Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[knightza]

10 days after picking it up - 400kms - checked the oil, still at recommended level. Occasionally have the noise when turning (3 - 4 times over 10 days of driving) but everything else is okay. So here's the hope it stays good...

[mrkris]

10 days after picking it up - 400kms - checked the oil, still at recommended level. Occasionally have the noise when turning (3 - 4 times over 10 days of driving) but everything else is okay. So here's the hope it stays good...

i had the same turning noises for the first 2k kms. now at 4.5k and havent heard a peep.

[Pies]

Have done 2635km and put 750ml of oil through top ups

[POW]

have my my13.5 gti for 2weeks, travelled 460km. check oil when cold it is 3 block down from the Bsection. warm the car to 90 degree and the oil at half way of the B. went to dealer and they top up for free. not sure how much it went in but about 200ml. booked in in 2 weeks and will see how it goes. city drive mainly. should i worry??

[nomadx38]

Not yet. At least run it in for 5000km (at 1000km it should start to improve).

[kevinctr]

MY 12 Odo at 25,000km, done 1300km on new oil change and dropped only 1mm from max. i guess its around 50ml?

[jivebug]

Hi, i am sorry if it has been asked many times before but how did you run in your 2nd engine? I am so sick of trying to get information off ANYONE concerning the CORRECT running in procedure and part of that is other questions like: Do you use semi synthetic because I cant find mineral oil 5w-30 504-507 spec?. Penrite Enviro semi syn came to mind IF one was to go down the "different way" to run in a engine. NO ONE at the Dealership or VW Australia or various mechanics would say if VW use different "running in oil" or the usual stuff for new or rebuilt engines? For example:
does one with a rebuilt engine drain whatever was originally put in with say a Semi Synthetic mentioned above if so for how long? Would one take the "harder version" (load/deceleration thing) of running in straight after swapping to the semi, likewise for how long? Would one change the semi after 1500km and if so then back to full syn or a bit longer on the semi (till the rings have bedded in?) Is everything bull**** and one just leaves the oil in it comes with and run it in by the book till you reach 15000km or whatever ?? Any correct information would be greatly appreciated (for my friend)

[nomadx38]

First off you can ONLY run synthetic oil blends in these engines - like most new cars that confirm to the euro 5 standard. This is due to the low ash / sulphur content for emissions and lower and more consistent viscosity for fuel economy and correct lubrication. Old school mineral oils are only for old cars now.

Also there is no such thing as "run in"oil. They only ever use one type for the life of the car.

Some oils that meet the vw 504/507 standard:

Shell helix 5w30
Castrol professional (longlife) 5w30
Penrite enviro+ 5w30
Liquimoly 5w30

Just to name a few...

[jivebug]

Thanks for the reply. So if i understand what you are is that semi synthetics cant or should not be used in these engines? I thought Penrite Enviro was a SEMI synthetic?? What was your thoughts on the "harder" run in method? I always thought that a new engine had a need for a oil that helps bed in the rings?which is why i thought you could use a semi synthetic (in place of a unavailable mineral oil). ta

[Martin]

I thought Penrite Enviro was a SEMI synthetic??

From the Penrite Oils Web Page
Penrite Oil - A Better Class Of Oil

Enviro + engine oils are a range of highly advanced, full synthetic low & mid SAP engine oils that have been developed for late model fuel efficient passenger, light & heavy duty vehicles including those fitted with long life catalysts such as Diesel Particulate Filter’s (DPF’s).

The Enviro + range has been developed to provide long lasting protection for vehicles with extended oil drain intervals as well as providing OEM approved products to satisfy new vehicle warranty requirements. The range covers petrol, E85 and diesel fuel types.

[gavs]

Thanks for the reply. So if i understand what you are is that semi synthetics cant or should not be used in these engines? I thought Penrite Enviro was a SEMI synthetic?? What was your thoughts on the "harder" run in method? I always thought that a new engine had a need for a oil that helps bed in the rings?which is why i thought you could use a semi synthetic (in place of a unavailable mineral oil). ta

CAN'T, CAN'T, CAN'T, CAN'T.

You cannot run ANY other oil in the engine, -irrespective of what some flog at a VGA dealership tells you- other than what is on the approved oils list for 504/507 oils.

The 504/507 oils have detergent like properties due to the direct injection systems of these types of engines. Unlike older type fuel injection where the fuel is sprayed into the intake tract of the cylinders, direct injection is sprayed directly into the cylinders. This results in a high build up of carbon and sludge in the uper valve train as the valves etc are no longer getting cleaned by the incoming fuel mist. Mix the carbon with the excessive blow-by these engines get and you need your oil to be working very hard to clean the engine as well as lubricate. this is why you should not be using the 502 standard oils in engines that state 504/507. Iv'e seen photos of a stripped GTI engine out of SA and it looked like a diesel with EGR and no DPF fitted to it because the owner thought that they knew best about what oil to use...

[jivebug]

Thanks for the informative reply, so does the full synthetics let the piston rings bed in and does one use the "hard" method of running in? These are two important questions for me as is what is the right km`s the "first" oil change should be?. Some would say 1500km (rather then 15000km) and is the"krud" in the oil really left over by the running in period (assuming full synthetic oil has a biting effect?) Thanks again

[Martin]

Modern engines don't have a "run in" procedure or requirement
You can choose how you treat the engine in it's early life/km

May car's first service was at 15,000km
I've got a PDF copy from a 2007 VW Golf 2.0L - first service at 8,000km

The VW driver education days used brand new cars, these were all driven hard
they were taken all around the country and put through 2 or 3 days at each location with two classes per day
None of these cars showed any ill effects from these exercises
These cars are then given to dealers to sell as demonstrators

There is no "krud" in the oil (even if there was, the oil filter should deal with it)

[Transporter]

Modern engines don't have a "run in" procedure or requirement
You can choose how you treat the engine in it's early life/km

May car's first service was at 15,000km
I've got a PDF copy from a 2007 VW Golf 2.0L - first service at 8,000km

The VW driver education days used brand new cars, these were all driven hard
they were taken all around the country and put through 2 or 3 days at each location with two classes per day
None of these cars showed any ill effects from these exercises
These cars are then given to dealers to sell as demonstrators

There is no "krud" in the oil (even if there was, the oil filter should deal with it)

That's what you think, but it's not always like that.
The oil filter could get easily overcome by the contamination that it has to filtrate out (depending from the driving condition and the environment), then the by pass valve (part of the lubrication system) will open and you get unfiltered oil circulating through the engine, but regardless if the o/filter is clean or dirty, every engine get the dose of unfiltered (dirty) oil during the start up and warming up period due to the restriction in flow (cold oil doesn't flow as easily).

I don't recall when I saw the engine in a bad condition, which would have an oil change religiously every 6 months.
But I see many of those who change oil every 15,000km/12 months (usually more than that, because people who do once a year service very often stretch that a bit longer).

[gavs]

Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

Engines are pre run-in before fitted to cars anyway but my personal method was hard, then drop the oil at 6000kms. I now average about 1L/10,000kms of oil consumption, BUT!!!

It is a well know fact that irrespective of the method used to "run in" the engine, it's the poor manufacturing of these engines that lead to oil consumption, not how it is run in.