What to Do When a Volkswagen Car Burns Oil Severely?
2 Answers
It might be an issue with the oil-gas separator. Here are the reasons why a Volkswagen car burns oil severely: 1. Problems with the cylinder and piston rings: Use a cylinder pressure gauge to check the cylinder pressure. If the cylinder pressure is particularly low, it could indicate an issue with this cylinder. 2. Whether the turbocharger has an oil leakage problem: A damaged turbocharger could also cause oil burning and reduced power, leading to higher fuel consumption. Another possibility is the valve stem seals and guides. If these two components are damaged, they can also cause severe oil burning. The exact problem needs to be carefully inspected. After all, a Volkswagen is just a car, and oil burning can be repaired.
Last time, my colleague's decade-old Passat had the same issue, requiring a liter of oil top-up every 1,000 kilometers. When we took it to the repair shop and opened it up, we found the piston rings were stuck, and sludge had completely blocked the oil return holes. The mechanic said that using full synthetic oil in such older German cars actually makes them more prone to carbon buildup. Now, after switching to 5W-40 mineral oil, the situation has improved significantly. Another solution is to frequently drive on highways to let the engine's high temperature flush out the carbon deposits. After my long-distance trip last month, the oil dipstick didn't show any drop for half a month. If you see blue smoke from the exhaust, don't push it—replace the valve stem seals immediately, or you'll regret it even more when the catalytic converter gets damaged.
