GTI Mk V Engine Oil Problems

[simcooo]

Hi Guys,
Long time lurker here. I bought a Gti in March this year and brought to for a service immediately at Prestige and Performance in Brisbane straight away. It was a minor service at 80k, but the brake pads and brake fluids were changed as well as the engine oil. The engine oil was BYO, the Penrite Enviro 5w-30, which was recommended.

Its been barely 5 month since then and now I have a warning light for engine oil levels. Checking the dip stick the level was below the minimum by a fair bit.

Another Friend who also drives a Gti, serviced at the same place at the same time as me had the same issue as well, but his happened 2 months ago.

Is it normal for that much engine oil to be used up? I'm not suggesting anything about the workshop given its reputation here but I'm just curious about how this could have happened.

I know that this engine uses up engine oil, but it cant be such a huge amount right?

[Tim]

the GTI engines do use a bit of oil yes.
How many kms did you travel before having to top up? Most of them that I have seen seem to use around 1L every 5000 to 7500 kms.

[simcooo]

its been about 7000km since then.

[harlie]

I'm not suggesting anything about the workshop given its reputation here but I'm just curious about how this could have happened.

The level light should indicate oil level at approx 1/4 way between low and high marks. There are gtis out there doing worse than 7000km and there are many doing more...

Before you come to any definite conclusions I would check the stick after the next service. P & P have an excellent reputation that I expect will drop, the reputation was for the owner, who used to do all the work, he has since "expanded" employing mechanics and I have not been impressed the last 2 visits, not to mention now it's very hard to get him on the phone, telling me he's not there that often now. I know of another customer that has actually gone back to the dealer.

[simcooo]

I'm torn between heading back to P&P for a oil change now or go somewhere else. Have contacted Jimmy Mac to get some options. any idea how much a minor service and dsg check should cost. esp if I BYO the oil

[jessv3]

Simcooo I recently posted up a thread about this http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...ame-61227.html there is lots of good info there about it.

7000kms is well within vw's specifications.. Infact some people get less then 5000kms before the light comes on.

[booba]

Harlie,

You said that the oil light should come on 1/4 way between high and low level. Mine doesn't do this until the stick is dry. Do you think that there could be a problem with my sensor? I have also had a scenario where the gti has said oil pressure is low where i stopped the car immediately and topped it up. Yes I am bad at checking it regularly.

Also, I have never had a bad experience with P&P and this is also post him hiring mechanics.

[Tim]

The light doesnt come on until much lower.

Get better at checking your oil level. Once every few thousands kms isnt so hard.

[jessv3]

Which oil light is coming up? There is 2 (at least in the half mfd models, pre 08 ) there is an orange one which says "oil level low" and then there is a red light which I believe if you're seeing you should turn the engine off immediately. I have always been under the impression that orange warning lights on VAG cars are less serious, where as red usually mean serious and to stop driving asap.

[simcooo]

My light only came on when the stick was totally bone dry. Anyway Thanks guys for all the help. My mind is a little more at ease now hearing that its normal. Will probably still take it in for oil change and service anyway and to get the DSG gearbox checked out. there seems to be a delay in reaction when the reverse gear is engaged. is that normal?

btw, I msged Jimmy Mac hoping to get a quote for service and possibly booked an appointment, but didn't get a reply from him. Is he still in business or something? I'm thinking of going to either him or back to Mike Weber again

[brad]

I don't quite understand the issue & why P&P would be at fault.

• "New" (to owner) vehicle with unknown history & unknown oil usage rate.
• Customer supplied oil
• Customer does not appear to have carried out any fluid level checks in the 7000km period after service

I'm not sure about anyone else but I always do a quick sanity check of oil/water/brake fluid levels after a service has been done - not because i don't trust the mechanic - it's just good quality assurance.

[VW Convert]

I'm not suggesting anything about the workshop given its reputation here but I'm just curious about how this could have happened.

Thought the answer to that question was obvious; owner's failure to carry out routine checks of the car on a regular basis. I'm wondering when were the coolant, brake fluid, windscreen washer levels and tyre pressures last checked?

If I were taking a guess, I'd probably say ...... 7,000 KM ago.

[simcooo]

Thanks for all the inferences and assumptions of Owner's neglect, obviously you guys must be such experts with your vehicles that no problems ever come up. and while we're on the subject, it seems that the asking of questions seem to strike a nerve with you 2. well then, I'm Sorry that I'm not as well versed in vehicle issues as you guys.

If you have nothing helpful to say, then just not post anything.

I was not accusing the workshop of anything, I was just surprised that the levels would drop to such low levels, none of my other previous vehicles have had that problem,

btw, I do check my windscreen levels and tyre pressure regularly.

[TomC]

there seems to be a delay in reaction when the reverse gear is engaged. is that normal?

This question is off-topic to the thread but... to answer your question, yes there will/should be a slight delay engaging reverse and going from reverse to drive. Because the DSG is effectively still a "manual" gearbox, it does take a few seconds to swap between gears. You certainly can't flick the lever into reverse or drive and the gun it instantly like you can in a torque converter auto.

I've got in the habit of deliberately pausing for a few seconds beween selecting reverse and drive - DSG works much better that way

[VW Convert]

Thanks for all the inferences and assumptions of Owner's neglect, obviously you guys must be such experts with your vehicles that no problems ever come up. and while we're on the subject, it seems that the asking of questions seem to strike a nerve with you 2. well then, I'm Sorry that I'm not as well versed in vehicle issues as you guys.

Sorry, there is no assumption or inference of neglect here, your failure to check the oil level in 7,000 KM is an admission of neglect. As far as striking a nerve is concerned, no nerves struck at my end, you asked a question, I answered it, if any nerve has been struck, it is at your end. It all comes down to accepting responsibility, it is your car, it is your responsibility to carry out day to day checks, if you fail to do so, the consequences are yours to accept not anybody else's. You say you are not accusing the workshop of anything but you state "I'm torn between heading back to P&P for a oil change now or go somewhere else.", the message in that statement is quite clear.
Here is another question, if you checked your windscreen washer levels and tyre pressures regularly, how come you didn't check the oil level regularly?