New 2.0 TFSI VW out of oil after 4k miles

Dr House · 26 Jul 2011 at 20:58

Hi.

We bought a VW scirocco new around 10 months ago. It has done 4 000 miles in total and the oil light came on today.

I checked and its under the minimum level, is this normal for a new car or is something wrong with the car?

bledd · 26 Jul 2011 at 20:59

Good idea to check them monthly, if not more often. When new, it's still 'bedding in'

[TW]Fox · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:04

4000 miles on a litre of oil sounds fine?

Kenai · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:06

You really ought to make a habit of checking it more often than every 4000 miles.

Scania · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:08

bledd. said:
Good idea to check them monthly, if not more often. When new, it's still 'bedding in'

Weekly at least imo (I do it daily, but I'm just plain sad I guess

)

As Fox says though, a litre or so in 4k is not that bad, that said, my e39 uses nothing like that amount of oil even though its done 263k more than that VW!

Minstadave · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:10

The 2.0TFSI is quite widely reported to drink oil, especially when new, Audi say upto 1L every 1000 miles is within normal limits.

It settles down after a while, mine is on 60k (2005 version) and has used half a litre in 10,000 miles.

Fusion · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:10

When did you last check it? Please don't say this is the first time!

EndlessSky · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:11

Mine went through oil pretty quickly at first, about 4,000 miles sounds about right. It doesn't use as much now though at ~30k miles.

Off topic but worth noting, mine came with Michelin tyres as new, and after changing to Bridgestones (I was trapped in the middle of nowhere with no way of getting to another garage without new tyres!) I hated them. Poor grip, poor handeling on the twisties and noisy, plus they wore out very fast. I've changed back to Michelin Pilot and the difference is unvelievable.

Moeks · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:22

Check your oil more often, I would suggest once a month but really it depends on how many miles you do. I do quite low mileage but if I even did 12k a year I'd be checking it every 2 weeks.

Dr House · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:22

you lot have to be joking, you really check your oil? Thats why you service the car (but I will make a point of checking the car now).

I simply can not believe that the oil level can fall under the minimum level after 4k miles, I will stick another litre in tomorrow but I hope it does not keep doing this.

Thanks for the tip EndlessSky, to be honest I dont think the car will do more then 5k per year and we will only keep it for 2 more years so I hope to never need new tyres as I have winter tyres for the winter so the summer tyres are only ever on for 8 months a year.

EndlessSky · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:25

Make sure you get the right oil, especially if you're on a long life service plan.

Defcon5 · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:25

Dr House said:
you lot have to be joking, you really check your oil? Thats why you service the car

What? That is the most basic aspect of car maintenance

Moeks · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:27

The service is when you change all the oil and filters etc ...not just check it, that's what you do in between services and top up as necessary. Incidentally the volume of oil between min and max on a dipstick is typically around 1 litre, so bear that in mind. You may very well find the engine actually burns less oil as it runs in a bit more though.

[TW]Fox · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:28

Dr House said:
you lot have to be joking, you really check your oil? Thats why you service the car (but I will make a point of checking the car now).

No, its not why you service the car at all.

I simply can not believe that the oil level can fall under the minimum level after 4k miles, I will stick another litre in tomorrow but I hope it does not keep doing this.

It's a car - some of them use oil.

Dr House · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:30

EndlessSky said:
Make sure you get the right oil, especially if you're on a long life service plan.

ok thanks, what would you recommend?

Defcon5 said:
What? That is the most basic aspect of car maintenance

I really did not think you have to do this on modern cars, I just assumed its good until the next service and the computer will tell you if there is a problem.

Non of BMW's I have owned have ever run out of oil however other then the company van this is the only new car I have ever bought (its my little brothers car).

But I will keep an eye on it now.

GeX · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:30

On a new car I'd expect it to have an oil level sensor in the sump, it'll check the oil everytime you turn the ignition on. My 9 year old Citroen does this, there's no way on a modern car I'm going to be popping the bonnet every week to check the oil.

I would though, read the manual. I'm sure nominal oil usage is covered in there.

Dr House · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:31

[TW]Fox;19674374 said:
It's a car - some of them use oil.

I should have bought a RX8

Defcon5 · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:31

Dr House said:
ok thanks, what would you recommend?

Something that meets VAG 507 spec, preferably a Castrol Edge of some variety. 5w-30 maybe

Moeks · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:32

GeX said:
On a new car I'd expect it to have an oil level sensor in the sump, it'll check the oil everytime you turn the ignition on. My 9 year old Citroen does this, there's no way on a modern car I'm going to be popping the bonnet every week to check the oil.

I would though, read the manual. I'm sure nominal oil usage is covered in there.

So how do you top up your washer fluid then ? ...I usally do them both together.

[TW]Fox · 26 Jul 2011 at 21:33

Dr House said:
Non of BMW's I have owned have ever run out of oil

Neither has this one. It probably holds 6 litres - and it requires 1 litre. It's simply informing you, as it should, to add more.