CEPi is quite right, running an engine up to the point where the rev limiter cuts in will harm the catalytic converter eventually as the limiting is done by cutting out the sparks so letting unburnt fuel down the exhaust into the catalyst and overloading it.

It makes sense about the Punto not using oil after being ragged from day one, the oil consumption is mainly controlled by the rings on the pistons sealing against the cylinder wall, if they are not honed in together well, then the oil control will not be so good and usage will creep up. The best way to hone the rings into the wall is to work the engine hard so the higher pressure produced by the bigger bangs at the top of the piston push the rings into the cylinder walls so making them fit together better, best to to this from day one. There was a thread about this subject including a link to a mechanic in America who said to do just that as the first 20 miles of an engines life will determine the power produced and the oil consumption for the rest of it's life, work it hard and the results will be much better.

CEPi is quite right, running an engine up to the point where the rev limiter cuts in will harm the catalytic converter eventually as the limiting is done by cutting out the sparks so letting unburnt fuel down the exhaust into the catalyst and overloading it.

Yep definitely agree for older engines, but on FSI engines there's a hard and soft limiter, doesn't it work that the soft limiter starts to cut in ~500rpm before the hard limiter. The soft limiter works by not firing the injector in tandem with compensating with more inert air charge via EGR. The hard limiter works by not firing the spark plug. In reaching a hard limit situation, this would ensure there's no unburnt fuel exhausted, and the EGR gases serve to do what the fuel would normally in a rev limit situation -- keep the cylinders cool.

Pretty sure the advice is out of date / not applicable for FSI common rail engines.

As said on another thread 504/507 spec. Havoline 5W/30 on offer (half price) at Morrisons £4.49 per litre.

Is the 504/507 spec correct for fixed annual services or only variable? (1.8TSi petrol engine) I only do about 8000 miles between servicing

Is the 504/507 spec correct for fixed annual services or only variable? (1.8TSi petrol engine) I only do about 8000 miles between servicing

For fixed servicing it doesn't really matter whether you use 504 or 504/507 other than the price you pay for the oil. The 507 bit of specification allows for extended mileage servicing if needed - so no harm done if used but not needed. I'm on fixed servicing (1.8TSI like you) and my dealer said that 504/507 oil is already in it anyway so despite the additional cost I'm sticking to that. Instinct tells me to avoid mixing oil types anyway if possible. Obviously 507 is "better" than 504 and for me the best oil is the one I always choose even if "wasted" by an early (none extended) oil change.

Just checked the oil level this morning and it was nearly on the minimum level, so where that's gone I don't know! Just popped about 0,5 ltr in and it bought it back up to a more healthy level.

I hope I haven't got a oil guzzler all of a sudden, its only done 1,600 miles.

Edited 11 April, 201016 yr by Evening Star