Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[Zakarados]

So, it looks like I have one of those engine oil drinkers. After 1000km I filled 1L of engine oil, now at 2000km and the check oil light just came on. I will be heading into VW tomorrow to get it topped up.

The light came on just as I was entering my house, and VW is approx 20km away, it should be safe to drive there?

[Karly101]

Okay. I'm now almost 5,000km into the new engine, no oil usage until 600km ago where I added just under a litre. Checked my oil last night as its booked in for a service today and its almost empty.

So not happy.

[gavs]

Karly, don't forget that the dipstick only shows ~1L of the entire oil volume in the engine and if you have been driving differently, ala more city stop-start driving vs freeway or more mountainous driving vs flat, these can all effect oil usage.

I hope that they do the breather fix for you and your consumption stabilises...

[Diesel_vert]

I wonder if everyone is following the proper procedure when checking the oil level...

It can be surprisingly easy to misread the level and inadvertently overfill.

[Transporter]

For those that didn't think about it.

The oil level should be checked with the engine at operating temperature, standing on the leveled ground, 5-10 minutes after you've switched the engine off. Put only small amounts of oil in and recheck it, as Diesel_vert says, it's easy to overfill.

[Zakarados]

Update: Took the Polo into mascot VW, they took car did 1L top up and gave me a free 1L bottle to take with me. All done within 10 minutes. Awesome service.

[Zepelin]

Does anyone know approximately how much oil will need to be added if the oil lamp comes on (for a Polo GTI 1.4 TSI engine). I will follow the correct procedure, add a little then check etc. But it would be good to know an approximate amount to add. Also how many litres of oil does the engine take? 4 litres?

[prcurrie]

Does anyone know approximately how much oil will need to be added if the oil lamp comes on (for a Polo GTI 1.4 TSI engine). I will follow the correct procedure, add a little then check etc. But it would be good to know an approximate amount to add. Also how many litres of oil does the engine take? 4 litres?

1 Litre when the light comes on - but when refilling, don't just put a full litre in at once - do it bit by bit and keep testing the level.

The engine takes around 4l

[Karly101]

Another oil consumption test started for me today but they have ordered the new hose regardless, I can't fault the service I have got from the dealership really but how many times to fix the same issue??? I always check on level ground, at operating temperature and add bit by bit. My driving hasn't changed at all but I'm wondering whether I just hit that point in kms which also happened with the previous engine.

Also getting a new clutch...

[prcurrie]

Another oil consumption test started for me today but they have ordered the new hose regardless, I can't fault the service I have got from the dealership really but how many times to fix the same issue??? I always check on level ground, at operating temperature and add bit by bit. My driving hasn't changed at all but I'm wondering whether I just hit that point in kms which also happened with the previous engine.

Also getting a new clutch...

Time to get your money back for the car! Enough is enough!

[Transporter]

Use permanent marker and on the bottle draw the line on the side scale and write km next to it when you top up.

[JonP01]

Update: Took the Polo into mascot VW, they took car did 1L top up and gave me a free 1L bottle to take with me. All done within 10 minutes. Awesome service.

I am curious - what exact oil did they give you? I went to buy a litre of the Castrol Edge Professional 5w30 a couple of weeks ago but the dealer did not stock it. They had their own VW branded Longlife oil in 1 litre containers in stock and I was told it was all the same oil. Just wondering if it really is and Castrol just package it up for VW and Audi.

[Zakarados]

I am curious - what exact oil did they give you? I went to buy a litre of the Castrol Edge Professional 5w30 a couple of weeks ago but the dealer did not stock it. They had their own VW branded Longlife oil in 1 litre containers in stock and I was told it was all the same oil. Just wondering if it really is and Castrol just package it up for VW and Audi.

It is the VW branded bottle. I will have a look tomorrow to see if it states anything about Castrol.

[Diesel_vert]

I am curious - what exact oil did they give you? I went to buy a litre of the Castrol Edge Professional 5w30 a couple of weeks ago but the dealer did not stock it. They had their own VW branded Longlife oil in 1 litre containers in stock and I was told it was all the same oil. Just wondering if it really is and Castrol just package it up for VW and Audi.

Yes, it is repackaged oil, most likely by BP/Castrol (who are VW's technical and marketing partner).

Part number should be G 052 195 M2 for the 1 litre bottle of LongLife III (504/507) oil.

[Rubbadub]

Some bad stories here. I haven't read all 90 pages, but a fair few...

What's the latest theory here on running in the 1.4 twin-charged motor? The people on Briskoda (British Skoda site) reckon warming these cars up (to 90o, after 10 minutes or so), then giving them a good work-out is the way to go. They also seem to feel some (too many?*) of the motors are flawed from the start, and even doing the "right" thing by them doesn't guarantee avoiding an oil-drinking problem ongoing.

*It's hard to gauge exactly how large the problem is when it stands to reason anyone who has the problem is more likely to join a forum, but given similar threads start on every forum with cars running this motor, there must be something to it.