Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[GraveDilute]

Well, after a consumption test where i used 370ml in 1000 kms i now have to replace pistons. 3 day job!

[gavs]

That sucks mate, hopefully it sorts it out for you.

Mine is still sitting at 250ml down the dipstick at 10,000kms.

[RoknRob]

Well, after a consumption test where i used 370ml in 1000 kms i now have to replace pistons. 3 day job!

Look on the bright side! After how many km's over all? Brand new pistons!

(I'm hoping my test will be as convincing as yours, and not just borderline, as it sort of has been - I want brand new pistons!)

[GraveDilute]

And if the piston replacement doesn't work, then it will be a brand new engine.
Could be good, could be bad.

Can't do it until 2nd week of Jan due to OS travel committments, so we'll see

[RoknRob]

Actually...

My 1st test (500km) used 330 ml over 660km, which they deemed too close to the acceptable 0.5L per 1000km, so I am in the process of my 1000 km test.

How did they agree to replace your pistons on your 370 ml over 1000km figures??? (Personally, I agree they should be, but the manual would suggest this is "acceptable"...)

Again, once the pistons are changed in my car - assuming it fixes the problem - I will have a load off my mind. Hope it happens, despite the inconvenience.

[gavs]

There are ways to make the car burn more oil.....

[GraveDilute]

Hi Rob,

Not sure of the reasoning but am happy that it is being addressed.
Based on driving 25k/yr, it was going to cost me an additional $1500/yr just to keep topping it up with oil.

Hope your 2nd test is more conclusive.

@ gavs

I assume you mean, give the car more stick? (not that I need encouragement )

[Gambit]

Fark feel sorry for all you guys with oil issues , what a drama. I think I am one of the lucky ones who have escaped this issue. Mind you every time I drive, I drive it like I stole it.

[RoknRob]

Fark feel sorry for all you guys with oil issues , what a drama. I think I am one of the lucky ones who have escaped this issue. Mind you every time I drive, I drive it like I stole it.

Me too!

And yet...

Will be glad when it is settled and can be worry free like the rest of you!

[wiz]

Hi all. I haven't posted for a while but I have been monitoring the oil consumption thread as it has also been troubling me.
I reported to VW that I had an oil usage issue and they asked me to go in for a test. 15 minutes later I leave the dealershiop told that if the oil lamp came on again come back in or wait until I had done a further 1000kms then return to the dealership. 600kms into the test the light came on....off I go back to the dealership where they top the car up, tell me they will start a new consumption test and therefore wait for a further 1000kms then return to the dealership, at which point they would 'discuss with me the options' should the test prove that the oil usage is too high and something needs to be done. In summary the option offered was only a single one which involved new pistons....

that was about 600kms ago.

Today, out of the blue the dealership calls to advise me that the parts for the car have arrived and that I need to make arrangements to have the car to them for about 1 weeks worth of work! WTF?
Obviously they simply ushered me out the door with a pat on the back at the time and as I left went into immediate panic stations and ordered parts knowing full weel that I would need them!

I'm not pleased about the deception but I guess its a step in the right direction at having the problem remedied. I can't help but feel that when the dust settles I will have an inferior product. sheesh, I've only done 3000kms in total and already some major work is being done to the car!

[gavs]

Feel for you mate but don't feel bad about being deceived, part and parcel of VW ownership. At least they are doing something about it now for you.

[Karly101]

Well I booked in for the 2nd part of my oil consumption test for 20th December (only time I could get a hire car I did tell them I'd be massively over the kms by then!), I reached 1400km today (into the test car has done 8,000km) and the oil lamp came on. Stopped by the dealer and the car had drank 1.5litres of oil in 1400km.

I questioned them that it was excessive and they told me not to worry and come back on the 20th December for the 2nd stage of the test Got home... and Volkswagen rang to tell me that they'll need to reschedule my appointment as the car would need new piston rings and that would take 3 days. Why could they not tell me this at the dealer?? Obviously they know its a problem.

So I will be getting new piston rings for Christmas.. hah.. hope it solves this problem. I did not get to run this car in because I bought it at 3000km but I don't drive gently and do fwy driving every day so I would have thought that would help! I will speak to them about reimbursing me for the oil but will settle if they fill my bottle for no charge.

[Eaglehawk]

Started my oil consumption test today. First service just cost under $280.

[Lucas_R]

Karly - thats a huge amount of oil to use in such a short space of time. Sorry to hear that some of these GTi's are having oil issues and having to have pistons / piston rings replaced - especially when some cars are only a few months old.

I used to work at a Holden dealership from about 2000 - 2002, and the Gen III 5.7L V8 had just been released in the SS and HSV variants of the Commodore. They had a massive "piston slap" issue with their engines (causing engine noises and oil consumption), and at any one time, there would be several getting pulled apart and having new pistons and rings installed. Good news is, that the new pistons fixed the issue.....well part of the issue - the cars were still ****boxes but they didn't use oil anymore.

On another note, we have a 95 Corolla which is our runaround car. I keep it in great condition and service it regularly etc, but now thats its done 186,000km it has started to use a bit of oil. It doesn't leak, and ive driven behind it and it doesn't visibly burn it, but somehow uses it up while running. It uses about 100-200ml every 1,000km - and considering the age of the car, thats acceptable. In a new car though, no way.

My Golf has just passed 5,000km and hasn't used a drop of oil so far - and i certainly hope it stays that way.

Another thing to note - i have 2x brothers that work for Audi dealerships with a combined 10yrs or so of experience. Both of them have said that the DSG equipped vehicles are much more prone to have oil consumption issues over those with manual gearboxes. They believe it is due to the DSG always changing up gears and not allowing the engine to load up (especially important in the first few hundred km). I know the GTi is only available in DSG, but when its new, you need to load up the engine (say 4th gear at 50-60kph and floor it - but don't let the gearbox change gears).

Good luck to you and other Polo GTi owners getting this oil consumption issue fixed.

Stopped by the dealer and the car had drank 1.5litres of oil in 1400km.

[Karly101]

Thanks Lucas fingers crossed the new piston rings will be the end of the problem (any one had them installed and how are you doing oil consumption wise?)....

Another thing I have noted in the past few weeks is the back of the car is absolutely splattered with oil so it's no wonder I was going through so much...