Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[gavs]

I think you will find now that you might be the opener of the flood gates. People always wait for someone else to take the plunge first and if you are ultimately successful, you may be called upon by others with the same issue.

[Skal]

It looks like I might be about to start my own journey with this issue.

Purchased a polo GTI in April last year. The dealer offered a free 6 month "health check", an offer which I took up. The day before the scheduled health check in October, the check oil light came on. At this point the car had done 2,500km. I took the car to the dealer the next day, told them about the low oil. They assured me it was no problem. After I got the car back I asked if they had to fill it up with much oil, they said no, just the usual top up. The check oil light was gone after that.

Fast forward 5 months to today. The car has now done another 2,500 km, and the check oil light has come one yesterday. It's not due for its yearly service for another month (and its only travelled 5,000km, so well short of the 15,000km servicing mark). I checked the oil last night and it looked well below the minimum recommended level.

From my reading on this forum, the car's oil consumption is not as bad as some others (who need refilling every 1,000km), but I won't be satisfied with a car that eats up all its oil every 2,500km.

Do you have any advice on how I should approach this with the dealer?

[gavs]

Ask for an oil consumption test, also ask for the oil to be drained into a vessel and given to you because if the light has come on, there is a fair chance that you are burning a lot more oil than you think, at last check (unless the software has changed it in newer vehicles which can be done in VCDS) the oil light should come on yellow at 3 litres, that's roughly 1.5 litres of burned oil.
The reason I say that you ask for the oil is so you know how much is drained out of the car because if they don't feel like doing the work, they could quite easily say it is fine and send you on your way.

[Skal]

Ask for an oil consumption test, also ask for the oil to be drained into a vessel and given to you...

Thanks Gavs! How does the oil consumption test actually work? At what point is the oil drained out of the engine?

[gavs]

Basically what they do is fill up to the specified capacity (4.5 litres) then tape up the oil cap and dipstick. You drive for 1000kms and then take it back in. If the oil has dropped on the dipstick to the point they can't see it then generally the test is a fail, or they might drain the oil and measure the amount left.

Some will top up the oil, some will drain and refill, it just depends on who is doing it.

[Skal]

So in terms of asking them to drain the oil into the vessel and give it to me, that wouldn't happen until the end of the test?

EDIT: Do i need to talk to them about it when initially asking for the test to be performed?

[Diesel_vert]

... at last check (unless the software has changed it in newer vehicles which can be done in VCDS) the oil light should come on yellow at 3 litres, that's roughly 1.5 litres of burned oil.

Basically what they do is fill up to the specified capacity (4.5 litres) then tape up the oil cap and dipstick.

The oil capacity is 3.6 litres, including oil filter (correct as of 04/2012).

Hence, the region between MIN and MAX on the dipstick represents approx 0.5~0.6 litres.

[yokom46]

God this is a frightening topic.

I really don't want the same oil consumption issues that others are getting. So I've been keeping a close eye on it.
Thankfully I've just passed the 2200km mark and the oil hasn't budged since I bought it. And I by no means drive it easily around the twisties.

I followed the engine run-in thread posted on this forum and I've always been a firm believer of running an engine in how its going to be used for the rest of its life. Although I'm not sure if that is responsible for the good oil consumption I'm getting (currently).

I just hope it remains like this.

Car is faultless at the moment.

[Martin]

I've used a litre in 8,000km

They started an oil consumption test at the same time, kms were 14,095. The kilometers now are 14905, so it's done 810kms. Mostly low speed in traffic to & from work. The rear hatch is covered in soot specks.[/IMG]

Looks like you've used well over the 500ml per 1,000km detailed in the manual
The hatch being covered in soot is a dead giveaway - try trading that car in, every dealer will ping you on price for that

[gavs]

The oil capacity is 3.6 litres, including oil filter (correct as of 04/2012).

Hence, the region between MIN and MAX on the dipstick represents approx 0.5~0.6 litres.

Sorry, yep got my models mixed up however mine takes 4 litres to fill it.