Excessive oil consumption?

**brettue** · 20-09-2017, 12:23 PM

My better half calls me the other day and says she's pulled over and parked the car because an orange light on the dash in the shape of an oil can has come on. You see why I married her?

Turns out it was just low oil, but I'm wondering if this is normal, I'm a new owner. Here are the stats:

The car is a 2011 Passat 3.6L V6 FSI Highline.
It's done 8,000k's in 9 months since it's last service.
Oil the garage used at that service was a 5w30 Fuchs synthetic oil.
Car is mostly driven short distances around town.
On the odd occasion I give it some welly, 'cause I can.

Does it sound about right to you that I should have used up enough oil to require a refill during that time?
I topped it up with Castrol Magnetec 10w40, is this ok or should I flush and refill without mixing my oils?
On those occasions I do bury my foot and give it everything it does blow some smoke, not billowing white or anything, but you can see it in the mirrors. I assume that given the car is not that old it's probably normal?

Cheers

**Umai Naa!!** · 20-09-2017, 12:34 PM

Yes, these are known to burn a little oil.

At the next service, request that a 5W40 502/505-spec oil be used. This should slow down the rate of consumption.

**Amalgam** · 20-09-2017, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Umai Naa!!

Yes, these are known to burn a little oil.

At the next service, request that a 5W40 502/505-spec oil be used. This should slow down the rate of consumption.

Completely agree. It is not uncommon to burn a little oil.

I wouldn't bother to drain the oil, but would check the coolant and oil a little more regularly, say once a month.

Next time you service the car, I would ask for a litre of oil for topping up.

**Passat R36** · 20-09-2017, 04:25 PM

BWS engine right? same engine as R36. Using 5W30 504/507 right? Not knowing R36 engine burning oil though.

**kamold** · 20-09-2017, 07:33 PM

I carry around a 1L bottle as I tend to need about 500mL in between services. More if I'm doing a lot of highway driving.
Then if you do get a bit low you don't have to try and find a service station and then examine every bottle they have to try and figure out if its VW approved...

**Domatron** · 21-09-2017, 06:05 PM

Same here. I have to top up my R36 every 4-6 months.

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**brad** · 22-09-2017, 08:38 AM

They can use a bit depending on driving conditions.

Maybe check the level every 3 months?

I wouldn't use that oil as a full fill but it will do as a top up. When u are finished the bottle get something in 5w-40 that is VW502.00 spec

**eurobahn5** · 22-09-2017, 04:23 PM

Mine does not burn oil, I use LIQUI MOLY TOPTECH 4200 5W-30 504/507 spec. I have found this to be the best.

**3C4M Guy** · 03-10-2017, 10:33 AM

My V6 burns a bit of oil and requires 2 or 3 or 4 small top ups between oil changes. I've learnt to listen to the tell tale sign of low oil before the oil light comes on. As others have advised, it's best to check the oil level frequently. If you forget, there's a tell tale rattling sound on start up that indicates 200 - 300ml is required ... which the dipstick will confirm. It's amazing that an oil level near the bottom of the hatched section on the dipstick will produce this noise.

I've been using Penrite Enviro+ Full Synthetic 5W-30. I'm a bit fanatical and change every 5,000km or 6 months. I might be prepared to try a 5W-40 oil, but only in summer. Interestingly, despite the manual stating a 5.5 litre capacity, my car needs 5.75 litres after an oil change to read correctly on the dipstick when warm. Starting an oil cycle with insufficient oil won't help.