How much oil do you use, how often do you top up?

I've read somewhere that with spirited driving you can use as much as a litre every 1000 miles, does this seem right?

I've got a 51 vrs and noticed that i'm using more than i thought i would and cant see any obvious oil leak anywhere? i wouldn't say its driven hard, maybe a blip every now and again when i'm bored (or late!)

Cheers

I drive normal and use around 1 litre every 4 - 5,000 miles. Just been told this is usual

I've never had to top up in the 35,000 miles I've owned the car and I check the level each week!

Good question ......

Mine can use up too a litre every 5k

Since the last service it hasn't used any wierdly.

Next service may be different though .....who knows lol

Mines never used a drop in the 2 years / 30000 miles I've had it. And I give it the big beans all the time

Mines never used a drop in the 2 years / 30000 miles I've had it. And I give it the big beans all the time

Same in just over 2 years and nearly 40k.

Yep, mines done a litre in about 1500miles, only had the car (02 Vrs) a couple of months. I can't say that its smoking too much, certainly no sign if I boot it, more like when I sit at tickover. Car drives fine too, no loss of power and no fault codes. Done a bit of searching through old posts and the general theme seems to point towards three issues, 1. Oil breathers blocked and increasing oil preasure so more is burt (I'm no tec so feel free to correct me) 2. Valve stem seals (bloody expensive by all accounts) 3. Turbo seals.

So, my question, if you don't mind me adding to your post, is..

A. Which breather pipes become blocked, where are they located and how do I check/clean them?

B. If problem persists, How hard is it to replace turbo seals, I'v seen service kits etc, or would a recon be the way to go?

C. How to I check and rule out any of the above and or valve stem seals?

or should we just except it and just keep a closer eye on our oil levels... 8)

mine has used no oil in the last 10 k mile and gets driven very hard all the time

they should use oil like some are saying....they must have a prob. check you breather pipes especially the onr from cranck to rocker cover.

can also mean that the engine was never correctly beaded in and will always do it as the piston rings dont seal that well...

Some do and some don't

I wouldn't worrying unless theres smoke, oil in the colant or a leak on the drive.

Over 3 years and 28,000 miles I've only had to top up 0.5 litre every 6,000ish miles between services.

1 litre of oil every 1,000 miles sounds like madness

My 115000 mile '51 vRS uses about ½ a litre between services

Over 3 years and 28,000 miles I've only had to top up 0.5 litre every 6,000ish miles between services.

1 litre of oil every 1,000 miles sounds like madness

I just re-read my post, I should have said every 5K lol

I dunno what happened there tbh :(

I just re-read my post, I should have said every 5K lol

I dunno what happened there tbh :(

as quoted mine uses 1 litre in around 5,000 miles and has 79k on the clock and have been told that its ok, again I will worry when there are pools of oil where the car has been a blue smoke on starting up in the morning.

My car is a greedy biatch all round drinks fuel and oil but if thats what she needs thats what she gets lol

Cheers for all these replies everyone. I'm going to take it in for an oil flush and change etc this week (get some 5/30magnatec in) and then keep monitoring from there.

There are no drops anywhere on the drive but there is some under the engine cover around what looks like a sensor into the block on the right hand side. Will get them to check it out for me.

thanks again

Just make sure any oil you put in meets the required VW standard, I am not sure magnatec does.

I just re-read my post, I should have said every 5K lol

I dunno what happened there tbh :(

I was going to say? That wouldn't be using oil so much as just chucking it down the drain (or disposing of it in an environmentally sound manner).

1l every 5k doesn't sound so bad now, and I suppose I don't drive mine as fast or as often as I'd like, what with having a family and all that goes with it

Just make sure any oil you put in meets the required VW standard, I am not sure magnatec does.

Ah right, thats interesting as i guess being nieve i thought i could request any semi or full synthetic?

Cheers will leave it down to the garage as they're more than competent to sort out my incompetence!!!

Anything up to 1l/1000miles according to VAG, but I think this only applies to cars on variable service. I'm another one who finds that the main reason for checking oil level is in case of developing a leak though!

Mine uses a litre every three thousand miles or so, but it's not blowing out or the back, leaking, or getting into anything it shouldn't so I'm not too bothered. It's probably the start of wear on the valve stem seals, but if it's going to happen there's not a lot I can do about it. Seems to run fine.

My 02 vRS with 83k on the clock has only moved about 1-2mm down on the dipstick in the 2k that I've had it. It does smoke a bit on startup since the cold weather began but it's a petrol smell, not oil, presumably from it running rich during the warmup cycle? When it's warmed up and has been idling for a while (in traffic) again it does smoke but I've checked it, it smells of steam, and holding a white cloth over the exhaust for a minute or two the cloth is 100% clean and no oil smell at all. I'm satisfied that it's not burning any other than a tiny bit past the rings which is normal and IME not a bad thing for engine longevity. I guess the steam when idling is water that collects in the exhaust and eventually burns off, but I might clean my MAF soon in case that helps.

Bob, your smoke wouldn't be white, would it? If so, it's probably not smoke but condensing water vapour. Burning 1 gallon of petrol produces about a gallon of water, and if it's coldish out, the exhaust can be just cool and wet enough to produce a "steam cloud" for the first minute or so running.

65k (35 remapped) and I don't put any in it - its on variable servicing

Bob, your smoke wouldn't be white, would it? If so, it's probably not smoke but condensing water vapour. Burning 1 gallon of petrol produces about a gallon of water, and if it's coldish out, the exhaust can be just cool and wet enough to produce a "steam cloud" for the first minute or so running.

They are extremely steamy lol

My 98 Octavia hardly uses any .... about 1/2 litre every 5 to 6,000 miles ...... and I tow with it.

If your car sits with the engine running at full temperature such as in traffic, some oil will disappear through evaporation.

I have plenty of oil on the engine block, but haven't noticed any leaks ..... even have it all checked over on the services.

Bob, your smoke wouldn't be white, would it? If so, it's probably not smoke but condensing water vapour. Burning 1 gallon of petrol produces about a gallon of water, and if it's coldish out, the exhaust can be just cool and wet enough to produce a "steam cloud" for the first minute or so running.

yeah it's white, smells slightly petrolly on startup but once warm doesn't smell of anything but steam. I spend about an hour or so each day in solid traffic which doesn't help I think...

It does steam a bit after sitting in traffic for a few mins or if I've drove it really gently, which makes me think either I've got a puddle of water built up inside the exhaust or it's not quite fuelling right (maf). Doesn't lose any oil or coolant though which is the main thing, and it stops if driven hard but when commuting I rarely get the chance.