Why does my car use so much oil?
Some oil consumption is normal in any engine, but needing to top up more than 1 litre per 1,000 miles is considered excessive. Blue or grey smoke from the exhaust is the clearest sign of oil burning. Common causes are worn valve stem seals (smoke on startup then clears), worn piston rings (constant blue smoke under load), or an oil leak finding its way onto hot engine parts. Turbo seal failure is common on turbocharged engines.
Likely causes
Worn valve stem seals
Blue puff of smoke on startup or when lifting off the throttle — common on higher-mileage engines
Worn piston rings
Consistent blue smoke under load — engine compression test will confirm
Turbocharger seal failure
Oil leaks past the turbo shaft seals and burns in the exhaust — blue smoke especially on acceleration
PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve fault
Allows oil vapour into the intake system — can be cheap to fix
External oil leak onto exhaust
Oil drips onto hot exhaust and burns — white/blue smoke and burning smell, check for visible oil on engine
Repairs you may need
Typical cost range: £100–£2000 — PCV valve: £60–150. Valve stem seals: £300–800. Turbo seal/replacement: £500–1,500. Piston rings: full engine rebuild territory.
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