case the PCV valve is deteriorated, the oil will not be parted from the blow-by gases. As the PCV comes back, these blow-by gases flow back to the engine for recycling; oil flows with these gases and gets burned or blazed by the engine.
The Exhausted Valve Seats and Guides
Both the opening and exhaust valves of your engine couples with the manuals and lids, retaining the engine oil away from the combustion chambers. Sadly, these do not really endure the whole life. They are prone to wearing out. When this occurs, they might not forbid the oil from the acquisition of access to the combustion any longer, resulting in the oil burning inside the engine itself.
One of the classic symptoms of the possible regulator seal breakdown is the bluish smoke that emits from the tailpipe more specifically just right after activation. This is nearly always a sign of interior burning oil. The poor or bad guides, broken or deteriorated seals permit oil to leak through into the engine’s combustion chambers. As you begin your engine, this oil is consumed or burned resulting in that blue smoke sign.
The Deteriorated Piston Rings
The piston rings have the identical operation as valve seals, excluding that they make just the correct or precise amount of seal between the engine’s pistons and the bores of the cylinders. It should not be too close-fitting to still permit a slim foil of oil to leak through so that the surface between the pistons and the cylinders and get burned altogether with the blend of air and fuel in the combustion compartment.
In case the piston rings are ruined, there is a much broader gap between the bore surface and the piston. This permits the oil to pass through the piston and gets consumed in the procedure. In case the blue smoke in your tailpipe is the most obvious during the acceleration, you may have an issue with your piston rings.
To cut a long story short, interior oil burning can be happened by an issue in your PCV valve, exhausted regulator seals and guides, or even considerably exhausted or deteriorated piston rings.
Why is There Oil Burning Outside the Engine?
Apart from the traits of burning oil odor, another thing that can typify oil burning in the inside is the existence of the blue smoke upon the activation of your automobile i.e. as an indication of valve lid or guide problem or during the acceleration or deceleration such that the piston ring or PCV valve issue.
In case you do not have this blue smoke and yet you sense the burning oil, there is a possibility that the problem is in the outside burning oil. The basic cause why this happens is that oil leaks from somewhere and settle onto a blistering area on the base of your car.
So let’s have a look at the possible and common causes of these escapes.
The Unsuitably Joined Oil Filter
During an oil alteration, the oil filter must be changed as well. Sadly, in case the fresh oil filter has not been affixed or bolted firmly and safely, there is a possibility that oil will escape out through it. This can settle on some sections of the engine, while it might not be as blistering as the inner part of the engine, oil can burn on the account of the blistering surface.
The Untied or Improper Affixation of Oil Drain Plug
When altering the motor oil, there has to be a system to take out the previous oil from the engine. This is the operation of an engine oil drain plug. Unsealing this will assist draining the old from the motor oil back.
When you are prepared to substitute it with the fresh oil, the plug must be given back and bolted firmly. Unfortunately, there are cases when the oil drain plug is not sealed appropriately. This can be a reason for oil leakage.
Deteriorated Oil Pan
The engine oil pan is usually positioned at the base of the engine. There are cases when the oil pan is ruined on the account of being struck by the road dirt for instance rocks and other solid things. It is also feasible that the gasket around the oil pan can exhaust with time. And once again, this can lead to oil escape. In case there are no blistering areas directly underneath, then you will not have any problems with the burning oil.
The Untied, Lost, or Exhausted Oil Filler Cap
The oil filler lid is positioned right on the top of the engine. It seals the huge aperture where you put the engine oil in whether to substitute it or to top it up. It should make a fitted seal around the valve to upkeep the pressure required by the oil to flow throughout the system.
In case the filler cap is beforehand exhausted, untied, or even worse than it is misplaced then there is no system to cease the oil from getting forced outside. And since it is on the uppermost of the engine, oil can sneak on the surface and can get burned by the blistering engine surface.
The Deterioration of the Oil Cooler Lines
In case your automobile coupled with the exterior oil cooler which is like a very tiny radiator positioned in front of your car to cool down the motor oil prior to re-flowing to the engine, there is also a chance that the escape can come from here. These oil cooler lines can get deteriorated or even rusted.
The Harm to the Valve Cover Gaskets
The valve shield gasket makes a defensive cover between the cylinder head and the valve seals; thus, the name. These can damage with the time which can source oil to escape outwards from the engine and generate the traits of burned oil odor.
The exterior oil-burning happens on the account of the escape in any one of the parts outside the engine that have a key role in motor oil flow. Having these examined or tested is important in case you want to determine the exact reason for oil burning.
How Can I Repair It?
Comprehending the precise reason for the burning oil, whether inside or outside, is essential to know the best remedy for it.
For the Inside Burning Oil:
The PCV system’s intensifying parts and hoses can be substituted in case this is the reason for the issue. In case the PCV valve itself is previously at fault, normally due to the mud backlog, then this can be repaired very conveniently by a very deep cleansing by a professional mechanic. In case the problem is in the valve seals and guides, then these must be substituted, too.
The key issue is in case the piston rings are previously ruined. Normally, this needs an entire engine reconstruction. It is a neat procedure and very costly. Moreover, you can also go for an appropriate substitution of the engine. The ruined piston rings normally mean the termination of the service life of the car’s engine. So you may like to wonder about the engine restructure, altered or easily buy a new car.
For Outside Burning Oil:
The reparation is somewhat easy such as stiffening and securing the oil filter, oil filler lid, and oil drain plug. These can be changed as well in case they are already ruined. You can also change the ruined valve cover gaskets, seals, and the oil pan.
In the enclosure, the car burning oil is not typically a very grave issue in case the reason seems to be external. However, if the cause is previously inside the engine itself, you are looking at a huge expensive plan.