Technical Oil consumption Fiat 500x 2018

[RickCuenca]

Hi there, greetings from Ecuador. Looking for some advice regarding an issue I'm having with my Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair petrol.

I bought it used last November with 43,000 miles; it now has 54,000 miles. Recently, I’ve been experiencing high oil consumption with no other symptoms: no smoke or unusual smell, no visible leaks, perfect idle, cylinder compression 175psi, and the car drives beautifully.

- About two months ago the dipstick level was 1/2 after driving 1.300 miles and 6 weeks, this was a rate of 0.12 liters / 621 miles.
- Last month I cleaned the inlet actuator filter as preventive maintenance and after that the consumption multiplied. Now it is around of 1 liter / 621 miles.

I tried Liqui Moly Stop Oil Leak in case the issue was with rubber seals. For the first three days (about 124 miles) the oil level stayed full and stable, but after one more day (62 miles) the dipstick showed ¼ below full, so I think the problem isn’t in the seals.

I've been checking this with a particular mechanic since I don't have access to an official Fiat service in my city. The engine looks fine (see photos attached) and shows no compression loss. After discussion, we suspect the problem might be related to the MultiAir module or its gasket.

I share my case here to look for advice and other point of view, hope you can help me.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Firstly I wouldnt mess with the multi air unit. I anticipate it will be the cars PCV which is part of the crank case breather system. I had a Seat that di just what you describe. On that teh part was deep under and behind the engine and was both costly (c £200) and very difficult to get at. the car was 23 years old and needed other work so we decided not to repair it. Im sure soemone will soon give soem more detail if not other possibilities. It staggered me how much oil just vanished without trace or apparent leaks.

 

[Mike1alike]

Hi and Welcome to the Forum!
I think your problem might very much be the seals, the valve stem seals more exactly. No additive and no nothing fixes them, other than replacing them with new ones. Especially if you have the service history and they haven't been replaced recently.
I recommend you put new valve stem seals and also, before doing anything if your car doesn't show the oil pressure (I don't know if your model shows that or not), do an oil pressure reading to make sure the oil pump delivers enough. Then, when you take the head cover down, make sure the oil channel inside it is not clogged and it delivers as it should.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hi and Welcome to the Forum!
I think your problem might very much be the seals, the valve stem seals more exactly. No additive and no nothing fixes them, other than replacing them with new ones. Especially if you have the service history and they haven't been replaced recently.
I recommend you put new valve stem seals and also, before doing anything if your car doesn't show the oil pressure (I don't know if your model shows that or not), do an oil pressure reading to make sure the oil pump delivers enough. Then, when you take the head cover down, make sure the oil channel inside it is not clogged and it delivers as it should.

I agree another possibility. I would expect blue smoke especially on the overrun and when revving up as the oil would be going into the engine and being burned. Plugs might well show signs of oiling and carbon if oil is being burned so have a look and see what they look like.

 

[Mike1alike]

Plugs might well show signs of oiling and carbon if oil is being burned so have a look and see what they look like.

That's true. Take a look on the spark plugs, they'll show. If oil is getting in, there'll be traces of it, especially oil on the plug's thread.

I would expect blue smoke especially on the overrun and when revving up as the oil would be going into the engine and being burned.

That actually doesn't show as much as we'd expect it to show, not always. The engine can burn oil without showing too much about it. It just burns it drop by drop and it adds up.

 

[RickCuenca]

Hi there, thanks a lot for your quick response. Just to confirm, there is no blue smoke or any weird smoke.
My car doesn't show the oil pressure in the screen. It shows the oil temperature and it always keeps in the middle when the car approaches the proper temperature (i think this is the normal temperature).

My mechanic also ensured to check the PCV valve which works fine, also, the spark plugs works properly and don't show any oil residues.

 

[Mike1alike]

Then check the engine around for leakage, starting from the top. Many times it happens the oil leaks on the upper side when the engine is running and it slowly drips on the engine, most of it getting burned there, engine being hot. So that leaves no leaking traces on the floor, under the car. Typical places: the gasket between CH and CH cover; also the camshaft seal - that being hidden under the timing belt and cover, you won't see oil traces unless you specifically look for them.
Can you post a picture with the top of your engine, air filter box off?!
Do try and get an oil pressure reading.

 

[The Panda Nut]

That's true. Take a look on the spark plugs, they'll show. If oil is getting in, there'll be traces of it, especially oil on the plug's thread.

That actually doesn't show as much as we'd expect it to show, not always. The engine can burn oil without showing too much about it. It just burns it drop by drop and it adds up.

I think you would see smoke if it was burning the amount its using. Thats why I would check the plugs. It might bexa bit of both. Oil seals seem to increase over time. A broken Pcv might be a step change in oil use. It may be both. Some compression checks might help eliminate piston rings from the search too.