My parents have had their Octavia 1.6 petrol for a few months now. When they drove to the airport to go on holiday they had the Oil Warning light come on. My dad commented there was a bottle of oil in the boot.

 

Is this oil usage normal? I wouldn't have expected it to be burning oil at such a rate that in less than 3500 its gone from full (I presume it was sent out full) to warning levels.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

I presume it was sent out full

 Never presume, fill it back to the upper limit and monitor it, if its burning more than you/your parents are happy with, book it in the dealers.

 

Regards

T

That more than well within tolerances.

The manual says:

 

The engine consumes a little oil. The oil consumption may be as much as 0.5 l/ 1000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which you operate your vehicle. Consumption may be slightly higher than this during the first 5000 kilometres.

 

 

 

Upto 0.5litres per 620miles is considered normal.

 

Didn't they think to check the oil at somepoint before it ran low?

 

 

Didn't they think to check the oil at somepoint before it ran low?

 

+1

That more than well within tolerances.

The manual says:

 

 

Upto 0.5litres per 620miles is considered normal.

 

Didn't they think to check the oil at somepoint before it ran low?

That would be the manual on a Mk3 would it, now I maybe wrong but, there isn't currently so, has there been a Mk3 1.6 petrol engine in the past.  Not that I think the answer will change if its a Mk2 but, this is the Mk3 section and Rob might get a more informed answer in the correct section.

 

I know, I had to read it a few times before the penny dropped too.

 

Regards

T

1.6 petrol?

 

 

Didn't they think to check the oil at somepoint before it ran low?

 

To be fair they did not have the expectation that it would burn through all the oil in that many miles. I wouldn't. The only car I've owned that burned oil like that was a clapped out Polo

 

These are normal people not car enthusiasts and while yes you could argue you should check your oil etc thats a lot of oil.  They bought a brand new car because they expect it to run well and require less maintenance than a much older car.

 

Sorry 1.4 petrol.

1.6 petrol?

If it's a 1.6 FSI, will be a MkII and I have read on other forums in the past that high oil consumption was often an issue with that engine.

Edit-above post added re 1.4 while I was typing!

Edited 29 January, 201412 yr by Matt Pez

To be fair they did not have the expectation that it would burn through all the oil in that many miles. I wouldn't. The only car I've owned that burned oil like that was a clapped out Polo

These are normal people not car enthusiasts and while yes you could argue you should check your oil etc thats a lot of oil. They bought a brand new car because they expect it to run well and require less maintenance than a much older car.

Sorry 1.4 petrol.

The age is irrelevant, cars use oil, generally more so when new, checking oil is one of the basics of making sure a car is road worthy like checking tyres and lights etc.

For a brand new car, oil usage should be very good. ie minimal. I would normally expect that you shouldn't really need to top it up before the next service. The fact that there is a bottle of oil in the boot might tell you something was not quite right when the dealers did their initial inspection ( I have never been given a free bottle of oil with a new car before and I doubt many people have!) . I would certainly have it checked out while the car is still under warranty. 

For a brand new car, oil usage should be very good. ie minimal. I would normally expect that you shouldn't really need to top it up before the next service. The fact that there is a bottle of oil in the boot might tell you something was not quite right when the dealers did their initial inspection ( I have never been given a free bottle of oil with a new car before and I doubt many people have!) . I would certainly have it checked out while the car is still under warranty.

All new VAG cars come with a bottle of oil in the boot.

To be fair they did not have the expectation that it would burn through all the oil in that many miles. I wouldn't. The only car I've owned that burned oil like that was a clapped out Polo

These are normal people not car enthusiasts and while yes you could argue you should check your oil etc thats a lot of oil. They bought a brand new car because they expect it to run well and require less maintenance than a much older car.

Sorry 1.4 petrol.

I have to own up to not regularly checking the oil.

Had four new cars in last 10 years, checked oil once or twice a year. Never once did oil level change and I've never had to buy oil.

Having said that will check for pot of oil in boot and then open bonnet for second time in 2 months. First time was to refill washer reservoir.

OK, so we should check our oil but I can't remember ever needing to top up any of my cars up between services and I've had lots. The OP asked for advice not a maintenance lesson. Ssfan, all SUK cars come with oil.

 

It seems to me that this use is excessive following normal driving but I'm new to newer VAG cars so perhaps they are as inefficient with oil as they are with diesel.

Surely if its on a PCP with 3 years warrantee & 3 years servicing then checking the oil amounts to looking out for lights on the dashboard ? No

 

Joking, honest.

 

Regards

T

With the turbo engines it is important when running in to get a high enough boost pressure, in order to 'squash' the oil control ring.

As the engine is warming up, say between 2/3 and 3/4 of normal operating temperature, you should accelerate smoothy above 3500 rpm in order to bring the turbo to full boost and compress the oil control ring.

VAG did have a problem a few years ago with the 2l TSI engines burning excessive oil, a friend of mine had one burning 1l of oil every 1200-1500km. He eventually got a new engine.

Ted

Ive advised him to top it up to full and monitor it over the next few weeks. If it uses a lot it will go in for warranty check.

 

My MK2 vRS has barely used any oil service to service.

All new VAG cars come with a bottle of oil in the boot.

I didn't

I didn't

 

Dealer must have swiped it then.  All my new Skoda's have come with one and my Mum's had a couple of new Audi's that have also come with one.  It's comes in a black pouch velcro'd to the side of the boot.

Dealer must have swiped it then.  All my new Skoda's have come with one and my Mum's had a couple of new Audi's that have also come with one.  It's comes in a black pouch velcro'd to the side of the boot.

The dealer should add the pouch to the boot at PDI. It's not in the car from the factory for obvious reasons - if steering wheels etc get stolen en route or at docks oil pouches would be a target for thieves.

OP should ask dealer for the pouch.

With modern oils, high oil consumption on new engines seems to be a problem when the engines are bedded in too gently. Sometimes the problem gets better with Milage. I would suggest giving the engine a bit of work every now and again.

Mark

Well, that one problem mine won't be having then.

 

Regards

T

It's important to monitor the oil (and other fluid levels) with a brand new engine. It's easy for a hose or plug or even a gasket to not quite seal, factories make mistakes some times. So monitor and get the dealer to investigate any losses.  A brand new engine will also burn oil.  Until the piston rings are well seated ( ie worn to fit the bore) a bit of oil will pass them and get burnt. This is normal for a new engine.  The rings would be seated by now though.

 

Fill it up, check it daily or at least weekly for the next month, if it loses more than a 'dribble' ask the dealer to investigate. A leak will be easy to trace.

Dealer must have swiped it then.  All my new Skoda's have come with one and my Mum's had a couple of new Audi's that have also come with one.  It's comes in a black pouch velcro'd to the side of the boot.

SWMBO and myself have had 4 new Skodas and one new VW, from 4 different dealers over the last 13 years and none have ever been supplied with a complimentary bottle of oil.

My 330D has not burnt a drop in 12k miles (just had service), but my GTI Edition 30 (46K miles FVSW) used to go through 1L of oil per 1000 miles which is normal for the engine.

 

I check my cars oil/fluids and tyres fortnightly, been doing it since I started driving in 1991, takes about 10 minutes! 

I am glad this has come up - when we picked up our new 1.2Tsi the salesman pointed out the pouch in the boot and said it was a gift to us - a litre of oil - Why is that I said, does it use a lot? He laughed as salesmen do. At 4,500 miles I have had to use the oil to top up. I haven't had to put oil in a car between servicing for over 25 years -  a mix of Fords and Nissans - I even had a 20 year old Ford Escort that didn't need topping up. Of course it has to be Castrol Edge - especially made for VAG group cars and priced accordingly. If he hadn't pointed out the free oil I might have been less vigilant on checking the levels as it ha snot been necessary for so long with other cars. This is the first negative I have with the car - so I hope that consumption improves as the car beds in.

 

I'll get the service bay to check it out when I go in next, but a bit of advice - don't assume your new Skoda will not be using oil - check it regularly.