UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi all,

I was driving up to Silverstone a couple of months ago and the oil light came on. I pulled into a garage and the oil level was just below min on the dipstick. I bought a litre of oil and it then read just under the max on the dipstick.

Yesterday I thought i'd have a check and the oil level is back to min on the dipstick. To me that sounds a lot. to drink a litre of oil in approximately 2 months.

Anyone else having to top up quite regularly?

Car was delivered last may so a year old, about 8500 miles on the clock.
I phoned VW and they said its on a 2 year service interval so didn't want it in for an oil change.

cheers

Interestingly enough I got my 6C in december and yesterday I checked my oil....3k on the clock and similarly the dipstick is just at minimum....and it looks 10years old...interested to hear the answer too..


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My owners manual (page 217) states that consuming up to 1 litre of oil in 2,000 kilometres (approx 1,243 miles) is normal, and that an engine might use more than this in the first 5,000 km (approx 3,100 miles). It's not unusual for new cars to consume some oil in the first few thousand miles; this will vary from car to car and often settles down over time as more miles are covered. I'd recommend checking your oil level more frequently that every two months especially if it's using more than you'd expect it to; that way you'll be able to monitor it, and not let it fall below the minimum mark before topping up.

You've not said how many miles you've covered between the two oil top-ups but if it's more then 1,200-1,300, then I suspect VW would consider your oil consumption to be within acceptable limits.

I've got a service plan, so my Polo GTI is on the fixed time and distance service regime. I'm a relatively low mileage driver so time and distance servicing is also more appropriate for my car than long life servicing. I'm also not a fan of the long life servicing regime and not having the oil changed for two years. In the first 12 months I covered around 6,500 miles and added about 1/4 litre of oil. Since the first service at the beginning of March, the oil level on the dipstick hasn't changed (so not used any oil).

So your car is using more oil than mine, but it's probably within what VW deem to be normal consumption.

yeah a couple of months is about 1300-1400 miles for me so sounds like it's 'normal'.. better buy a nice big bottle of oil!

A litre of oil, every 2 months is about 6 litres a year. So in a two year service interval, you'll use 12 litres, about three oil changes already... just change the filter and you're fine

SRGTD wrote: Thu May 25, 2017 11:04 am
So your car is using more oil than mine, but it's probably within what VW deem to be normal consumption.

It is not normal to burn off so much oil. It is definitely a problem with the rings on the pistons afaik.

On my 2009 GTI Golf Mk5, it was consuming oil similarly so I always carried a spare bottle to top up every 2K km with a litre or so. When I had a Passat B6 from 2010, it also drank the oil up every 2K km.

Now on my 2015 Golf Mk7 1.4 TSi, the oil never drop an inch even after 5K km. Some VW friends who had the problem before got an overhaul done on the their pistons with new sets and the oil consumption issue disappeared all together.

Now to decide if the cost of the oil vs the cost of the overhaul is better for the wallet. All manufacturer will say in the manual that the oil consumption is normal. I have owned several Opel{Vauxhall} cars back in 1990s but never had to top up a drop before ! VW cars seems to have this issue on their earlier models.

My 6C GTI appears to use a little oil, I would say but its perhaps used 0.5 litres in 6.5/7k miles which is nothing really.

I think the TSI engines are designed to use a bit of oil but if you are having to stick a litre in every few k or worse every few hundred miles you have a problem.

I had a Fabia vRS twincharger before and that used a litre every 4.5/5k miles which wasnt too bad considering the oil usage issues the CAVE and some CTHE engines were known for.

My Dad had an A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSi 180 some years ago and that started using a litre of oil every 250/300 miles....he traded it just before its 3rd birthday as we betted that it would have needed a top end rebuild or probably an entirely new motor. Mate had exactly the same car but a coupe and his was doing a litre every 100 miles eventually. Needed an engine rebuild and Audi tried to stiff him for 5k...was only that VAG admitted it was a known issue on a recorded phone call that he didnt have to pay it....cost him a grand still.

I think soft running in plays a part.....if you are too gentle on these motors early on I dont think the rings and bores bed in properly and thats where many of the oil usage problems stem from.

Mines currently on long life servicing (bought it used like it), but I'll be swapping it back to fixed at its next service.....I think 20k/2 year service intervals is a bit too long really even with the best quality long life oil. Be far less bothered on a PCP or lease car though.

Interesting replies, thanks.

I'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes. It's under a year old so I'd assume any work would be under warranty if it needed it. It's also a company car so hopefully my wallet is safe!

Mine's a 1.8 GTI by the way forgot to say.

Manufacturers always put a high oil consumption figure in their handbook to avoid getting loads of warranty claims. It does not mean this is normal. I have only ever had one recent 'modern' car that used a fair amount of oil and that was bought second hand. I have had a Vauxhall, MG, 3 VWs over the last 10 years, all performance cars from new, and never had to top up oil between services. I still think it is how cars are run in despite manufacturers saying it is not critical these days although happy to be corrected - the 1.4 polo GTI on this site being an exception and eventually VW accepted warranty responsibility for some of them.

I've only topped up half a litre bottle once just before this trackday and that's in 17k miles (obviously had a first service as well)

I'm assuming you know the oil level has to be checked when the engine is warm? See the handbook for what is needed if not sure

Penarth Blues wrote: Fri May 26, 2017 3:51 pm I'm assuming you know the oil level has to be checked when the engine is warm? See the handbook for what is needed if not sure

Yes, I read the handbook Not sure everyone knows that though so a useful reminder