2 Warning messages in a month

**sillygogo** · 26-01-2010, 06:19 PM

2 weeks ago was driving for about 50 meters, engine cold, tried to accelerate then ! MFD triangle exclamation mark, Engine failure, return to workshop, EPC on. Car lost power till 25km/h. Pulled over, car idle badly, like it was going to stale. Turn off, then on again = All good. Brought it back to VW service, couldn't find the problem, said it could be a once off.

Today, engine warm drove about 80km, then parked the car, upon restart, on MFD yellow oil can lid up, error "Check engine oil" while starting car. Drove little bit, on a hill the error comes up again. Wait till engine cool then check the oil, it was below half on the dip stick. Added about 500ml of engine oil, drive smoother and no more error message.

Has anyone found similar problems? The car only has 12000km on the ODO, one would think that the engine oil still be fairly full.

No oil stain on the driveway. Me drivings are not a jet pilot and have normal shoe.

**CatonaPC©** · 26-01-2010, 06:50 PM

Take it back to get it checked.

VWs can use quite a bit more oil than one might expect, so the oil light coming on at 12000km may actually mean what it is trying to say to you. You're oil level is low. Get it topped up. Your dealer may have a complimentary top up service which would cost you nothing. Doing nothing may eventually cost you a lot more.

**gregozedobe** · 27-01-2010, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by sillygogo

The car only has 12000km on the ODO, one would think that the engine oil still be fairly full.

What you have said above strongly suggests to me that you have driven the car for 12,000km without checking the oil level at all.

If that is true, I suggest you immediately get the owner's manual out and have a good read of it, paying close attention to the things that VW suggest you do on a regular basis (things like checking engine oil level, engine coolant level, brake fluid levels, tyre pressures etc). Doing this stuff may save you large amounts of money and even your life (in certain circumstances).

If I have got it wrong and you have been checking your car regularly I apologize, but on this forum we frequently get people complaining about stuff like this when it is really their own fault for not maintaining their car correctly.

IIRC VWA claim that oil consumption of up to 1 litre per 1,000km is "normal", so it is a good to check oil levels every time you refuel until you get a fair idea of your car's normal oil consumption pattern.

**sillygogo** · 27-01-2010, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by gregozedobe

What you have said above strongly suggests to me that you have driven the car for 12,000km without checking the oil level at all.

If that is true, I suggest you immediately get the owner's manual out and have a good read of it, paying close attention to the things that VW suggest you do on a regular basis (things like checking engine oil level, engine coolant level, brake fluid levels, tyre pressures etc). Doing this stuff may save you large amounts of money and even your life (in certain circumstances).

You are correct, I haven't done the check for the engine oil. I've skipped the maintenance section as I thought that the VW services would cover it. Shall revisit the manual.

**Lima** · 27-01-2010, 08:12 AM

Do VW services come to fill up your fuel tank too?

**CatonaPC©** · 27-01-2010, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by sillygogo

. . . I haven't done the check for the engine oil. I've skipped the maintenance section . . . .

As an aside, that clunking noise under sudden acceleration: is this occuring as you pull away from when stopped at a traffic light by any chance? If so, you can prevent this by taking your foot off the brake pedal and waiting a second or so before pressing the accelerator. This gives the DSG time to engage the gear.

**Corey_R** · 27-01-2010, 09:00 AM

@sillygogo - I don't know you personally or your car history, you may or may have not had another new car before. I have, it was a Toyota, and I read the manual for that and it also said to check the fluids and all that regularly. I did, but they were always fine and so in 7 years I never had to top up ANYTHING myself - the dealer always did it in service.

So if that is your experience, then I would be a little kinder than the others here in relation to this issue, because I can understand the complacency one might have.

But what you need to realise, is that even though your new Golf is a relatively 'low cost car', that engine under your bonnet is a high performance, high precision, piece of machinery. At over 100hp per Litre it has more power for capacity than many supercars of 'ole.

Especially when new a TSI (or my old TFSI) engine will use a decent amount of oil. This may ease off later in its life and you might make the time between services. But you should always check regardless.

Good luck man

**cme2c** · 27-01-2010, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by coreying

@sillygogo - I don't know you personally or your car history, you may or may have not had another new car before. I have, it was a Toyota, and I read the manual for that and it also said to check the fluids and all that regularly. I did, but they were always fine and so in 7 years I never had to top up ANYTHING myself - the dealer always did it in service.

I still check, but you're right. It has been rare for my cars to need a top up between services for the past 20 odd years.

Originally Posted by coreying

So if that is your experience, then I would be a little kinder than the others here in relation to this issue, because I can understand the complacency one might have.

Ask a holden dealer

they had so much trouble with low friction designs.

Originally Posted by coreying

@But what you need to realise, is that even though your new Golf is a relatively 'low cost car', that engine under your bonnet is a high performance, high precision, piece of machinery. At over 100hp per Litre it has more power for capacity than many supercars of 'ole.

Power outputs are amazing. On the journal of record (Top Gear) they were testing a renaultsport Clio.It had more power from 2l 4 cyl NA than a Ferrari 308 3l V8. Also saw an Aston Martin DB5 and an E-type Jag pwned by a Honda Accord Euro.

Originally Posted by coreying

Especially when new a TSI (or my old TFSI) engine will use a decent amount of oil. This may ease off later in its life and you might make the time between services. But you should always check regardless.

Good luck man

Ours is up to 6000 kms and the dipstick is still just on full. 100% agree with your advice, though.

**sillygogo** · 27-01-2010, 01:19 PM

Thank you all for your replies and comments, looks like I will be having humble pie for lunch today. The manual says should check more frequently for the first 5000km. Maybe VW should bring back the 1000km checkup service. The dipstick was under the C section on the first check. Its now sitting little near the middle of the B section after adding 1L of engine oil.

Lima: hahahah, I was referring to the engine oil.

CatonaPC: There were 2 noises. First at incline vehicle stopped with hill-assist, this was resolved awhile ago like you said. The second noise is while the vehile is moving on an incline, it sounded like the mufler has fallen off. Maybe it was caused by low engine oil.

coreying: I had a few new vehicles in the past. Like yourself, I"ve only check the engine oil with my Toyota before a long trip, and it was fine all the time. The oil change and top up were done during vehicle service. Thanks for your advice, i will be checking the engine oil between services.