Can a Faulty Oil Separator Cause Oil Burning?
3 Answers
Oil separator failure can indeed lead to oil burning. The primary function of an oil separator is to separate engine oil from the gases expelled by the crankcase, thereby minimizing oil discharge through the crankcase ventilation outlet. Under normal operation, the oil separator only draws in exhaust gases without ingesting oil. However, if the oil separator malfunctions, it loses its oil-gas separation capability, simultaneously sucking in oil along with gases. This condition allows oil to enter the intake tract and combustion chamber, resulting in oil burning symptoms. When a car burns oil, the exhaust emits significant smoke—white during idle and blue during rapid acceleration or high throttle—accompanied by a distinct odor from the tailpipe. If left unrepaired, excessive oil may eventually enter the cylinder bore. Since liquids are incompressible, this can cause piston and cylinder wall damage, a condition known as engine hydro-lock or "hydrolock."
Okay, I can share some knowledge about this. A faulty oil separator can indeed cause oil burning because this component is designed to prevent oil vapor from the engine crankcase from entering the intake system. If it fails, that oil vapor will flow into the combustion chamber and burn along with the fuel, leading to oil consumption. I often see this issue occur in vehicles, with symptoms including rapid oil level drop, blue smoke from the exhaust pipe, or unusual odors during startup. This may also lead to other problems such as increased carbon buildup or reduced engine efficiency. It's recommended to inspect it during maintenance and replace the component promptly if any abnormalities are found, to prevent minor issues from turning into major repairs.
I've driven many cars, and this issue is quite common. A faulty oil separator will definitely cause the car to burn oil because it can't prevent oil vapor from entering the combustion chamber. The oil just gets burned away, resulting in waste. My previous car had this exact problem - the oil level dropped by half just days after a top-up, and later diagnosis revealed a broken separator. The repair is simple, just replace it with a new one, and it's not expensive. Addressing it early can prevent engine damage, so don't wait until the oil burning becomes severe. Always pay attention to oil levels and exhaust smoke color during driving, and get it fixed promptly if any issues arise.
