My car burns oil: is the fix covered, or should I sell?

The first step costs nothing: call a dealer for your make with the VIN and ask whether an oil consumption program applies.

Some oil use is normal

Makers accept some oil use. An Isuzu bulletin filed with NHTSA explains why: part of the oil film on the cylinder walls gets burned in the combustion chamber, so consumption rates vary from engine to engine (Isuzu bulletin).

The same bulletin sets an accepted rate for the vehicles it covers: 0.946 liter of oil per 379 liters of fuel, which works out to about a quart every 100 gallons. Isuzu is clear that this figure applies only to those vehicles. It also notes that many factors, driving habits among them, can shape an owner's concern about oil use.

So "it burns oil" is not a diagnosis yet. Under the Toyota and Subaru programs, a dealer oil-consumption test decides whether a repair is covered.

Toyota's ZE7 program for the 2AZ engine

Toyota ran Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 for oil consumption in its 2AZ four-cylinder (Toyota bulletin). The bulletin lists certain:

• 2007-2009 Camry and 2007-2011 Camry Hybrid
• 2007-2008 Camry Solara
• 2009-2011 Corolla and 2009-2013 Corolla Matrix
• 2006-2008 RAV4
• 2007-2010 Scion tC and 2008-2015 Scion xB

How it worked:

1. Phase 1, launched in mid-December 2014, let owners seek reimbursement for past oil-consumption repairs and get an oil consumption test (Toyota phase 1).
2. Phase 2 moved to part replacement. Toyota split the launch in two because of limited part production capacity (Toyota).

The key condition: replacement depends on a Toyota dealer performing an engine oil consumption test under the service bulletin. If you own one of these models, ask the dealer whether your VIN is still eligible and whether the test has been done.

Subaru's class action settlement

A Subaru class action settlement extended the powertrain warranty to repair excessive oil consumption at authorized Subaru retailers, to 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever arrives sooner (Subaru settlement notice).

Two details matter if you drive one:

• Repairs are made as needed, based on the result of a qualifying oil consumption test.
• Owners who paid for engine oil out of pocket can be reimbursed for up to six quarts, provided they complained of excessive consumption to an authorized Subaru retailer.

Keep receipts for oil you've bought and note when you first told a dealer. For more on how settlement coverage works, see class action settlement cars.

If your make isn't listed here

We only name programs we could confirm from the maker's own bulletins. Other makes may have programs too. Our maker warranty extensions page tracks others, and a dealer can look up open campaigns by VIN.

Ask the dealer three things:

• Is there an oil consumption test for this engine, and what does it cost if no program applies?
• What rate counts as excessive for this model?
• Is my car still inside the time or mileage limit?

Where emissions tests apply

Whether your state runs an emissions test decides whether a test stands between the car and its next registration, or its sale. We found no official source tying oil burning to a failed test, so this table only shows where testing happens, based on each state's own pages.

Row sources are in the source list at the bottom.

Three states tie a test to the sale itself. California requires Smog Check certification at change of ownership in all program areas, except gas cars up to four model years old (California BAR). Missouri asks sellers based in Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties, plus the city of St. Louis, for an emissions test dated within 60 days (Missouri DOR). New Mexico tests in Bernalillo County at change of ownership as well as every two years (New Mexico MVD). In Nevada, by contrast, the emissions test in a private sale is the buyer's responsibility (Nevada DMV).

If your car has already failed a test, our failed inspection guide covers the next steps.

When repairing makes sense, and when it doesn't

Get it fixed when:

• a maker program or settlement covers it, or
• the dealer test finds a minor issue with a fix that's affordable for a car of its value.

Sell it when:

• no program applies and the repair would swallow most of the car's value
• you're adding oil so often it has become a running cost
• the car is due for an emissions test you'd rather not chase
• other faults are stacking up on an old or high-mileage car

Keep checking the dipstick in the meantime. If the engine does fail, our blown engine guide covers selling it.

Selling a car that burns oil to us

We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and a car that burns oil can still run fine. Either way, you can sell the whole car as it sits. For an offer, we'll want to know:

• the year, make, model and mileage
• roughly how often you add oil
• whether a dealer has tested it, and what they found
• whether the title is in your name

Pickup is free anywhere in the US.

Questions first? Call (877) 421-6008.

Once the car is gone, turn to the plates and the state's sale notice. After you sell has each state's rule.