Which Cars Burn Engine Oil?

[DiJulianna]

Consumer Reports' investigation covered a total of 498,900 vehicles from 2010 to 2014, many of which were still under warranty. Despite this, the main engine models that burn oil were identified, and the vehicles equipped with these engines basically cover the majority of their respective brands. Introduction to vehicles that burn oil: 1. Audi: 2.0T and 3.0L V6 (A3, A4, A5, A6, Q5); 2. BMW: 4.8L V8 and 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 (BMW 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, X5); 3. Subaru: 3.6L six-cylinder and 2.0L/2.5L four-cylinder (Subaru Forester, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback). 4. According to statistics: 30 models with the most severe oil burning issues were identified, including 11 Audi models, 8 BMW models, 4 Subaru models, 3 Porsche models, 1 Mercedes model, and 1 Chevrolet (compact car) model.

[VanKarter]

I've driven quite a few cars over the years, and oil burning is particularly common in certain German models. There have been numerous complaints about older BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, especially those equipped with N52 or N55 engines, where oil consumption is shockingly high. The Audi A4 with the 2.0T engine also has similar issues due to design flaws like poor piston ring sealing. Among Japanese cars, some model years of the Subaru Forester and Legacy, particularly those with EJ series engines, are prone to oil burning as well. Actually, normal oil consumption should be within 100 milliliters per 1,000 kilometers, but many older vehicles exceed this threshold, which is a red flag. Additionally, used car buyers must check the oil level history and not overlook maintenance records just to save money, otherwise a breakdown on the road can be extremely dangerous.

[ElisaFitz]

From my research on engines, cars prone to burning oil are mainly due to design issues: BMW's N-series engines used in the E90 generation 3 Series are prone to burning oil because of PCV system failures; the first generation of Audi's EA888 engines, commonly found in the A4 and Q5, have oil leaking into the cylinders; Volkswagen's Passat and Golf, equipped with EA113 or EA888 engines, also suffer from similar problems; Subaru's FB engines perform poorly in the Forester due to low-tension piston rings causing excessive consumption. These vehicles all experience issues due to manufacturing defects or long-term seal aging. Preventive measures include using full synthetic oil for regular changes and checking oil levels every 5,000 kilometers to reduce the occurrence of problems.

[SanTaylor]

As a long-time car owner, I've noticed that older BMWs are most prone to burning oil, especially early 2000s 5 Series models whose owners often complain about needing to top up oil between fill-ups. The Audi Q5's 2.0T engine also has frequent issues, particularly in high-mileage vehicles; Volkswagen Tiguan commonly burns oil too. Among Japanese cars, post-2010 Subaru Legacy models receive numerous complaints. Older vehicles are more susceptible due to aging engine gaskets or poor maintenance. Don't go on long trips without checking – make it a habit to check the dipstick monthly; when buying used cars, test for smoke during engine idling – simple yet effective.