How to Tell if Your Car is Burning Oil
AAA
Here are three ways to tell if your car is burning oil:
- Monitor the Car’s Oil Level — One way to tell if your car is burning oil is to observe the vehicle’s oil level. If it seems to be declining at a faster-than-normal rate, you may have a problem.
- Note if There Is a Burning Smell — Another telltale sign is the smell that burning oil emits. When the oil heats up after coming in contact with hot components, it gives off a distinct burning odor.
- Look for Bluish Smoke Coming From the Tailpipe — Yet another symptom of a car burning oil is bluish smoke drifting from the exhaust while the engine is running. This can become especially apparent when you accelerate or decelerate.
WHAT TO DO
The first step to fixing this problem is to identify what’s causing the oil leak. External oil leaks can be caused by wear and tear in any of these components:
- Oil filter
- Oil pan
- Cooler line
