Where's my oil gone?!

rich_g85

rich_g85

rich_g85

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Joined
12 Jun 2003
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Either Tonbridge or Biggin Hill
Just checked my dipstick and the oil level is below the MIN mark. :eek: The oil was last changed only 6 months (6000 miles) ago. Where the hell has it gone?!!

Is it normal for cars to 'use' oil? Can I just top it up? I need to leave for London in.. 15 minutes.

Car is a 2000 (W) Mondeo ST24.

Cheers
Rich
 
Just top it up. Check for any leaks, obviously its nothing major as its taken 6 months for it to drop. Just get it looked at after london
 
Some cars use oil quite quickly, and would still be well within manufacturer specifications.

Are you honestly saying you've not checked your oil for 6 months? :confused:
 
isnt the V6 in the ST24 known for oil use? Really should check it every month or every few 1000 miles.
 
Overlag said:
isnt the V6 in the ST24 known for oil use? Really should check it every month or every few 1000 miles.
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Really is worth keeping an eye on, I had a 16v mk2 golf that used a litre of oil every 500-1000 miles. Some of them used to use that right out of the factory as well!

6000 miles for a litre isn't bad, just means you should check it more often.
 
MG say 1 litre every 1000 miles is acceptable on the KV6, cost me an engine that "mechanical tolerance".

Check oil weekly, end of.
 
Oil,Water.Tyres,Lights.

Four daily checks that could save your life, somebody elses, or at least your wallet.
 
rich_g85 said:
Just checked my dipstick and the oil level is below the MIN mark. :eek: The oil was last changed only 6 months (6000 miles) ago.
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You only check your oil every 6 months? :eek::eek:

I though questions on such fundamental aspects of car maintenance were part of the driving test these days? Time to send the licence back to Kellogs.
 
Ok. Not once did I suggest I haven't checked my oil in 6 months.

I am well aware of the basic checks one should carry out before embarking on a long journey. Or indeed fortnightly, as I do.

I guess I was surprised at how quickly the level dropped since the last check (middle of last week). On reflection, it makes sense as I have changed my driving habits, starting a new job in Southampton means I now drive more in a week than I have in the last month.

And to whoever insinuated that I'm not fit to hold a license- thanks. You reminded me why I don't post here very often.
 
rich_g85 said:
Ok. Not once did I suggest I haven't checked my oil in 6 months.

I am well aware of the basic checks one should carry out before embarking on a long journey. Or indeed fortnightly, as I do.

I guess I was surprised at how quickly the level dropped since the last check (middle of last week).
Click to expand...

Err your opening post clearly implied you felt you had lost oil since your oil change. Are you now saying that the level was fine last week yet now is below min? Because that would indicate a serious problem.

Why is it now below min if you checked it only last week?

There can be only three explanations:

a) Hurt by accusations that you are unfit to hold a license, you have decided to tell everyone that you did really check it, when you didnt.
b) The level was fine last week but is now below min. The car has a serious engine fault and you should investigate what is wrong with it
c) The level wasn't fine last week but you never bothered to top it up after checking. Instead you waited a full week before seeking advice.

Which one?
 
Seriously, if you REALLY checked it middle of last week and it has dropped that quickly, you have a problem! (unless you did 3000 miles in the last week).

Start looking for smoke out the back, drips underneath etc.

And seriously, when you post where did my oil go as I only had it changed 6 months ago, what do you expect about the response? :rolleyes:

EDIT:Beaten By Fox :D
 
If you really have lost several litres of oil in a couple of weeks I certainly wouldn't be driving that car.
 
If it really had lost that in just a week, you would have noticed it (unless you've been doing mega miles, maybe) chucking burnt oil fumes out the back and such. Unless it actually has a leak of course, crack in the sump or some how the sump plug is allowing oil passed ...but in this case you'd have had it all over the ground where you park.

There are other problems that can cause excessive oil consumption like a fault with the crank case ventilation and such, but this wouldn't cause you to use that much oil in just week, not unless you'd done a couple of thousand miles in that time anyway.
 
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The VW 2.0 TFSI engine in my car drinks a fair amount of oil.
I usually have to top it up monthly.

You really should be checking your oil every four weeks at the latest anyway.
All it takes is a small leak you don't know about and suddenly you're running the car with daangerous low levels of oil - very bad for the engine.
 
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