Checking Engine Oil Level / Oil Consumption / Oil Light On

[Flighter]

My car is now at 20,000ks and it is using way more oil now than it did for the first 10,000. Definitely more than 0.5l/1000ks, and the car just does general suburban duties. Looks like I'll have to get the dealer to investigate as this is getting expensive!

[GolfAtom]

Oil Consumption

My 118TSI Golf is in it's 3rd year of ownership and 6 months (5,000 kms) after it's 3rd service, I got a low oil level warning. I had to top it up with 1 litre. In the first two years, the oil level was always above the low level, I never had to top up. According to the manual oil consumption up to 1 litre per 1000km is normal.

Should I be worried? Is the engine going bad?

[Umai Naa!!]

Keep an eye on it.

If in another 1000klms you have to put another litre in, take it and have it looked at. You may have an oil leak somewhere, or maybe it's as simple as the dealership shortchanging you on engine oil.

[GolfAtom]

Thanks Umai Naa, I'll certainly keep an eye on it.

[craig_the_german]

This oil useage must be particular to certain types of engines. My 90TSI is almost due for it's 30,000km service and in the 2 years I have had it (since new) it has needed not a single drop of oil added and has never moved off the full mark.

[mythik]

My Golf GTI MK6 and my partners Polo TSI 6R have not used a drop of oil in the 10k (polo) 15k (golf) they've traveled.

[nat225]

my mk6 gti has done 18k kms an the only time it used oil was during a full track day at Marulan. i suspect the oil was lost with the blow by that escaped through the stock pcv components. the oil separator must be overwhelmed with 125 degrees C hot oil vaporation.

other that that, the normal street use, enthusiastic drive on the twisties and happy laps, none of these has lowered the oil level on my dipstick.

i use castrol slx pro LL03 5w-30 vw504.00 approved oil and spent the first 1500kms running in the car driving on scenic drives during the xmas holiday, per WhiteJames endorsed precedures and VW manual, below 4000rpm but with load variations, outside Sydney traffic start and stop.

the vw502.00 5w-40 is a thicker oil and perhaps this would reduce the oil consumption on some VW's?

---------- Post added at 06:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 PM ----------

on the other hand, my mk6 118tsi in the past spent its youthful 2000km being babied and 14000kms later the check engine light came on, oil level was below the limit. at 17000kms another more serious light came on, then the vw service declared a new heart was needed due to loss compression on one pot... then i traded it in.

[ucme]

Gti oil consumtion

Hey guys

Car had only done 3000kms and oil had dropped to minimum on dip stick. No warning lights. I called up the dealership and they told me it was normal in the first year. They topped it up free of charge? Is this normal on these engines as they run in? Seems very odd to me.

Thanks

[AdamD]

Car had only done 3000kms and oil had dropped to minimum on dip stick. No warning lights. I called up the dealership and they told me it was normal in the first year. They topped it up free of charge? Is this normal on these engines as they run in? Seems very odd to me.

This has been discussed a lot in this thread and others; some GTIs can and do use oil to a greater or lesser extent. Have a read through this thread, and also:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f112/tips-breaking-brand-new-engine-42450.html

Why you need to use 504/507 oils in FSI/TSI/TDI engines!

[ucme]

Ok thank you

[SAINIside]

I wonder how many people actually check the engine oil on they day they buy a brand new car.

I never checked the oil level in my brand new GTI for the first 2 weeks of ownership. When I did check it, the oil level was only covering the bottom tip part of the dipstick - not even within the middle dipped area! I wasn't happy with the dealer I bought the car from, so I took it to dealer closer to where I live. They said they can't do an oil consumption test as it had only done 1,500 klms (needs 6,000+ for an accurate reading). It also seemed to them that the dealer I got it from never topped it up!! Been checking it since (done another 1,500 klms now) and oil level is fine.

I would have thought the car would come with full oil from the factory?! Plus, with the oil below the minimum point, shouldn't the low oil level warning light have come on??

[AdamD]

I wonder how many people actually check the engine oil on they day they buy a brand new car.

I never checked the oil level in my brand new GTI for the first 2 weeks of ownership. When I did check it, the oil level was only covering the bottom tip part of the dipstick - not even within the middle dipped area! I wasn't happy with the dealer I bought the car from, so I took it to dealer closer to where I live. They said they can't do an oil consumption test as it had only done 1,500 klms (needs 6,000+ for an accurate reading). It also seemed to them that the dealer I got it from never topped it up!! Been checking it since (done another 1,500 klms now) and oil level is fine.

I would have thought the car would come with full oil from the factory?! Plus, with the oil below the minimum point, shouldn't the low oil level warning light have come on??

It's pretty easy to be complacent these days, but some engines still use oil, even if the average owner is oblivious.

I check my oil monthly (don't do many km, maybe 7,500 per year), and have had to top it up on occasion - especially during the first 5,000km, when an engine often uses more. The oil will have been filled at factory and/or during pre-delivery, but engines that are still running in will typically run hotter and burn more oil, so the consumption can be greater during this time.

Don't be too concerned about the warning light - it's there as a backup, and will likely only show up when your oil level is getting critical. Just get into the habit of checking the oil level regularly by the prescribed method, and you'll be fine.

[elephino]

My engine uses a bit of oil, I'm used to it now and know I have to top up at least once between services.

Oddly, about 3 weeks ago the low light came on. I had planned to top up but didn't get a chance before a 2 week holiday (leaving the car at home). I've now returned and no light. Will be checking the oil tonight and see what the dipstick says but it's still a bit odd as it normally stays on until more oil is added. An oil fairy, maybe?

[elephino]

The result was low oil and now the light has come back on - so a top up it is

[ratsock]

Question on oil (total noob here)

Hey guys,

As in subject title, I'm a total noob when it comes to this stuff. Am trying to learn one step at a time from the very beginning

So my GTI DSG has got the oil warning light on. I figure this is pretty urgent I'm just wondering which oil you guys recommend for use in topping it up? I looked up the shell and castrol sites and they recommend the 5w-30 for this model, but I've seen other sources saying 5w-40. What's the difference? Does it matter which?

Is there a particular place in Melbourne CBD you go to?

Thanks for your help