Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[RW1]

It must not be in the cylinder then... but where?

Can be if the cylinders have gone oval. New pistons and rings will only temporarily stop the sump oil splash passing the rings. Oil consumption will return to the same levels once the rings bed in.

I can find nowhere on the net where the shape of the cylinder liner block has been checked.

[pologti18t]

Don't know if this will make people feel a bit better but apparently the new boxer engines in the Impreza and XV are showing oil consumption issues (oil consumption tests etc) as well. All stemming from the priority to get the lowest L/100km they can (piston ring tension and very low 0-20W oil)

[brad]

Don't know if this will make people feel a bit better but apparently the new boxer engines in the Impreza and XV are showing oil consumption issues (oil consumption tests etc) as well. All stemming from the priority to get the lowest L/100km they can (piston ring tension and very low 0-20W oil)

This wouldn't be the first time that Subaru have had sealing issues. Gen5 4 & 6 cylinder NA engines weren't good either.

[maxxo]

Checked my oil at 1500 km and it was at the halfway mark on the dipstick. Checked again at 2000 km last night and it was less than a quarter. Emailed the dealer about it . I got a call from the service guys about 1 hr after to tell me that they ordered the oil breather and will do it on saturday when i bring my car in for the free 1500 km service. I'm quite satisfied with their response. They will also reimburse me for any top up oil I pay for.

[danielv10]

After another ~1500km after 6 month "health check", my dipstick was near empty again. Topped up and flicked off an email to my dealer. Not too pleased

[CptFS]

About a week ago. Took my gti to have the new hose to be installed, hoping it would ease the oil consumption. It's made it worst. The car takes a week now to consume down to the check oil light, compared to 2-3 weeks. =(

[k0e1]

About a week ago. Took my gti to have the new hose to be installed, hoping it would ease the oil consumption. It's made it worst. The car takes a week now to consume down to the check oil light, compared to 2-3 weeks. =(

Sorry to hear about that. You wouldnt happen to have it done at liverpool VW?

[GTI JOE]

About a week ago. Took my gti to have the new hose to be installed, hoping it would ease the oil consumption. It's made it worst. The car takes a week now to consume down to the check oil light, compared to 2-3 weeks. =(

My VW dealership replaced not only the breather hose but the valve as well in my case, after the oil consumption test, touch wood, so far so good.

[CptFS]

Yeah I did it at Liverpool VW. Service is great and friendly. Unfortunately, my car isn't so lucky. Topped it up and agreed to see what will happen after a week and go from there.

[k0e1]

Yeah I did it at Liverpool VW. Service is great and friendly. Unfortunately, my car isn't so lucky. Topped it up and agreed to see what will happen after a week and go from there.

Yeah I'm going in to get it done on friday. Let's all have our fingers crossed. Did they suggest anything else besides the change in the hose ?

[iigx]

Another 1.1L of oil used in the last 1500kms - now at 7,500km. They replaced the oil breather today so hopefully will see an improvement.

Question for those in servicing... I complained about the oil splatter on the car and the Service Manager advised to me it was "Rail dust" from transportation of the car in Europe.

Is this a BS excuse to try and divert attention from oil splatter, or the truth?

[gavs]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

Bulltish mate, how can your car produce more rail dust after you wash it?! Take it elsewhere my friend to a dealership who actually knows what they're talking about!

[Polo Princess]

Hi

I am the happy owner of a MY12.5 Polo GTI in Candy White and have done less than 6000km. I am less happy about the oil usage but accept that this is a part of the game right now - and it will hopefully improve over time.

I have a question on oil. I know that Castrol Edge 5W-30 Longlife III is the oil provided by Volkswagen, but I notice there are a number of Castrol Edges 5W-30's out there. More confusingly the Castrol Website shows CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30, CASTROL EDGE 5W-30 A3/B4 and CASTROL EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4 as all being OK for Polo GTI's 6R. (see: Castrol Australia - NetLube)

Given some of the Castrol Edge products are considerably cheaper from places like SuperCheap Auto than from my dealer and given that it seems I am going to be through oil for a bit longer what should I be buying??

Thanks for your help.

[nomadx38]

@Polo Princess

I just checked on the Castrol website and both the GTI and my car (a 77TSI) are recommended to use Castro Professional Edge Long Life III (5w-30).

VW recommends this specific type because it is made in partnership with Castrol (even says so on the bottle) and is specifically designed for VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda ("cough cough"). It says in the manual and even on my oil cap to use the Castrol oil.

Now personally I like Castrol oil and have been using it on my cars, quads and motorbikes for a long time and never had a problem, so you could say I’m a loyal fan. This is why when I bought my car from Bayford (big mistake BTW!) after the first service I bought my own oil from Burwin VW. Burwin uses the Castrol that is recommended. Bayford use a Shell alternative. Though they "should" meet the same spec, I personally would stay with Castrol. I did notice though after I started using the Castrol oil I can hear a lot more idle engine noise (crankshaft sounds, valves) so it is definitely thinner to some degree, But still 5w-30. I don’t know if that is better for fuel economy by reducing engine drag and stress but it’s what VW recommends if it screws up, I have followed their instructions to the letter.

More on topic to your question, "technically" you can use different oils, BUT as a word of caution i would be careful using oil out of spec for the engine. Oil too thin / thick could give poor lubrication to the parts that require it most, like the bearing on the turbo turbine. I would try to keep the viscosity the same. As for the VW spec (VW 507), i think it mostly refers to an "emissions standard" like how many pollutants the oil gives off when burnt, how much drag it has on the crankshaft and thus fuel economy things like that.

On another note has anyone used a higher grade of oil without problems? Personally I would rather use 0w-40 because of the warmer climate here in Australia but no one makes it to the VW 507 standard.

[JonP01]

Hi

I am the happy owner of a MY12.5 Polo GTI in Candy White and have done less than 6000km. I am less happy about the oil usage but accept that this is a part of the game right now - and it will hopefully improve over time.

I have a question on oil. I know that Castrol Edge 5W-30 Longlife III is the oil provided by Volkswagen, but I notice there are a number of Castrol Edges 5W-30's out there. More confusingly the Castrol Website shows CASTROL EDGE PROFESSIONAL LONGLIFE III 5W-30, CASTROL EDGE 5W-30 A3/B4 and CASTROL EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4 as all being OK for Polo GTI's 6R. (see: Castrol Australia - NetLube)

Given some of the Castrol Edge products are considerably cheaper from places like SuperCheap Auto than from my dealer and given that it seems I am going to be through oil for a bit longer what should I be buying??

Thanks for your help.

Hi,

In my experience you wont actually be able to buy the Castrol Longlife over the counter in Eastern Australia at least. The point behind the Longlife oil is to extent oil change intervals and since the oil change schedules are once per year you should still be topping up with the longlife product.

If you go to your local VW dealer parts department, they will be able to sell you a 1 litre bottle of the longlife oil, but it will likely be in a silver container with VW branding, rather than Castrol branding. I am told it is exactly the same oil as the Castrol one.

I definitely would not be trying to save money buying a different oil from Supercheap, etc, but that is just me. Personally if any warranty or oil usage issues were to arise, I would want to be able to truthfully state that the only oil that had gone into my car was the one sold to me by the dealer service department and intended / recommended for that vehicle.

According to my Polo owner manual there are different types of servicing schedules and they differ in the type of oil used. The Australian schedules are now the longlife schedules and that requires the corresponding oil. My guess is that the other oils recommended by Castrol are in those cases where the owner does not wish to use the long life servicing schedule. But I would worry that not doing so may effect the warranty.