Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[RoknRob]

I know, but I was pretty sceptical that it would. Pleasant surprise.

[sorcam]

I've been told I'm getting a brand new engine from Germany. Based on other peoples comments, I dont know whether to believe this or not.

[dav]

Apparently a new breather valve/oil separator is to be installed for those experiencing oil consumption issues. They will likely give that a go before replacing the piston rings as that does not seem to be a definitive fix.

[vale46]

I've been told I'm getting a brand new engine from Germany. Based on other peoples comments, I dont know whether to believe this or not.

Believe it.... Engine in the old man's Polo got replaced. So far so good too.

[gavs]

I think the question of belief is if the engine was coming from Germany. I believe it will be dispatched from the German warehouse but built elsewhere.

Dav, yes I have seen that to, it's like a pre-separator installed at the top left of the radiator. Seems some of the oil consumption issues are supposedly being caused by excessive blow-by...

[Astro_Boy]

Dear Dav - my Polo GTI also has been experiencing high oil consumption issues. I took it into Austral for oil consumption test. they only did 2 lots (1000k/test). they decided not to bother, because apparently VW Germany has told them not to bother with anymore tests, and that there will indeed be a breather/valve oil separator thing to be installed. I got told this about maybe 8 weeks ago? Apparently @ Austral, they are monitoring 3 GTIs with high oil consumption (and I am one of them).

I will be calling them tomorrow to see if the part has arrived.

[dav]

That's pretty much the same info I received, with an ETA of 1-2 months and until then just keep going back for top ups.

[kaanage]

gavs, I always wondered whether you haven't had major oil consumption issues because you drive in manual mode all the time, and let the revs get higher than D mode would.

Why do people think that shifting later helps bed the rings in? Shifting earlier loads the engine up more so D mode should be better than S mode or manually shifting later for preventing the oil consumption issue.

[kevinctr]

I think the question of belief is if the engine was coming from Germany. I believe it will be dispatched from the German warehouse but built elsewhere.

Dav, yes I have seen that to, it's like a pre-separator installed at the top left of the radiator. Seems some of the oil consumption issues are supposedly being caused by excessive blow-by...

Any photos to show me and part numbers? Usually the first thing turbo car owners does is to install an oil catch tank in between the crankcase and intake tract. The higher the boost the higher the chance of a blow by. However, good engines will still see little oil in the oil catch tank and those has high levels of oil in the tank signals a majoy problem coming soon.

[kevinctr]

My PGTI is 3500km and did not notice any drop in the oil dipstick even after 1200km of hard driving on the highways crossing citys. I do have this method of engine running in, hope all those having "new" engines and relaively new engines can give this some consideration.

"From the so many oil consumption complaints from owners of all models of VW, I came to the conclusion the gentle engine break in do not work. My chance of having a oil burning engine is 50% be it gentle or hard run in I concluded."

This is my method of running in and I will report back the result as time goes by.
100km- Load up the engine on various gears below 3000rpm with half throttle.
200km- Occasional full thottle to 5000rpm and load the engine up on manual mode 7th gear with half throttle from 1500rpm tilll 5000rpm.
300km- Find a small hill and climb up using the highest gear possible on manual mode. example 3rd gear 2000rpm 1/4 throttle till peak then cruise down on 2nd gear using engine brake most of the time.
350km - Short burst of sprinting on a long straight road reving till Redline from 1st till 5th gear or speed of around 200km/h then use engine brake to slow to 40km/h then 200km/h again. Total of 3 times. Trying to let the clutch plates settle in also.
500km- Change oil and original filter out replace with cheap American Mobil 1 5W30.
500km- 2 full power dyno run done to get a baseline power.
500-1100km- Drive as normal but daily redline on at least first 3 gears.
1100km- Change oil & filter again using cheap American Mobil 1 5W30. Change Gear Oil!!!
1120km- Did 3 times 0-225km/h pull on the straight highway with 5mins cooling down in between. Did not want to stress the engine too much so let off at 225km/h. Vmax shd be 230km/h.
2100km- Went on highway cross country to fully stretch out the engine and brakes. Did a total of approximately 800km averaging 140-200km/h(hold up by traffic on and off)
2900km- Done a total of 1800km and check the dipstick with engine fully warmed up and parked for 5mins. Still around the max mark or 95% on the dipstick
2920km- Change oil and filter again with Mobil 1 5W30 and planning to go to the same dyno for a power run to compare with the power curve during the previous run.

Points to note.
1. Make sure your oil is at least 90 degrees celcius before you load or rev up your engine.
2. DO NOT IDLE your engine for more than 5mins. Switch it off and restart if possible.
3. After every hard rev, try to use engine brake to slow the car for a few seconds each time.
4. Even though the GTI has a power assisted water circulation system to cool the turbo bearing down when engine is shut off, try to idle the car for 1min before shutting it down.
4. If you have a mountain around your area, drive up using the highest gear possible and keep rpm to below 3000rpm. Cruise down using engine brake then drive straight to a workshop to have the oil changed out.
5. Follow my method at your own risk but oil change done more often wont hurt anything other than your wallet.