Oil consumption caused by leaking intake systems and defective air filtering
Information on diagnostics
Why is maintenance work on the air filter necessary? Can you blow out air filters or are they damaged during this process? What happens when the intake air is not filtered correctly? Here, you can find out what you can do.
En route to the combustion chamber, the intake air passes a number of places where components are joined together (1). If there is a leak at these joints, the engine will draw in unfiltered, contaminated air. The same effect will be seen if intake air is insufficiently filtered.
Reasons for this include:
Neglecting air filter maintenance (exceeding change intervals) |
Not maintaining sufficient levels of cleanliness when changing the air filter (dirt gets into the clean side) |
Filter elements are faulty, deformed or degraded, or have become dislodged |
Unsuitable or incorrect filter elements |
Filter elements damaged by compressed air |
Missing filter elements |
Dirt that enters the combustion chamber with the intake air rapidly produces abrasive wear on the cylinder sliding surfaces, pistons and piston rings. Dirt also accumulates in the piston ring grooves and combines with the engine oil to form an abrasive paste.(2). Constant rotation of the piston rings means that they get worn away at the top and bottom and the piston ring grooves become enlarged (3).