# Using oil excessively **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 21, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil-excessively/17031 "2008-07-21T19:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dianeh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@dianeh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dianeh)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil-excessively/17031/1 "2008-07-21T19:47:50Z")
Our newly acquired (4 months) 2002 Nissan Altima is using oil at the rate of a quart or more evey 2 fill-ups. There is black smoke from the tailpipe. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil-excessively/17031/2 "2008-07-21T19:54:46Z")
How many miles are on the odometer? Is the smoke visible only immediately after you start the engine, or is it visible all the time? Did you get maintenance records when you purchased the car to verify that it was maintained properly? To the best of your knowledge, has the engine ever been run with a low oil level? To the best of your knowledge, has the engine ever overheated? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-oil-excessively/17031/3 "2008-07-21T21:00:32Z")
Black smoke means the engine is running rich (too much gas…not enough air). Blue oil means it’s burning oil. That’s way too much oil consumption. Did you have the vehicle inspected when you bought it. If it’s burning that much oil it could be some serious engine problems.