Does the Engine Consume Oil in the Skoda Fabia?
There are many situations where a car starts to consume oil. Many people get worried when the engine begins to “eat” oil, and rightly so. We need to review several details about what to do when the engine starts doing this. If you’ve noticed that between oil changes your car loses 1–2 liters of oil, it’s time to be concerned. This article is written for you.
The Role of Engine Oil
The main role of engine oil is to reduce engine wear, acting as a lubricant between moving metal parts. Besides lubrication, it also retains small metal particles and various carbon deposits that can end up in the oil.
It’s known that when metal rubs against metal, very high temperatures can occur, and the engine can seize in less than a minute. Additionally, engine parts can be made from materials with varying coefficients of expansion, and at very high temperatures, this can lead to engine blockage. The same thing happens when the cooling system doesn’t function optimally and operating temperatures suddenly rise above a limit where engine operation is incompatible with the sudden temperature increase.
That’s precisely why engine oil must be used; it forms a resistant film that eases mechanical work and ensures efficient engine cooling as well as cleaning of internal parts. It goes without saying that something that constantly cleans must eventually be changed.
When Should the Engine Oil Be Changed in the Skoda Fabia?
Since we’ve mentioned that oil loses its properties, you might wonder when it should be changed. You’ve heard many different intervals: at 7,000 km, 10,000 km, maybe 15,000 km, or even 30,000 km as stated in the car’s manual. We simply recommend that, whatever car you have, you should change the engine oil every 10,000 km.
Why Does the Engine Consume Oil in the Skoda Fabia?
After all, every car consumes oil, but it all depends on how much oil a car consumes. If you need to top up engine oil every 1,000 kilometers, it’s clear that your car has a problem. Although many drivers don’t pay attention to this, engine problems can develop over time. Let’s see the main reasons why the engine would consume oil.
Worn Piston Rings: The main role of piston rings is to seal gases in the combustion chamber and to lubricate the piston sleeve. If the rings are worn, oil will seep between them, reaching the combustion chamber, and will be burned along with the fuel, causing the engine to emit blue smoke.
Turbocharger Problems: Cars equipped with turbochargers may start to face such problems over time because the turbocharger has considerable play in the central shaft. This allows oil to slip through the seals, reaching the intake or even the exhaust. The oil will be burned, and the car will emit blue smoke. Generally, this problem occurs in newer cars equipped with turbo-diesel engines.
Oil That’s Too Thin: We all need to know that only the oil recommended by the manufacturer should be added to the engine, not just any oil we think is appropriate. If we don’t follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, we risk facing unpleasant consequences. If the oil is not viscous enough, it will easily seep between the piston rings, valves, and even the turbo shaft, regardless of whether they are worn or not. Thus, the oil will be burned and will emit blue smoke.
Watch out for oil leaks under the car or oil leaking around seals on the engine block. Also, check the coolant reservoir to ensure there’s no oil in the coolant.
How to Easily Find Out if Oil Is Getting into the Combustion Chamber in the Skoda Fabia?
Remove the spark plugs and see if they’re covered in oil. If they are, you need to re-ring the engine.
Solving the Problem and Its Cost: How Much Will It Cost to Repair the Car if the Skoda Fabia Consumes Oil?
If your car has started to consume too much oil, which can be noticed immediately, it’s recommended to contact a mechanic and go to a service center so that the problem can be accurately detected and professionally resolved without affecting the car’s performance or creating other, possibly more serious, engine problems.
However, the cost of an oil change is not high at all. A specialized mechanic will charge you up to 150–200 lei for the labor. To this price, you need to add the cost of the engine oil, which can vary depending on the type required for your car.
Remember to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and add only the oil they recommend for the Skoda Fabia. Otherwise, you risk creating other serious problems for the car. If you notice the problem in time, you’ll only need an oil change. However, if the problem is noticed too late, you risk spending money on other important car parts as well. If the car consumes 1 liter of oil every 500–1,000 km, the engine needs to be re-ringed or replaced.
