MK4 VW Golf GTi: Oil consumption question
Discussion
Car has always been on a longlife service regime with its next 'scheduled' service in a few weeks.
However, it had an 'un-scheduled' oil service in March 2014.
Checked the oil a few months afterwards and had to top it up slightly and haven't checked since then.
However, when I checked this morning, it was fairly low and it took about a litre to top it up.
Oil being used is VW Approved 5w-30.
On the face of it, does this point to an underlying issue with the car or can it be put down to age/mileage of the vehicle?
Would switching to an annual service regime and VW approved 5w-40 oil improve the situation?
Car appears to be running fine with no signs of any oil leaks.
Car: VW Golf GTi 1.8T
Type: Petrol
Year: 2001
Miles: 105k
Use: Mainly daily commute of about 30miles.
Annual mileage: 12k (max).
However, it had an 'un-scheduled' oil service in March 2014.
Checked the oil a few months afterwards and had to top it up slightly and haven't checked since then.
However, when I checked this morning, it was fairly low and it took about a litre to top it up.
Oil being used is VW Approved 5w-30.
On the face of it, does this point to an underlying issue with the car or can it be put down to age/mileage of the vehicle?
Would switching to an annual service regime and VW approved 5w-40 oil improve the situation?
Car appears to be running fine with no signs of any oil leaks.
Car: VW Golf GTi 1.8T
Type: Petrol
Year: 2001
Miles: 105k
Use: Mainly daily commute of about 30miles.
Annual mileage: 12k (max).
Edited by SpeedBash on Wednesday 19th November 12:35
Recently read of someone changing from Castrol 5W30 to Shell 5W30 (both VW 504 approved) and finding their 1.8T started drinking oil. May be worth considering.
Failing that, consumption doesn't seem too horrendous, maybe turbo seals slowly deteriorating? Regulars on a relevant forum always suggest changing to 5W40 on high mileage cars (for this very reason), as well as keeping away from longlife service schedules.
Failing that, consumption doesn't seem too horrendous, maybe turbo seals slowly deteriorating? Regulars on a relevant forum always suggest changing to 5W40 on high mileage cars (for this very reason), as well as keeping away from longlife service schedules.
powerstroke said:
Should be called life shortening servicing!!
To attract fleet owners who get rid of the cars after a few years anyway. I wouldn't even consider it for a privately owned car you intend to keep.However, the OP's oil consumption seems perfectly reasonable for an old turbocharged car. It sounds like he's topping up every 3000 miles or so; plenty of owners of much newer VAG models would be delighted if they could achieve that.
tomjol said:
Recently read of someone changing from Castrol 5W30 to Shell 5W30 (both VW 504 approved) and finding their 1.8T started drinking oil. May be worth considering.
Failing that, consumption doesn't seem too horrendous, maybe turbo seals slowly deteriorating? Regulars on a relevant forum always suggest changing to 5W40 on high mileage cars (for this very reason), as well as keeping away from longlife service schedules.
I found the opposite in my MK5 Edition 30. Different engine, but going to Shell 5W30 (I get it really cheap through a dealer mate) reduced consumption.Failing that, consumption doesn't seem too horrendous, maybe turbo seals slowly deteriorating? Regulars on a relevant forum always suggest changing to 5W40 on high mileage cars (for this very reason), as well as keeping away from longlife service schedules.
I always change the oil when it smells burned and saturated with blow-by, which can be as little as 3K miles. God knows how these engines survive on longlife regimes.
TBH, I probably got sucked in by the marketing of the long life servicing regime but lesson learned.
Car was serviced last weekend and reset to an annual service and is now using VW Approved 5w-40 oil.
However, the engine management light has now come on and, after speaking to my mechanic, he has suggested that this is probably due to the sensor in the sump detecting the thicker oil.
Hope to get him to look at it this weekend but wondered what the solution would be.
Surely, by resetting the service indicator to an annual service, the car/computer would know this will mean use of a thicker grade of oil.
Car was serviced last weekend and reset to an annual service and is now using VW Approved 5w-40 oil.
However, the engine management light has now come on and, after speaking to my mechanic, he has suggested that this is probably due to the sensor in the sump detecting the thicker oil.
Hope to get him to look at it this weekend but wondered what the solution would be.
Surely, by resetting the service indicator to an annual service, the car/computer would know this will mean use of a thicker grade of oil.
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