Why is car using so much oil?
Q: I have a 2015 Audi
Q5. The oil light goes on indicating it needs a quart of oil. We add the quart, but after approximately 800-1,000 miles, it calls for more oil. This continues and we have had two mechanics and the dealer look at the car, and no one can figure out what the problem is. There is no oil leak in the garage or driveway. The car has approximately 63,000 miles and seems to be running fine. We can’t figure out what the problem is. Any ideas as to what we should do? I am thinking of selling the car in the next few months and would like to get this figured out.
— S.B., West Hartford, Connecticut
A: All engines use some oil. They need to. But some use more than others. You may not care to hear this, but the industry considers one quart every 1,000 miles acceptable.
Go ahead and sell the car without regrets.
Q: I own a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. At around 49,000 miles, upon an oil change, the service center notified me that I had no oil on the dipstick. I bring it to them every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. Just before bringing it back to them, I checked the dipstick. It barely registered. The Hyundai dealership told me that they allow a loss of one quart of oil per 1,000 miles. Do you agree with this? I find this to be terribly wrong guidance on smart engine maintenance. — R.M., Park Forest, Illinois A:
See the item above. This is why there’s a dipstick and why you should check it regularly. I like to check my oil while getting gas.
Q: Recently, a question arose regarding intermittent failure of a fuse in a 2011 Toyota Avalon causing dome lights and other lights to stop operating. I agree totally with changing the fuse to a slow-blow as a test. In my industry, we have experienced the same, but in other devices. Fuses can last a day or months. A common cause is the fuse holder. If the connection between the fuse and holder is not super-tight, the connection can heat excessively causing the fusing element to melt. One manufacturer on my end recommended replacing holders. However, it is easier to replace a fuse holder in an appliance than a car, but that is not my problem (LOL).
— P.B., Burbank, Illinois A: Many appliances still use tube-shaped fuses, the kind with metal caps on either end of a glass cylinder. In the auto industry, blade style fuses rule. These are less prone to losing good contact with the fuse holder, but it could still happen.
Q: I have a 2007 Mini Cooper S with a dim left rear taillight. The brake light works fine as does the turn signal. I changed the bulb with a new one noticing that there was a hint of gray in the old bulb and the new one does the same thing — dimly lit but the other functions are fine. Being a retired cop, I don’t want to be guilty of not having a taillight working but I don’t know where to go from here. By the way, I never gave anybody a ticket for a taillight being dim (LOL).
— P.L., New Lenox, Illinois A: Two LOLs in a row?
Joy abounds. A dim taillight is often due to a bad electrical ground. There might be a loose or corroded connection. Your mechanic can chase it down and bring more joy.
Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. Send questions along with name and town to motor mouth.tribune@gmail.com.