How Long Can You Drive with an Oil-Burning Car?
3 Answers
Temporarily drivable, but poses significant risks and may lead to greater losses. It is recommended to address the issue promptly. Specific hazards are outlined below: 1. Excessive carbon buildup inside the engine: Increases the likelihood of engine knocking, severe piston ring seizure, accelerated wear of cylinders and pistons, and in extreme cases, may render the engine irreparable. 2. Clogging and failure of the catalytic converter: The catalytic converter reduces exhaust pollutant emissions. Excessive exhaust can clog and disable it, severely impacting engine performance and incurring high replacement costs. 3. Exceeds emission standards, contributing to environmental pollution.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and oil burning isn't something you can generalize—it all depends on the severity. If you're burning more than half a liter every 1,000 kilometers, the engine probably won't last more than two or three months and could seize up at any moment. For mild oil burning, just check the dipstick regularly and keep a couple of bottles of oil in the trunk, and you can still drive another 10,000 kilometers without major issues. But I should warn you—cars that burn oil will emit blue smoke from the exhaust, and they definitely won't pass the annual emissions test. My neighbor's old Bora has been burning oil for three years, barely keeping it running by adding oil every week, but last month the engine completely gave out.
Last time my Sagitar started burning oil, the 4S shop technician said all German cars do this and it wouldn't affect driving for now. But he emphasized three points: First, check the dipstick regularly and top up immediately when the oil light comes on. Second, avoid aggressive driving as high RPMs consume more oil. Lastly, monitor the exhaust pipe - if there's heavy blue smoke, stop driving immediately. I followed this method and drove for eight months, burning about 1 liter per 5,000 km, until replacing the valve stem seals fixed the issue. However, each car is different - my Passat-owning friend wasn't so lucky, his engine seized from oil burning within three months requiring major repairs.
