Posted on 12/19/2025
If you have driven your vehicle for many years, you may notice the oil level drops between services more than it used to. There might not be any obvious leaks on the ground, and the engine can still run smoothly, yet you find yourself adding a quart here and there. That extra oil use is common as engines age, but it is still worth understanding and watching. Knowing why it happens helps you decide what is normal for a high-mileage engine and when it is time to have things checked. Why Oil Consumption Shows Up as Engines Age Inside an engine, oil has a tough job. It has to lubricate moving parts, carry away heat, and deal with small amounts of fuel and combustion byproducts. Over tens of thousands of miles, metal surfaces wear slightly and seals harden. Clearances open up just enough to let more oil slip past rings and valve seals than when the engine was new. At ... read more