Causes of Engine Oil Volume Decrease

The presence of engine oil in vehicles plays a significant role, serving as a lubricant, dampening vibrations, and minimizing friction. In its use, a decrease in engine oil volume is a very normal occurrence.

However, you should remain vigilant if this happens too quickly. The normal rule is that you can change your car engine oil every 6 months or every 10,000 kilometers for normal usage.

Causes of Decreased Engine Oil Volume

However, if the engine oil decreases after just a few kilometers, you need to be cautious. Before this happens, it is important to know the causes of rapid engine oil depletion:

Leaking Oil Pan or Sump

In cars, this component serves as a reservoir for the oil that will be used by the engine. The oil pan is shaped like a mini tub that is attached to the engine block using a sealant layer.

The part that most often causes oil leaks is this sealant layer. To fix the leak, you need to reinstall the oil pan using a new sealant coating.

Before doing so, clean the oil pan from any remnants of the old adhesive first. Moreover, it is advisable to use quality adhesive to prevent such occurrences from happening repeatedly.

Weak Piston Ring

Basically, the piston ring is a car component that rarely experiences wear or damage. However, the piston ring can weaken and cause oil to seep into the combustion chamber.

This condition is more common in motorcycles, but riders often do not realize it. This is because the weakening of the piston ring is indeed difficult to detect.

Riders can recognize it when the motorcycle is accelerated at high speeds and emits white smoke. Unfortunately, there is always a chance that this condition will also occur in your beloved car.

Engine Oil Volume Decreases Due to Evaporation

An engine operating at high temperatures can cause oil to evaporate. Usually, this is caused by a malfunctioning cooling system or the use of poor-quality oil.

A poor cooling system will cause the engine to overheat or its temperature to rise drastically. On the other hand, poor oil can make the engine feel heavier to pull.

This means you should not choose oil carelessly. Instead, choose one that not only functions as a lubricant but also has engine cooling features. This way, the oil can function optimally.

Drain Plug Leakage

The drain plug serves as the oil drainage system in the vehicle's engine. It resembles a bolt threaded downward and is equipped with a special seal to prevent leaks or seepage.

Unfortunately, this part can also suffer damage due to constant exposure to hot engine temperatures. As a result, engine oil will seep through the damaged gaps, reducing its volume.

To address this, you can replace the rubber seal on the drain plug. If you are in a very urgent situation, you can seal the gap using pipe seal tape.

However, if the problem is not resolved, it means you need to replace the drain plug with a new one. If that is the case, make sure to entrust your beloved car to an expert.

Although the cost may be slightly higher, satisfaction and quality will be more assured. This is because the technicians at authorized workshops are professional and competent in their respective fields.