I've been almost certain for a while that my 7A burns oil. After it warmed up, I opened the oil spout and a teeny bit of smoke wafted out. Is that a dead giveaway that it burns oil or is it just because it gets damn hot in there?

Also, if I'm burning oil, and I also have a super small oil leak, shouldn't my oil level being going down? My oil level has been the same for the last few weeks. I check my oil about twice a week.

Smoke out of the exhaust usually means you are burning oil.

I know, but I can't see my exhaust while I drive. I was wondering if a bit of smoke out of the oil spout means the same thing.

Have a friend follow you and look for blue.
The amount of smoke that may come out of the spout should be insignificant unless its billowing in which case you probably have a bigger problem than burning oil.

This post has been edited by neKronos: Mar 4, 2011 - 8:12 PM

I know. But my main concern is that if I'm burning oil and have a small leak, why isn't my oil level going down??

Because it's such an insignificant amount.

Are you sure its a small leak? Or is it left over from a previous leak, or from something else like power steering, a spill? Since you said that you are "almost certain"

Frankly oil level staying the same I would find to be a great thing. Whats your oil look like after you have driven the car.

But the thing is that it used to show a significant decrease in oil on the dipstick when I was burning oil. Now it's not. This is just my paranoia kicking in, it might be nothing. Or maybe it's sludge building up. I have no clue.

Sludge blocked the leak?

No, it's still leaking a bit. But maybe the sludge is blocking the oil level decreasing? Or maybe I'm thinking to hard...