Car Losing Oil? These Are Potential Causes
If your car is losing oil, either the engine is burning the oil or there’s a leak
Q: My 2007 Camry needs a quart of oil every 500 to 750 miles. Is this normal?
A: When oil disappears from the engine, there are usually only two causes: either the engine is burning the oil, or there is a leak. For the oil to be burned, it has to get into the combustion chambers, suggesting piston ring wear, a failed seal or gasket, valve guide wear, or any number of other possibilities. Repairs could require engine disassembly and new parts as well as machine shop services. If the engine is leaking the oil, there should be visual evidence somewhere under the hood or under the body of the car.
Chances are that your car has more than 200,000 miles on the odometer. To determine if you want to repair the engine, start by having a technician do a thorough engine evaluation with the goal of finding where the oil is going and developing a written estimate for repair costs. In the meantime, check the oil every time you get gas.