Issues with my Polo Gti

[stugolf]

Hi guys,

I purchased a 60 plate Polo Gti in May 2011 last year from a VW dealership as a used approved with 6k on the clock. I bought the car on finance and added a 4k deposit.

I had noticed that it started using oil (well documented) I took the car in in November 2011 for them to have a look, they agreed it was using too much and have the engine stripped and the piston rings replaced all under warranty obviously. They asked me to check the oil regularly which I did, initially it wasn't to bad but at the end of Feb 2012 starting really eating the oil again (1 litre in just under 800miles) so I took the car back to the dealership but they have come back with a very strange response:

VW currently don't have a fix for the car and are looking into it, in the meatime we will give you an endless supply of oil..... Firstly I find it unacceptable for me to keep topping my car up and be concerned each time I drive the car that its chewing through oil and secondly that VW are "working on a solution" to quote VW UK not the dealer "could be a week, could be a month, could be a year until they have a fix"

So I have given VW a month to source the problem and sort a suitable repair before I reject the car, I made my feelings clear in writing to all parties my intentions if they cannot fix the car within this timeframe.

My question is how easy will it be to reject the car on this basis if VW fail to deliver? I don't want a 6 month argument where they try and weasle there way out of it!

Any advice/help gratefully received

[Krikkit]

Is it really so much hassle to have to keep topping up the oil? They're already giving it to you for free, and they've promised a fix as soon as they have one available (no doubt without cost). If you like the car I'd be inclined to persevere.

[Ved]

If it's deemed to be a persistent fault and the oil consumption is outside their normal guidelines, then you may be able to reject the car but I don't think you'll have much luck without some powers behind you. I would go to citizens advice right away. At the very least they should be providing you with a car while yours is diagnosed. I don't see the logic in them find a fix while the car isn't with them.

[trickywoo]

Might be too late now, and might not work anyway, but a lot of excessive oil consumption problems can stem from too gentle running in.

Have you ragged it properly yet?

If not, warm it up and redline it furiously (while driving in a safe and considerate manner). Might fix your problem.

[stugolf]

No they have given me the car back which I don't really want to drive until its sorted

And yes, I do see it as a problem having to top up with oil... I don't know many people who would accept that

A 20k car shouldn't have these problems and the fact I may have to wait up to a year for a repair, why should I keep paying for a faulty car?

[George H]

trickywoo said:

Might be too late now, and might not work anyway, but a lot of excessive oil consumption problems can stem from too gentle running in.

Have you ragged it properly yet?

If not, warm it up and redline it furiously (while driving in a safe and considerate manner). Might fix your problem.

I've tried this approach and still use approx 1 litre per 1200-1500 miles. Fuel consumption decreased massively though!

[stugolf]

trickywoo said:

Might be too late now, and might not work anyway, but a lot of excessive oil consumption problems can stem from too gentle running in.

Have you ragged it properly yet?

If not, warm it up and redline it furiously (while driving in a safe and considerate manner). Might fix your problem.

I bought it used approved so was already on 6k, and yes give it many good runs but its also puffing smoke out the back which must be the oil being burnt, after the piston rings I did try a motorsport style run in but its just as bad as it was so it looks like the damage is done

[Boydie88]

Nothing useful to say... £20k for a Polo.

My worry would be where all of that oil that's disappearing is disappearing to.

Edited by Boydie88 on Tuesday 17th April 16:22

[stugolf]

Boydie88 said:

Nothing useful to say... £20k for a Polo.

My worry is where all of that oil that's disappearing is disappearing to.

I know... 27k for a Golf GTi these days

[Snowboy]

Another concern would be that in 5 months something breaks and you get told it’s due to oil starvation because you didn’t top it up enough.
Or maybe you overfilled it with oil and flooded something.

[stugolf]

Snowboy said:

Another concern would be that in 5 months something breaks and you get told it’s due to oil starvation because you didn’t top it up enough.
Or maybe you overfilled it with oil and flooded something.

Exactly... I check my oil regularly on all my cars but how often do I have to check it when its eating oil? Every trip?

[hornetrider]

Krikkit said:

Is it really so much hassle to have to keep topping up the oil? They're already giving it to you for free, and they've promised a fix as soon as they have one available (no doubt without cost). If you like the car I'd be inclined to persevere.

It's a Polo not a frigging Lambo. Reject the car and get another or refund or whatever.

[Otispunkmeyer]

George H said:

trickywoo said:

Might be too late now, and might not work anyway, but a lot of excessive oil consumption problems can stem from too gentle running in.

Have you ragged it properly yet?

If not, warm it up and redline it furiously (while driving in a safe and considerate manner). Might fix your problem.

I've tried this approach and still use approx 1 litre per 1200-1500 miles. Fuel consumption decreased massively though!

Heh you should be used to naff MPG with that slab of british beef in your garage!

so what is causing the problem then? Burning oil would suggest its seeping past the rings. Is this a symptom thanks to these highly strung little 4 pots?

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 17th April 17:03

[jjones]

that's quite a lot of burn, can you see it in the mirror, or if a mate follows you can he see a constant small cloud of blue smoke at the exhaust tip?

[StevieB]

According to EVO, its a bit of a problem with the 1.4 TSI engine. Maybe worth asking for your money back, or pushing for a new one if you like the car.

Lets hope this isnt another VAG disaster like the PD 2 litre TDI injector fiasco. So much for VWs famed build and reliability....(and Ive got a VW!)

[George H]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Heh you should be used to naff MPG with that slab of british beef in your garage!

so what is causing the problem then? Burning oil would suggest its seeping past the rings. Is this a symptom thanks to these highly strung little 4 pots?

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Tuesday 17th April 17:03

Yes it must be said that the Polo is still the most economical car I've got

Not sure what's causing it, but there are rumours of VW doing a recall and offering forged pistons and new piston rings. Details are on here somewhere - http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f...

[littleredrooster]

Burning that much oil, I would have thought it would poison the cat fairly quickly, too.

[k-ink]

All these little 1.4 engines with huge boost are overly complex and overly stressed. It is no suprise to hear the reliability of them is dire. I'll be sticking with large reliable engines.

[okie592]

The 1.4tsi is known for drinking alot of oil, alot of the ibiza bocca and cupra boys have the same problem about a liter in just over 1000 miles.

[stugolf]

jjones said:

that's quite a lot of burn, can you see it in the mirror, or if a mate follows you can he see a constant small cloud of blue smoke at the exhaust tip?

Smoke is black and puffs when you first put your foot down and then when the turbo takes over around 3.5k

It's such ashame because it's a fantastic car and very quick, and if VW get it right it would be great but far to many have fundamental design flaws