One of the most typical issues a car, especially one with high miles, might experience is the engine burning oil. The most common reasons for oil burning in Kia Sorentos are piston rings or valve guides.
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Why does my Kia use such a lot of oil?
Oil burning on your Kia Soul is a red flag that something is amiss. You run the risk of doing permanent damage to your engine if you disregard the warning indicators. If this occurs, it will be quite expensive to fix, and you would be better off purchasing a new vehicle.
Burning oil might signify several things depending on the car, so we are unable to define it for you. To figure out why their Kia Soul is burning oil, consumers commonly check a few typical places. In order to find out what burning oil on your Kia Soul signifies, you need open the hood and look under the vehicle.
You need to search for a leak to identify the source of the burning oil. You should check a few different places, though. Here are some of them for your review:
Oil level
Check your oil level first before beginning your search for the leak’s origin. Your Kia is probably running low on oil if it is burning oil. If the level is low and there are no leaks, you must add oil.
To start looking for the leak, you should add oil. Finding the leak will be challenging if the Kia Soul runs out of oil.
Combustion chamber
You should examine the combustion chamber if your Kia is burning oil. The valves, pistons, spark plugs, and cylinders are all part of this section. If you notice any of these objects covered in oil, it may be a sign that one of these components has caused an oil leak into the combustion chamber of your engine.
Oil on spark plugs
Replace your Kia’s spark plugs right away if you notice any oil on them. This is due to the possibility that the oil will cause your engine to operate poorly.
Oil on spark plugs typically denotes a problem with one of the following parts: PCV valve, piston rings, or valve seals.
Valve seals
Your oil will leak into the combustion chamber if your valve seals are compromised. Because of this, if there is oil on the spark plugs or in the combustion chamber, it is crucial to check for this problem. To stop future harm, you should also repair any cracked, damaged, or deteriorating valve seals.
Piston rings
The piston rings aid in sealing your engine and maintaining oil pressure. But if one of these parts is worn out, fractured, or broken, it might let oil out and into the combustion chamber.
PCV valve
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) systems are intended to remove impurities from the crankcase before they may enter the engine through the intake. Unfortunately, if the PCV valve is damaged, oil will flow into the combustion chamber and it won’t be able to drain these impurities. Your engine could malfunction as a result of this, burning oil, and damaging your Kia.
Oil filter
If the oil filter has any damage or has loose clamps, you should change it. If there is no damage or slack in the clamps, you must inspect the sealing surfaces. If oil is dripping from this area, it may be a sign that an engine component is damaged.
Oil pan gasket
There is a good likelihood that the oil under the engine could be coming from the oil pan gasket if you discover any. If it’s leaking, you should replace it and let your Kia’s oil level drop.
Filler cap
An engine oil leak from a damaged filler cap is a possibility. There is a significant risk that your filler cap is coming loose if you notice oil on the surfaces of your Kia Soul near where it is positioned.
Leaking hoses
You must immediately replace any hoses or gaskets that are leaking on your Kia. You must ensure that these hoses are well clamped and are not leaking because they are intended to transport oil to various parts of your car.
Oil filter housing gasket
There can be a tiny leak where the oil filter connects to the engine block if your Kia is burning oil. As a result, oil will be burnt during the combustion process of your engine. In addition, if this gasket has any damage or is degrading, it might need to be replaced.
Oil dipstick tube seal
Oil may be leaking into this region as a result of a cracked or loose oil dipstick tube seal. If the seal has any damage or is degrading, you should replace it.
Cooler line
Check the cooler lines if your Kia is burning off oil. It is possible that oil is entering the combustion chamber because one of these lines has become loose or is leaking.
Oil separator
Used engine oil is removed from the crankcase by the oil separator and returned to the engine via a return line. Your Kia may burn oil if the oil separator is leaking and is the cause of low oil pressure.
Drain plug
Your Kia could have an oil leak and run out of oil if the drain plug is damaged or loose. If it starts to come out and your engine starts burning oil, you need to replace this component.
Kias are known for burning oil, right?
I follow my father’s advice and check the oil in my car once a week. The Soul’s engine consumes oil, I’ve seen. I have to add three quarts of oil around every six months or 5,000 miles.
After checking it, the dealer confirms everything is in order. They seem to be saying, “Little Lady,” everything is fine and they want me to leave.
A: Oil is burnt during regular combustion, however different engines use oil differently.
According to Kia’s extremely detailed oil consumption studies, one quart of oil used per 1,000 miles or more is considered to be normal. The engine is working up to specification based on Kia’s standards for oil usage.
Can you repair an oil-burning engine?
Oil leakage into the combustion chamber is typically the result of one or more deteriorated components. Even minor wear on more recent engines running low-viscosity oil, like 5W-20, might result in oil entering this chamber. Several of the typical reasons for excessive oil usage are listed below:
Worn Out PCV Valve
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) is a crucial part of an engine that removes dangerous gases produced during combustion. This is accomplished by returning any extra gases to the combustion chamber where they are burned again before being expelled along with the exhaust.
However, a clogged PCV system might result in considerable oil blowback. Oil ends up being drawn into the engine through the air intake rather than being removed along with combustion gases. Most of the time, changing the PCV valve is all that is needed to fix this problem.
Worn Out Piston Rings or Cylinder Walls
Repairs can become expensive at this point. In order to maintain engine compression and stop combustion gases from escaping, each set of piston rings creates a seal against the cylinder walls. The seal, however, might no longer work correctly if your piston rings have worn out or the cylinder wall has started to disintegrate. A bad seal might allow oil to burn in the combustion chamber, leaving you with less oil than you had before.
Worn Out Valve Seal
Low oil levels can also result from defective valve stem seals. While valve stem seals are intended to control the amount of oil used and the lubrication of the valves, a cracked one has the exact opposite effect. A worn-out or cracked valve seal could allow oil to flow into the engine’s cylinders and eventually into the combustion chamber.
Why does my car leak but is losing oil?
No oil will be pouring on the ground. If your car is burning oil but not leaking it, it’s not as simple as replacing a seal. The issues are far worse. You need to take action as soon as your engine starts to burn oil. Your engine may have costly internal damage that needs to be repaired. There are a number of potential causes for this, which we will go over below.
Internal Oil Leak
No, there isn’t a ground-level oil leak that can be seen. However, there can be a little amount of internal oil leaking from your car that you are unable to see. Your car may occasionally have oil leaks due to minuscule fractures or broken pipes. However, it won’t cause a huge oil spill beneath your car or strange smoke.
Oil leaks are typically noticeable, and even if you can’t, your automobile may turn on a warning light. You must take your car to a qualified mechanic to ensure that the oil loss is not the result of an oil leak.
PCV Valve Problems
As the PCV valve restricts the oil’s regular flow, it frequently causes your car to lose oil without a leak or smoke. Cylinders lose oil when there is an increase in pressure. Additionally, a fire accident could happen as a result. You’ll consequently need to give your car or truck extra oil than usual.
Worn Piston Rings
No PVC or internal oil leak is present. Review any internal engine efficiency issues after that. There are several hidden factors that could contribute to excessive oil loss, regardless of the engine type.
Piston rings typically keep the engine stable and stop oil leaks. But after time, they decay and lose their ability to protect your cylinder. One leak gradually attracts another. As a result, there is a considerable loss of oil.
Blown Head Gasket
Your car’s oil leak could be due to a head gasket issue. They typically shield every engine cylinder. Sadly, if they are damaged, the oil might easily leak out. This might be a very challenging position if an issue arises. First of all, repairs are pricey. It could be a major hassle because of the expensive labor and the time-consuming nature.
Bad Cylinder Walls
Damage from faulty cylinder walls might be significant. Your engine is vulnerable to wear and tear, and there may be low pressure. In some cases, the piston may sustain damage from the cylinder wall. Heat is created by the friction action, which increases pressure enough to push oil past your piston rings and into your combustion chamber. This denotes no leaks or smoke but a considerable loss of engine oil.
Circuit Related Problems
If the circuit is broken, oil loss without leaks or smoke is possible. This will happen if the numerous electrical systems in the car fail to transport engine oil to all of its various destinations. If this is the case, pressure would be lost in your oil pump, some engine parts, and different parts of your car.
Dirty Oil
The circulation and lubrication of dirty engine oil is inferior to that of clean engine oil. Your engine might lose oil due to dirty oil without leaking or smoking. This is brought on by the oil coating’s obstruction of oil flow by grit and other foreign particles. It’s possible for the dirt to get inside your engine and coat its bottom walls or other parts. This wear and strain may cause oil leaks, which are challenging to spot if there isn’t any obvious engine smoke.
Internal Engine Damage
Internal engine problems might cause oil leaks that are not immediately apparent from the outside. Internal engine damage in your car could cause a leak that doesn’t appear to be producing smoke or leaks. This might also happen once the piston rings are worn out and sloppy, which would lead to a loss of power that could only be made up for by adding more oil.
Tiny Holes
Without any smoke or obvious leaks, an engine can lose oil. This occurs when a little fracture in an oil seal prevents enough pressure from leaving, preventing your car from exhibiting obvious leaks. Older vehicles are more likely to have these small holes, especially if they have external damage that is difficult to detect.
Worn Valve Seals
For controlling the amount of oil used for valve lubrication, valve seals are crucial. For different engine types, valves are created to regulate oil consumption and valve lubrication. The oil level will decrease as soon as the valve stem seals are compromised. Remember that valve stem seals are there to lubricate the valve and reduce excessive oil use.
Decreased Engine Compression
Additionally, a decrease in engine compression may be a factor in an oil leak. A problem with the high-pressure fuel stream might cause your oil to burn as it reaches the engine, or an issue with the intake or exhaust system could cause fuel to contaminate your oil, reducing engine performance.
Why does my automobile burn oil so quickly?
Parts that are worn out frequently burn oil. Your car may burn oil as a result of worn piston rings or valve seals, for instance. Piston rings and valve seals both contribute to preventing engine oil from entering the combustion chamber.
What causes my Kia Sorento to smoke?
The tailpipe plume’s hue might provide a hint as to what can be wrong, which aids in producing a speedy and accurate diagnosis even if the existence of exhaust smoke can suggest a major car ailment.
When black exhaust smoke is present:
Not all instances of black exhaust portend approaching disaster. It’s common for certain cars to produce a little amount of black smoke during startup, which disappears as the engine heats up to operating temperature. There is cause for concern if it continues after the automobile has warmed up. If so, the following are the potential offenders:
- A vehicle’s fuel system is not complete without an air filter, which prevents airborne particles from being drawn into the engine, where they could clog the system. Simply replace the filter to solve the problem.
If the issue continues, it means that your vehicle’s air-to-fuel ratio is off. It burns excessively richly or with more fuel than air particularly. A broken fuel pressure regulator and leaking or clogged fuel injectors are two of the most typical causes of this.
The gasoline system of a vehicle is built to operate within a certain range of pressure, which is managed by a fuel pressure regulator. The pressure will fluctuate outside of the range that the system is designed for if the regulator is malfunctioning. If it drops too low, the engine might not receive enough fuel to start. Overfueling due to excessive pressure can, among other things, cause your engine to operate poorly and get low fuel economy. The fuel pressure regulator needs to be replaced as a fix.
Fuel injectors that are leaking or clogged: Fuel injectors are tiny electro-mechanical devices that spray a predetermined quantity of atomized gasoline (a mist of gasoline) into a car’s intake manifold, which is right in front of the intake valve. To increase the burn’s or combustion event’s efficiency, the gas is sucked into the combustion chamber and mixed with a specific amount of oxygen. The fuel injectors must be repaired as a cure.
When white exhaust smoke is present:
Does the exhaust smoke leave the tailpipe and disappear quickly? If so, condensation accumulating in your car’s exhaust system is probably the cause. When cars, even new ones, are initially started in the morning, this is a typical sight. If it persists after startup, you can be in big danger. When an engine burns coolant that has leaked into the combustion chamber, white exhaust smoke frequently results. The most frequent offenders include the following:
Blown head gasket: While this is unfortunate, your engine’s structural integrity is probably not at risk, so it won’t be completely destroyed. The two main components of an engine are the engine block and the cylinder head. The cylinders and coolant passageways are found in the block, and the valves and rocker arms are found in the head. To seal the joint, the head gasket is inserted between the two. Coolant may enter the combustion chamber if it is compromised or damaged. Although expensive, this problem is solvable.
Cylinder head damage: This repair is more akin to a Greek tragedy. The combustion chamber, which is located in the cylinder head, is where the majority of the explosive activity takes place. The engine will experience loss of compression and misfiring if the cylinder head is severely broken or distorted. Why? The heat is excessive. The cylinder head, which is at the heart of the heat production in an automobile, is particularly vulnerable to damage from overheating among all the metal parts of an engine. When the head gasket fails due to excessive heat, which is typically the result of a failing cooling system, the cylinder head may split as a result of component warping and increasing pressure. Fixing this won’t be simple. The surfaces of heads are extremely finely machined to ensure a seamless and flush fit with all the connecting components. It would be better if you just replaced the head. You might think about buying a new car if your current one is old and worthless.
Your car’s engine is dead due to a cracked engine block. The block, as we mentioned previously, holds the cylinders and their parts inside a lubricated and cooled crankcase. In order to make it exceedingly robust and solid, it is cast from a single piece of metal, usually iron or aluminum. Additionally, it aids the other parts of the engine. Blocks that have cracks in them are nearly tough to fix. The only effective treatment is an engine switch, although this can be very expensive and is occasionally not a good investment. You might want to think about cutting your losses and getting a new car depending on the age and worth of your current vehicle.
If the gray or blue exhaust smoke is present:
Thick blue or gray smoke is a sign that the engine is burning oil, which suggests that oil is leaking into the combustion chamber in some way. This type of oil burning can result in a variety of problems, such as decreased fuel efficiency and subpar acceleration. Additionally, there can be an increase in hydrocarbon emissions and catalytic converter harm.
Failure of the valve stem seal: The valve stem seal controls how much oil is given to the interface of the valve stem, which lubricates the valve guide and, eventually, the combustion chamber. The solution is to either replace the seal (a frequently more expensive option requiring a partial rebuild), rebuild, or replace the engine. The most common cause of valve seal failure is an issue with clearance between the valve and the valve guide in the cylinder head. They can “rock side to side in the bore” when they become loose, which causes the valve to lose its seal. It is frequently advised to rebuild or replace the cylinder head.
Failure of the piston rings: While less common than faulty valve guide seals, failure of the piston rings (or loose piston-to-bore clearance) can nevertheless occur.
When the smoke appears, it is a sure sign that there is a problem with the piston (or piston ring) or the valve guide seal. A valve guide problem is clearly indicated if, after 30 to 60 seconds of being at a complete stop, you press the accelerator and the automobile immediately emits a puff of bluish gray smoke before clearing up. If smoke only appears when you accelerate quickly, there may be an issue with the piston or piston ring.