Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[starionx]

You didn't have the 370Z for long. Bad experience?

Driving experience... brilliant! (although I do miss the turbo boost sensation). As for practicality... I give it a 1 out of 10 (but I guess I kind of new that going in). I was looking at maybe downsizing my financial burden.

---------- Post added at 01:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------

@ Diesel_vert

You make valid points. I certainly don't believe that VW are that much different to other car manufacturers. I guess I am kind of bummed out that the car I was looking at getting seems to have a serious problem.

Interestingly, the general concensus is that the way to avoid the oil loss issue is to drive it hard (once it is warmed up). The owner's manual states the opposite, so if by driving it hard (within reason) and something was to happen to the engine, wouldn't VWA have a case (once they have a look at the ecu data) for denying any warranty work? It's kind of a no-win situation.

[gavs]

Sorry for taking so long to reply Karly but the owners manual is as Corey says, that it doesn't give capacities because the oil change should be done by a dealership. The capacity is 4L according to the service manual, yes I was incorrect (brain not functioning to crush hot of late) but not about the dipstick, indeed it did take 1L to show full from the bottom of the dipstick.

If you overfill, you will potentially destroy the catalytic converter but as Dav said, with all the burned oil running through it, it could very well already be cactus...

[gavs]

Driving experience... brilliant! (although I do miss the turbo boost sensation). As for practicality... I give it a 1 out of 10 (but I guess I kind of new that going in). I was looking at maybe downsizing my financial burden.

---------- Post added at 01:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------

@ Diesel_vert

You make valid points. I certainly don't believe that VW are that much different to other car manufacturers. I guess I am kind of bummed out that the car I was looking at getting seems to have a serious problem.

Interestingly, the general concensus is that the way to avoid the oil loss issue is to drive it hard (once it is warmed up). The owner's manual states the opposite, so if by driving it hard (within reason) and something was to happen to the engine, wouldn't VWA have a case (once they have a look at the ecu data) for denying any warranty work? It's kind of a no-win situation.

If VW can prove that you drove it too hard then maybe yes, but good luck proving it and what defines driven hard?

[Euro Remaps]

I would be interested to know also what oil you are topping up the engine with?I know audi used to recomend 0w30 longlife for their tdis a few years back and it was turning out to be too thin so they changed the spec to 5w30 maybe the polo is suffering from the same problem? i would say the polo would take castrol longlife 3 5w30 ..

[Tigga1]

I've just done 10000k in my GTI, checked oil level for first time and oil level is in middle of marks on dipstick...lucky i guess...(-;

[gavs]

Engine is meant to use 5w30 which is what I use but a different brand than castrol.

[Karly101]

Well my engine is probably in 1000s of pieces right now ... timeline has already stretched to 1 week (was told 3 days hah I thought it was optimistic) and I have requested the cat converter be checked - so that it is on record. I doubt I will be keeping this car past warranty now though which is a shame because I do love the car despite its issues! And now I'm driving the 1.4 Golf which is soooo much less fun than my polo.

[Diesel_vert]

... so if by driving it hard (within reason) and something was to happen to the engine, wouldn't VWA have a case (once they have a look at the ecu data) for denying any warranty work? It's kind of a no-win situation.

No, they have no case.

May God rain furious blows on any dealer of any marque that tries to weasel their way out of its warranty obligations.

I would be interested to know also what oil you are topping up the engine with?I know audi used to recomend 0w30 longlife for their tdis a few years back and it was turning out to be too thin so they changed the spec to 5w30 maybe the polo is suffering from the same problem? i would say the polo would take castrol longlife 3 5w30 ..

Longlife II [1999 (?), 0W-30, 503/506] has been superseded with Longlife III [2004, 5W-30, 504/507] for most VAG vehicles.

If it's anything like my Golf R or my mother's Polo 77TSI owners manual, it says that changing the oil is something that should be completed by a qualified mechanic (something to that effect) and so it doesn't tell you the oil capacity of the engine...

... but the owners manual is as Corey says, that it doesn't give capacities because the oil change should be done by a dealership.

Good to see the spirit of obfuscation alive and well!

I've just done 10000k in my GTI, checked oil level for first time and oil level is in middle of marks on dipstick...lucky i guess...(-;

Don't jinx it!

Well my engine is probably in 1000s of pieces right now ... timeline has already stretched to 1 week (was told 3 days hah I thought it was optimistic) and I have requested the cat converter be checked - so that it is on record. I doubt I will be keeping this car past warranty now though which is a shame because I do love the car despite its issues! And now I'm driving the 1.4 Golf which is soooo much less fun than my polo.

Commiserations, hope it gets fixed on the first go.

[Eaglehawk]

Well, the oil consumption test after the first service has come back at 300ml/1000km. Deemed acceptable for now.

[Hooti3]

Second oil consumption test under way. About 2-300kms in.

1st oil consumption test showed excessive usage. Car had the piston rings replaced which took 10 days to install (uh huh yeah right).

Not only that, but apparently I didn't want a loaner car for that 10 days (EVEN THOUGH I SPECIFICALLY SAID YES, so they didn't offer me one and I had to borrow my parents car for that time).

After 1100km's the oil light came on. The oil usage has actually gotten worse with the new piston rings (assuming they actually did anything in the first place), not to mention that they broke the ECU bracket and decided to mount it back with a cable tie after they apparently replaced the piston rings.

This is just adding to my growing list of things to add to my lettter that I will get my solicitor to send to VW Australia.

I can guarantee that if the new engine that will get fitted once this consumption test is done doesn't fix the car, they will be hearing from my solicitor.

I didn't take a loan out on a car that is constanly under going tests and in the workshop. I bought a car to drive and enjoy it.

/rant