Is It Necessary to Overhaul a 10-Year-Old Car Burning Engine Oil?
2 Answers
Whether a 10-year-old car burning engine oil needs an overhaul depends on the following two situations: Situation 1: The car is too old, and the engine has natural wear (it should be repaired). When the engine has been used for too long, the piston rings and cylinder walls, valves and valve guides, etc., become excessively worn, leading to excessive gaps. Engine oil can easily pass through these gaps and enter the combustion chamber, causing the phenomenon of burning engine oil. This level of oil burning can only be resolved by overhauling the engine, replacing excessively worn parts such as piston rings and cylinder liners, valves and valve guides, etc. It is recommended to consider the residual value of the vehicle. If it is still necessary, then choose to overhaul. If the vehicle can barely be used and will soon be disposed of, then an overhaul is not needed. Situation 2: Design defects (difficult to repair), such as the legendary Volkswagen engine. This type of oil burning phenomenon is due to design defects in the engine, such as excessively large piston ring gaps, defects in the oil-gas separation design, etc. If the oil burning is due to this reason, then you have to wait for the manufacturer to come up with a solution. Generally, 4S shops or repair shops cannot solve this kind of problem.
I think burning oil in a 10-year-old car really depends on the situation. If the oil leakage isn't severe—say, consuming only half a liter per 1,000 kilometers—regular checks and top-ups might suffice. Using high-quality oil or additives could help mitigate the issue. However, if there are internal engine problems like worn piston rings or aged valve seals, severe oil burning with blue smoke and engine overheating leading to breakdowns can be dangerous. It's advisable to first visit a professional shop to test compression ratios and exhaust emissions to assess severity before deciding on an overhaul. A major repair typically costs several thousand dollars. If the car is otherwise well-maintained and the engine can last a few more years, the expense might be worth it. Otherwise, a 10-year-old car isn't worth much, and it may be better to save up for a new one.
