Polo GTI High Oil Usage - Discussion Thread

[nomadx38]

You will be surprised how different oil runs/burns in an engine. My dads Hyundai i40 chewed 400ml of oil (5w-30) in 5000km with the original oil from the first service. After an oil change with some Castrol it appears to have stopped but the engine was not as free flowing so I assume it was thicker. Now using some Penrite enviro 5w30. See how that goes...

On another note I have been using the Castrol long life 3 in my Polo TSI recently (though I have never had oil consumption problems after 45,000km) and I can definitely say its thinner than the Shell oil that came with it. I can hear more engine noise than before but I noticed that it doesn't break down as fast as the Shell. At 15,000km the shell oil was BLACK. Now due for an oil change again and after 15k with the Castrol its still dark brown.

As they say "Oils ain't Oils!"

[alexz]

You will be surprised how different oil runs/burns in an engine. My dads Hyundai i40 chewed 400ml of oil (5w-30) in 5000km with the original oil from the first service. After an oil change with some Castrol it appears to have stopped but the engine was not as free flowing so I assume it was thicker. Now using some Penrite enviro 5w30. See how that goes...

On another note I have been using the Castrol long life 3 in my Polo TSI recently (though I have never had oil consumption problems after 45,000km) and I can definitely say its thinner than the Shell oil that came with it. I can hear more engine noise than before but I noticed that it doesn't break down as fast as the Shell. At 15,000km the shell oil was BLACK. Now due for an oil change again and after 15k with the Castrol its still dark brown.

As they say "Oils ain't Oils!"

Black oil is GOOD. If my oil was brown after 15000km I'd be worried. Black means it is cleaning and collecting all the carbon deposits. Better captured in the oil then sitting in your engine...

[nomadx38]

Just means the oil is burning and can't take the heat of the engine. You do not want black sludge going round the engine cloging up the pin hole sized pipes that cool the piston and your cams/valves/timing chain. Not to mention that the viscosity changes and can't provide basic cooling and lubrication to the essential parts...especially my turbo!

[brad]

So they are using Castrol Longlife Professional 5W30 in the car for the consumption test and so far after nearly 400kms it hasn't moved a ML! WTF?

So I'm going to get back there and they're going to be all like 'your consumption is 10ml per 1,000kms' and make me look like a whinger. If that's the case, how can different brands of oil (same viscosity - 5W 30) give such different results.

Out of the factory it chewed oil, I serviced it and put Liqui Moly and it chewed it and now on the consumption test and it's behaving.

There's no consistency to these cars - does my head in!

I have no idea what oil they put in. Not all dealers use Castrol LLP. The one I used to go to used valvoline. The problem is that some people (not you) either lie through their teeth or haven't a clue & act as if they have, so you have to start with knowns & discount unknowns.
Viscosity is not the only characteristic of oils, there are other characteristics that affect oil consumption.

How do you know how much oil has been used? Don't they tape off the filler cap & dipstick?

[alexz]

Just means the oil is burning and can't take the heat of the engine. You do not want black sludge going round the engine cloging up the pin hole sized pipes that cool the piston and your cams/valves/timing chain. Not to mention that the viscosity changes and can't provide basic cooling and lubrication to the essential parts...especially my turbo!

sorry i should clarify. you don't want black SLUDGE or thick with bits floating in it, but it should certainly discolour into a near black like colour after 15000km.

[nomadx38]

Oh it's definitely dark, very dark almost black but its still got a tint of dark brown. It definitely not browny yellow like it was when new. The Shell oil on the other hand was sludgy and black by 15,000km.

[prcurrie]

How do you know how much oil has been used? Don't they tape off the filler cap & dipstick?

I've been going by the dipstick. From the top of the dipstick, to the bottom it's supposed to be 1 litre. All oil that I've put in (probably around 8l to date) I measure out properly and add to the engine.

No tape over the filler cap or the dipstick. I was surprised.....!

[kevinctr]

You will be surprised how different oil runs/burns in an engine. My dads Hyundai i40 chewed 400ml of oil (5w-30) in 5000km with the original oil from the first service. After an oil change with some Castrol it appears to have stopped but the engine was not as free flowing so I assume it was thicker. Now using some Penrite enviro 5w30. See how that goes...

On another note I have been using the Castrol long life 3 in my Polo TSI recently (though I have never had oil consumption problems after 45,000km) and I can definitely say its thinner than the Shell oil that came with it. I can hear more engine noise than before but I noticed that it doesn't break down as fast as the Shell. At 15,000km the shell oil was BLACK. Now due for an oil change again and after 15k with the Castrol its still dark brown.

As they say "Oils ain't Oils!"

A oil getting black faster does not means its breaking down. Only a oil viscosity test can determine this from what I know and did over the past 8 years. If there is an oil that does not turn black even after 10,000km, it just simple means its not cleaning the engine as it should be and its not idea as an engine oil.

[kawabanga]

Not sure black oil is a good sign, my original oil after the first 12.500Km was still light-brown on the paper.
I changed it at 12.500 with a 5W30 Bardhal C60 LS and now at 22.000Kms is almost the same as it was the Castrol...

In about 10.000Km the level is now at half dip-stick.

IMHO if piston rings don't work properly the oil is polluted by exhaust gases ...

[kevinctr]

18000km and on normal Mobil1 5W30 3.75L (4quarts) for the past 3000km, oil level has not moved on the dipstick.

I always check my oil using this method, a fully warmed up(88-92 degrees) engine and parked it for 20mins. I did try to check oil before I start the car in the morning and it shows the same level on the dipstick.

Anyone knows why VW specify to check oil with a hot engine? My previous Japanese cars are specify to be checked on cold engine.

Attached are the photos of my oil level, sorry for the poor quality as taken from a normal camera phone.