oil and water usage
Discussion
Guys
Bought mine about three months ago. - couple of questions/survey.
Seems to use a lot of oil - driving a mixture of town and motorway. Would say about a quarter of the stick every 200 miles. This seems like a lot to me. Admit I do tend to be quite spirited with my right foot. Am currently using Mobil 1 5/50.
Water. Keep topping up the swirl pot to hald way with water and antifreeze/coolant. Next time I look (say 150 mils later) when the car is cold the pot in nearly empty. Car has never overheated - fans always come on. Is it losing water???? How often do you top up?
Cheers!
Bought mine about three months ago. - couple of questions/survey.
Seems to use a lot of oil - driving a mixture of town and motorway. Would say about a quarter of the stick every 200 miles. This seems like a lot to me. Admit I do tend to be quite spirited with my right foot. Am currently using Mobil 1 5/50.
Water. Keep topping up the swirl pot to hald way with water and antifreeze/coolant. Next time I look (say 150 mils later) when the car is cold the pot in nearly empty. Car has never overheated - fans always come on. Is it losing water???? How often do you top up?
Cheers!
That sounds like a lot of both to me without obvious signs of leaks. The Oil would be especially noticeable if you park in the same place.
Water wise, could be the header tank cap needs replacing or a slow leak/drip that isn't enough to show anything too obvious (big pool) but over a week or so will bring the level down.
Water wise, could be the header tank cap needs replacing or a slow leak/drip that isn't enough to show anything too obvious (big pool) but over a week or so will bring the level down.
How often? Never, ideally, in both cases. Reality is inevitably a little different, but don't forget the concept.
The RV8 shouldn't burn oil, and no car should leak coolant:
Oil - which oil are you using?
Coolant - "Congratulations, Mr thegman, it's a leak". You need to find it, and fix it, before she does overheat. And she will, if she has a leak.
The RV8 shouldn't burn oil, and no car should leak coolant:
Oil - which oil are you using?
Coolant - "Congratulations, Mr thegman, it's a leak". You need to find it, and fix it, before she does overheat. And she will, if she has a leak.
On my 450:
Use about 1 litre/1000 miles. Never concerned me as a lot seem to be about the same but then I talked to others whonever put a drop in between services. Asked TopCats to look at it during last service and they found a leaking oil seal. As I will be needing a new clutch soon I left it to be done when they have everything in bits to do the clutch.
Coolant is an odd one and the level in the expansion pot seems to vary between cars. Mine sists about 1 inch from the bottom of the pot. If I put more in it just spits it back out until its back to that level again. Never get overheating problems so thats the natural level. Maybe yours is the same and you need to run it a bit to see if it stays at that leel (obviously check very often to see if it has dropped, maybe use a dipstick to measure the exact level each time?).
ETA: Mobil1 5/50 is too thin for the old tech v8 , IIRC you will find that it will get through the thin stuff. I found also on my 450 the thin stuff made it rattle (very technical huh !). Now I'm using good old magnatec I think its 10w/40 she much smoother.
Use about 1 litre/1000 miles. Never concerned me as a lot seem to be about the same but then I talked to others whonever put a drop in between services. Asked TopCats to look at it during last service and they found a leaking oil seal. As I will be needing a new clutch soon I left it to be done when they have everything in bits to do the clutch.
Coolant is an odd one and the level in the expansion pot seems to vary between cars. Mine sists about 1 inch from the bottom of the pot. If I put more in it just spits it back out until its back to that level again. Never get overheating problems so thats the natural level. Maybe yours is the same and you need to run it a bit to see if it stays at that leel (obviously check very often to see if it has dropped, maybe use a dipstick to measure the exact level each time?).
ETA: Mobil1 5/50 is too thin for the old tech v8 , IIRC you will find that it will get through the thin stuff. I found also on my 450 the thin stuff made it rattle (very technical huh !). Now I'm using good old magnatec I think its 10w/40 she much smoother.
Edited by bigdods on Monday 5th November 12:26
With regards to the oil it's generally accepted that as the engine gets older you should use a thicker oil, I was using similar oil to you and was using about 1lire/1000. The oil has been changed to 15/40 and it is now using much less.
Coolant use, as been said should be all but zero. Also as has been said if you overfill the system it will spit the excess out. About half or less the resevoir is right. If you're using water you must have a small leak, try running the car up to temperature and carefully having a look round the engine or in the nose to see if water is escaping.
Coolant use, as been said should be all but zero. Also as has been said if you overfill the system it will spit the excess out. About half or less the resevoir is right. If you're using water you must have a small leak, try running the car up to temperature and carefully having a look round the engine or in the nose to see if water is escaping.
Hi,
I was struggling to find where my coolant was going - trouble is of course when things are hot it can evaporate & you can't spot it. Steve Heath offers a crafty little valve that you screw into your swirl pot in place of the top seal - this can be coupled up to a tyre foot pump so you can pressurise the system cold and (hopefully) spot the leak(s). Mine turned out to be from the water pump hose. Certainly endorse other comments about not overfilling the expansion tank - mine is only happy if it's below half full.
All best,
Neville
I was struggling to find where my coolant was going - trouble is of course when things are hot it can evaporate & you can't spot it. Steve Heath offers a crafty little valve that you screw into your swirl pot in place of the top seal - this can be coupled up to a tyre foot pump so you can pressurise the system cold and (hopefully) spot the leak(s). Mine turned out to be from the water pump hose. Certainly endorse other comments about not overfilling the expansion tank - mine is only happy if it's below half full.
All best,
Neville
bigdods said:
Coolant is an odd one and the level in the expansion pot seems to vary between cars. Mine sists about 1 inch from the bottom of the pot. If I put more in it just spits it back out until its back to that level again. Never get overheating problems so thats the natural level. Maybe yours is the same and you need to run it a bit to see if it stays at that leel (obviously check very often to see if it has dropped, maybe use a dipstick to measure the exact level each time?).
Regarding the water, the swirl pot (higher tank near the distributor) should always remain full to the top, if it's the expansion tank (OSF wing) you are talking then that will blow off any excess water and find it's own level at about half to a quarter full when cold. Often, if you are repeatedly getting air in the swirl pot it is down the expansion tank cap. These are prone to becoming weak and need replaced when it fails to hold the required pressure allowing too much water to escape when hot. If so get a genuine VW part (early Golf) as the aftermarket ones are not as reliable.
Oil wise, mine is on Mobil 1 Motorsport and drops only about 1/4 inch on the dipstick between changes every 3-4000 miles
Oil wise, mine is on Mobil 1 Motorsport and drops only about 1/4 inch on the dipstick between changes every 3-4000 miles
Toma500 said:
Mines running about 800 miles a litre on the OIl front 15/50 Mobil 1
But has never used a drop of water in 3 1/2 yrs and 20k miles mind you i have had a recore on the radiator in that time
This was what I was hinting at in my first post:But has never used a drop of water in 3 1/2 yrs and 20k miles mind you i have had a recore on the radiator in that time
Many owners think they are treating their engine by using the very best oil they can find. But these engines were designed before the inventor of Mobil 1 was a twinkle in his Dad's eye. They don't rev high enough to get the real benefit from it, and you may be causing your own oil burn by using it. It is your nickel, obviously, but I was recommended 'a good semi-synthetic' by the dealership, and never needed to add any between services in 36k miles...
I recently had to put more oil than usual in my Chim, I had the sump seal done about two years ago and have had no drops or pools of oil. I took it for a service recently and was advised that the sump seal needed replacing. since it has been done I am back to using very little oil. May be worth looking at !
Just my tuppence worth....
I found when using thinner oil it would just pi55 it all over the place - I now use Mobil 15-40 (or 30, I can't remember) and get barely any usage at all.
Regarding coolant loss, cracked radiator is my bet. Had 2 of these now, if theres water pooled under the rad as it sits in the front of the body (you'll know it when you see it) then i'd say you've got a small crack in the radiator feed. I think it happens because the rad flexes with the car body. You'll probably only lose water when the thermostat is open (which for me this time of year early mornings is not often!). £200 should get you a re-core rad (Disco part I believe...) which may last you 2 years, maybe 5 - or I think something like twice as much for a new ally rad which should last for ages, so i'm led to believe.
As with so many things with these babies, you pays your money you takes your choice!
Hope that helps,
Mark
I found when using thinner oil it would just pi55 it all over the place - I now use Mobil 15-40 (or 30, I can't remember) and get barely any usage at all.
Regarding coolant loss, cracked radiator is my bet. Had 2 of these now, if theres water pooled under the rad as it sits in the front of the body (you'll know it when you see it) then i'd say you've got a small crack in the radiator feed. I think it happens because the rad flexes with the car body. You'll probably only lose water when the thermostat is open (which for me this time of year early mornings is not often!). £200 should get you a re-core rad (Disco part I believe...) which may last you 2 years, maybe 5 - or I think something like twice as much for a new ally rad which should last for ages, so i'm led to believe.
As with so many things with these babies, you pays your money you takes your choice!
Hope that helps,
Mark
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