If your car seems to be burning oil and you have to top off your oil frequently, you have company.
Consumer Reports’ latest auto survey covering almost 500,000 newer cars has identified several popular engines that burn quite a bit of oil.
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Consumer Reports has listed 30 cars with model years 2010 to 2014 as top oil burners.
The worst are the BMW 5, 6, and 7 Series and X5; the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne; and the Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, Q5, and S4.
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BMW responded to Consumer Reports' findings:
BMW vehicles have long intervals between oil changes (10,000 miles). Consequently they may consume a certain amount of engine oil and an oil top-up might be required between services. Oil consumption is normal on all engines as it is necessary to properly lubricate the cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings, valves, and turbocharger(s). BMW engines (excluding BMW M) may consume up to 1 quart of engine oil per 750 miles under certain driving conditions. Conversely, due to the increased power on BMW M engines, they may consume up to 2.5 quarts of engine oil per 1,000 miles under certain driving situations.
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It is important to note that an engine that is consuming oil that is within the specifications is not indicative of excessive engine wear. However, if a customer experiences a situation where there is in fact excessive engine oil consumption, then our dealer network will be able to provide a prompt diagnosis and solution.
Any customers with questions or concerns about their product should contact BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-831-1117 or email customer.relations@bmwna.com.
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Audi also responded to Consumer Reports' findings:
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The bulk of the Audi vehicles mentioned in the Consumer Reports story were older models involved in an oil consumption lawsuit that has since been settled and resolved.
You can get the complete list on ConsumerReports.org.
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Consumer Reports’ auto experts say that it’s normal for cars to burn a little bit of oil as they age and get closer to 100,000 miles. But for an almost new car that’s still under its warranty, you shouldn’t have to be topping off the oil between changes.
Audi, BMW, and Subaru say that oil consumption is a normal part of a car’s operation. But Consumer Reports finds that 98 percent of owners of newer cars don’t have to add oil between oil changes.
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Subaru responded to Consumer Reports' findings:
Oil consumption is an inherent feature of all internal combustion engines and the rate of consumption can be affected by such factors as transmission type, driving style, terrain and temperature. Our internal data shows that very few of our owners have experienced above-expectation oil consumption, much less than 1% of Subaru vehicles overall. We have continued to develop our products and our data suggests that this already low rate has been further reduced. The Subaru owner's manual includes a normal consumption example of 1 qt per 1,200 miles, and most owners will experience consumption at lower rates with normal driving. However, if an owner feels they are using more oil than they should be, retailers will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis and can perform a consumption test to determine what actions should be taken. Different drivers in the same car may experience different results. However, Subaru will continue to offer assistance to customers who feel they are experiencing above-expectation consumption.
Subaru, Audi and Toyota are subject to class-action suits regarding the problem of oil consumption. And Honda recently issued a warranty extension to cover the problem. For 2008 to 2011 Accords and 2010 to 2011 CR-V four-cylinder engines, the warranty is extended to eight years or 125,000 miles. And Toyota amended its powertrain warranty on its four cylinder 2AZ-FE engines, to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Consumer Reports believes that any engine that burns oil, if it’s still under the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty, needs to be repaired or replaced.
If your car requires oil frequently, Consumer Reports says to take your oil receipts to your dealer and ask for a fix.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website.
Photo Credit: Consumer Reports