Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[brad]

Incidentally, in the newspaper Carsguide today, someone wrote in about excessive oil consumption on their Audi Q5, but the reply was that using a litre of oil every 1,000 kms was normal - and that reply wasn't from VW, it was a general reply from Carsguide.

Just because they say it is so, doesn't mean that it's right.

CarsGuide probably asked VWA for info. If I was in the business of road testing cars, I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of an importer or manufacturer.

[444YYY]

Hi Guys,
First post...
I have seen that from Sept this year, CTH engine numbers are available on orders on the dealership system...
Any CTH engine members here yet? Any issues?

[gavs]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

I understand what you are saying but a design flaw can be as simple as someone specifying too loose a tolerance so the people who don't have issues have the upper limits of that tolerance while the others are at the bottom limit. Yes, higher compression and forced induction highlight these issues even more but that is frankly no excuse. You do not hear of these kinds of issues from other marques that use the same philosophy like Renault or fiat....

[Banana2]

I've been out of the loop for a while, so forgive me if this has been answered - what exactly does changing the pipe do? I haven't been able to find a clear response after searching.

Reason I ask, is that after a period of low oil consumption in my car, the problem recurred. Last month, I took the car back to the dealer and they changed a vent hose. I haven't driven enough to tell if it has made a difference yet, but wonder how exactly it is supposed to work... the young man at the desk couldn't tell me.

Cheers.

[gavs]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

Nobody really knows, there *might* be a valve change in the hose but I am personally very dubious about it. If the issue is blow by, the better solution would be to fit a separate catch can.

[Banana2]

Nobody really knows, there *might* be a valve change in the hose but I am personally very dubious about it. If the issue is blow by, the better solution would be to fit a separate catch can.

Thanks, gavs.

Forgive my ignorance, but where exactly does "blow by" occur in an engine? If it is in the cylinder, ie: "blowing by" the piston rings, shouldn't new rings solve the issue? It must not be in the cylinder then... but where?

[JonP01]

I understand what you are saying but a design flaw can be as simple as someone specifying too loose a tolerance so the people who don't have issues have the upper limits of that tolerance while the others are at the bottom limit. Yes, higher compression and forced induction highlight these issues even more but that is frankly no excuse. You do not hear of these kinds of issues from other marques that use the same philosophy like Renault or fiat....

Ok, thanks. That makes sense. It is a pity because I absolutely love my Polo and otherwise wouldnt have hesitated at all to buy another VW or even Audi next time. But I dont think I would be happy to spend around 40k on a car if it oil issues.

Back to the Polo, what might be the average kms reached at which point someone knpws if they are "lucky" or not? For example, if a new Polo does not use any oil in the first couple of thousand kms, is it likely to develop an oil consumption problem later on, assuming it is treated the same way as it was from new?

[RoknRob]

Back to the Polo, what might be the average kms reached at which point someone knpws if they are "lucky" or not? For example, if a new Polo does not use any oil in the first couple of thousand kms, is it likely to develop an oil consumption problem later on, assuming it is treated the same way as it was from new?

I'm not sure, but you would expect it fairly soon - it is more common during the first 5000km, as the engine beds in. Mine slowed down after about 6000km. (Personally, I would see no change on the dipstick until the 2nd fill. At the third fill, the dipstick would be halved, and at the fourth fill near the bottom - then I would top up).

That being said - and I know you say there are examples of non-GTIs using oil on the UK site - but I don't think there is a single example of an oil drinking non-GTI on this forum, so you should feel pretty confident. (Happy to be corrected if I am wrong).

I would still be checking my oil pretty frequently. My dealer's words - "It's a European car, after all. In Europe it is the norm to check your oil at every fill." Seriously makes me think twice about buying another VW, if that is the attitude...

[kaanage]

shouldn't new rings solve the issue?

That it isn't that simple is why this thread is 93 pages and still growing.

[Banana2]

That it isn't that simple is why this thread is 93 pages and still growing.

Fair enough.

So what about my original question, then? Where does "blow-by" come from?

[gavs]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

From the rapid movement of mechanical components and atomization of oil particles in the cylinder head and crank case from this movement gettin into the breather pipes. The cylinder head has an oil separator that isn't overly effective, this seems to be the main culprit.

[Veeduby]

Just wondering where you can buy CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30 from (In Sydney)? Had quick look at supercheap and couldn't find it... Can you only buy it from dealerships?

*edit - Checked autobarn too and didn't find it. Is it the same as the " Castrol Edge Titanium" stuff?

[Banana2]

From the rapid movement of mechanical components and atomization of oil particles in the cylinder head and crank case from this movement gettin into the breather pipes. The cylinder head has an oil separator that isn't overly effective, this seems to be the main culprit.

Ah -I get it. Hard to believe they could get it so wrong, but there you go...

Cheers.

[MJKooLio]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

Just wondering where you can buy CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30 from (In Sydney)? Had quick look at supercheap and couldn't find it... Can you only buy it from dealerships?

*edit - Checked autobarn too and didn't find it. Is it the same as the " Castrol Edge Titanium" stuff?

I bought mine at Supercheap so it's available in Perth at least!

[JonP01]

Just wondering where you can buy CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30 from (In Sydney)? Had quick look at supercheap and couldn't find it... Can you only buy it from dealerships?

*edit - Checked autobarn too and didn't find it. Is it the same as the " Castrol Edge Titanium" stuff?

I spent several days trying to track it down in Sydney to no avail (tried several Supercheap, Auto One, Autobahn and Repco stores). It is not the same as Castrol Edge Titanium. The dealers seem to sell the VW 5w-30 brand long life oil which I am told is the same as the Castrol one (possibly packaged for VW by Castrol).