June 2024 - Carotech Automotive and Tires

Volkswagen cars are one of the most efficient vehicles with excellent performance and features that make great rides. However, these features in Volkswagens can be compromised by unusually high fuel consumption.

Fuel usage problems can spiral into more car problems if not well controlled. Hence, as a Volkswagen owner, you should understand the various factors that can lead to increased fuel consumption in your car and how to fix them.

Causes of Increased Fuel Consumption in Your Volkswagen

If you have to take more frequent trips to the gas station while you still drive the same distance as you used to, this is an indication that your car now consumes more fuel, leading to a reduced fuel economy. Here are some common causes of his problem;

1. Lack of Engine Maintenance

If you are the type to ignore maintenance for your car’s engine, then you are increasing its risk of encountering fuel economy problems. Engine parts such as the spark plugs, can begin to show signs of fault without proper maintenance, which can then cause your Volkswagen to use more fuel to travel.

Also, using the wrong or contaminated oil for your engine can affect the engine’s function and your car may need to run harder, causing more fuel to be used.

2. Tire Problems

Lack of tire maintenance can cause various problems in your Volkswagen’s tires, which can also impact fuel efficiency. Tire pressure and rotation are the two important factors to help your car move properly. However, if the tire pressure or rotation is not right, your car will require more force to move, making the engine work twice as hard, and consuming more fuel than usual.

3. Frequent Electronics Use

It is also possible that some things have changed with your vehicle to cause an increase in its fuel usage. For example, if you install new electronic devices that work with more power, such as radios or other accessories, it is likely that your car uses more fuel to let these run. Also, using the AC system on the highest level can be a factor.

4. Car Handling/ Driving Style

The way you drive your Volkswagen also affects its fuel usage. If you frequently drive up steep hills, you need more force or acceleration to get your vehicle to move. However, rapid or increased acceleration consumes even more fuel. Also, if you regularly speed through, then you should expect your Volkswagen to use more fuel.

5. Low Fuel Quality

The quality of fuel you use for your Volkswagen can also affect how your engine works, thus affecting fuel economy. There is an octane level recommendation for the kind of fuel you put into your car, if you use a fuel with less, then you are risking your car’s engine performance as it may need more fuel to run efficiently.

6. Sensor Problems

Sensors in cars are highly important in relaying information from one part to the other so adequate adjustments can be made. The oxygen sensors, for example, transfer information to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of a car on air-to-fuel ratio. If this sensor is faulty, the car’s engine may not have sufficient oxygen, which can then lead to the need for more fuel than necessary.

7. External/Environmental Factors

While this may be out of your control, it could still impact your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Extreme weather conditions such as excessive heat or cold can affect how your car uses fuel. Heat can affect the density of fuel, causing a reduction in its efficiency. Also, extremely cold weather conditions can thicken engine oil, increasing the engine’s work and causing more fuel usage.

Handle Your Volkswagen’s Fuel Consumption Problems with a Professional

If you notice any sign of increased fuel usage in your Volkswagen, it could be due to any of the causes mentioned above. While fixing it may require simple actions, such as proper driving styles, reduced electronics use, or keeping your car protected from extreme external conditions, you may also need help from a professional mechanic.

Your car requires adequate maintenance services such as tire and engine maintenance to keep it going and to increase its fuel efficiency. Carotech Automotive is your Los Angeles go-to shop for maintenance and repair services for Volkswagens.

We have the latest tools to aid inspection, diagnosis, and repair of any issue that your Volkswagen may be experiencing. Bring your car and let’s treat it with the best care possible.

Have you ever wondered what your BMW does with the waste it generates from its engine? If you have a keen interest in how automobiles work, you will understand that incomplete combustion in the engine generates waste gasses that are harmful to the engine’s system and also the environment.

The Crankcase Ventilation Valve (CVV) is a component of your car that handles this issue. With this important role, if this valve gets damaged for any reason, your BMW’s engine function could be compromised. This guide helps you understand the red flags in the CVV to help you find a solution in time to save your car’s engine.

How Does the Crankcase Ventilation Valve Work?

The Crankcase Ventilation Valve (CVV), also known as the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve plays a key role in protecting the environment and also your car from damage. The CVV is a fuel vapor recycler that removes blow-by gasses from the crankcase and back into the combustion chamber.

During incomplete combustion, the engine produces harmful waste gasses. These gasses must be removed from the engine as it can corrode the engine parts and cause damage. However, these gasses cannot just be released into the environment as they are harmful. Hence, the CVV recycles these gasses back to the engine for complete combustion.

The CVV could, however, get faulty and fail to perform its functions and this can be dangerous for your car’s engine. There are several reasons why this valve could get damaged, such as a faulty valve filter which would fail to keep unwanted particles out and reduce the valve’s ability to remove toxic gasses.

Other causes of PCV valve issues are:

Accumulation of debris or dirt that keeps the valve stuck.
Excessive heat that damages valve seals.
Lack of adequate maintenance.

What are the Signs/Red Flags that Show Crankcase Ventilation Valve Issues in a BMW

If your car’s CVV gets bad, it could cause serious damage to the crankcase, which could lead to engine failure. However, if you can easily recognize early signs of damage in the valve, you can find a solution before serious damage is done to your engine.

Hence, identifying the red flags in this car component is important.

1. “Check Engine” Light

The check engine light on our car’s dashboard helps to notify you of any impending damage to the car’s engine. If the crankcase ventilation valve gets faulty, it would not open or close as required and this could affect the air-fuel mixture in the engine. Once the air-fuel ratio is compromised, the engine’s performance is affected and this can trigger the “check engine” light to come on.

2. Black Smoke from the Exhaust

Another red flag that indicates a problem with the ventilation valve in the crankcase is when you notice black smoke emitting from the exhaust pipes. Black smoke is a sign of incomplete combustion in a car’s engine. Since the CVV’s role is to prevent this from happening, a fault in the component would lead to these emissions.

3. Oil Leaks

Another sign of a car’s crankcase ventilation valve failure is a decrease in oil levels due to oil leakage. This happens because a faulty ventilation valve could be stuck closed, allowing the gasses to build up in the crankcase. This build-up of gasses puts pressure on the crankcase, damaging the seals or gaskets in this component, which then allows oil to leak out.

4. Difficulty Starting the Engine

Another red flag to indicate a ventilation valve issue in our car’s engine is when your engine does not start as easily as it used to, or it has rough idling. This happens because a faulty valve could get stuck and remain open, allowing air into the engine system and making the air-fuel mixture too lean and thus affecting engine performance.

The Best Shop to Handle Your BMW’s Crankcase Ventilation Valve Issues in Los Angeles

Carotech Automotive is a leading Auto Repair Shop in Los Angeles, CA. We have a team of ASE-certified mechanics with many years of experience in handling various problems with European cars. We also have the latest factory-grade tools and equipment so no car issue is too much for us to solve.

Hence, if you notice any of the signs discussed in this article in your car, then it’s time to bring your car down to us so we can help you save your engine and keep the environment safe.

Month: June 2024

Factors Leading to Your Volkswagen’s Increased Fuel Consumption