Hope some one can help me out here and enlighten me.

I have had my MK2 fabia since 2014 ( it's a 12 plate) it's always had a service/short service at the same local garage when getting a MOT.

For the first time in 11 years of ownership and after a long run 200+ish miles the oil warning light came on. I topped up with around 500ml of the recommended oil and since then I have not seen it go down. But have only driven around 300 miles since.

I asked the garage to check for leaks when I got back home and they told me there were no leaks. They did say to keep a eye on it as it might be issues with the piston seals.

My question is should I be worried, is this a sign of the start of a bigger issue?

I assume there will be other symptoms that go along my engine burning oil.

My average mileage between services is around 5/6k and the car has around 85k on it.

Apologies for the wall of text!

Don't panic 500mm after a 200 mile trip is not that bad for the age of the car, it can some times just be the oil scraper rings a bit clogged or stuck and allowing some oil to burn off have some one rev the car and take a look at the rear of the exhaust any blueish smoke will show you that you might have a problem, the most common cause are the valve stem oil seals but you can also check these by running the car on idle for 10 -_15 mins then get some one to rev the engine to around 2_3000 RPM like a quick blip on the throttle while looking at the rear exhaust if you get a puff of blue smoke and then it clears that points to worn oil seals on the valve stems, , you can also check if the engine is pressuring up by taking the oil cap off while it's running and if you get whiteish smoke rising up you might have a blocked breather or as said worn rings allowing pressure to enter the engine block but again this normaly leads to oil leaks from different places , last resort is a compression test on the cylinders if they are all even then it might be a worn set of rings but normally anything around 160 -170 psi is ok not an expert but it's things like this I learned from many years working on different carsI have even seen people use an oil additive to stop excessive oil consumption it's a persona; choice that's up to you

@Ronxy89 I suggest if you are getting a Low Oil warning message /light and are putting in 0.5 litres you are running the car with too little oil.

3.9 litres and a warning might be when the oil is as much as 1 litre to 1.3 litres low.

Be sure you put in enough oil, 0.5 litres is not enough in a 2012 1.2 TSI. From warning to correct level.

Does it get 3.9 litres filled in at oil changes?

Do you check the Oil at normal operating temperature and have it in Area A on the dipstick.

You are working the oil hard if running a lower quantity.

Edited 17 July, 202517 Jul by Ootohere

@Ootohere apologies, I should have said that I added oil in volumes of 500ml untill the marker reached as indicated in the owners manual. I believe total volume added was around 1l , including some spillage.

Edited 17 July, 202517 Jul by Ronxy89

Did you check the level before the 200 mile trip?

If not, how long before that trip did you last check it?

Oil loss may be quite gradual if it was a long time since checked.

@Murdockman thanks first for the useful information.

I have had no visible smoke comming from the exhaust when the car is running idle or under load. I have also checked the oil cap when the car is running and whilst there is some smoke its hardly visible.

I had a suspicion that the garage might have missed the oil change when it went in for a service for one reason or another.

I will continue to dip it after every month untill it's next service in November.

Cheers again to every one for the advice.

@Breezy_Pete I'm embarrassed to say no but I am monitoring it regularly now, probably to regular to be honest but with the age of the vehicle my head always goes to worse case.

Am I right in assuming that I dip after the engine is up to temp and left for a few mins for oil to return to the sump.

3 minutes ago, Ronxy89 said:

Am I right in assuming that I dip after the engine is up to temp and left for a few mins for oil to return to the sump.

Yep, though most people have a rather false picture of how much oil is elsewhere other than the sump when the engine is running. Very little, since all the passages that it goes through on the way up the engine are very narrow, and the drains from the top of the engine very large.

Compare level readings at different engine temperatures to see the amount of variability in dipstick reading.

Edited 17 July, 202517 Jul by Breezy_Pete

It is as simple as that.

See where the oil is cold in the sump. Pre engine fired up.

All drained down.

That level in a 1.2 TSI might well be higher up the dipstick that after 10 miles of driving, oil up to 90*oC or so, stopped a few minutes. (A few is a few, 4 or 5.) Oil Filter up top of engine. Different filters 2010-2011, 2011 on.

Different Oil Capacity as well.

As long as enough in, and as long as not overfilled.

4 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Oil Filter up top of engine. Different filters 2010-2011, 2011 on.

I believe the oil filters on the 1.2 TSI EA111 retain their fullness when engine isn't running.

There's a valve that opens as you unscrew them to replace, releasing the oil inside into the housing; but before that they are full.

Wouldn't be a sensible design if they had to be re-filled at each start-up, especially as the tensioner is hydraulic.

Edited 17 July, 202517 Jul by Breezy_Pete
sp

On the 1.4 TSI Twincharges to check the Oil cold and the Oil & operating temp you could do the getting oil hot thing.

Or do a simple test. Cold dip.

Get in car or just reach in. Turn on the ignition, fire engine and run about a few seconds. turn off, dip it.

You got the same reading.

The Filters were different on the Twinchargers from the Black ones, that then changed to the Silver.

People messed up the readings.

Also the 3.6 litres was never enough oil. 3.9 / 4.0 litres was nd is the correct quantity.

& 1.3 litres low, the Low Oil pressure might show before the Low Oil Warning.

It is not rocket science, just checking the oil. But then if you trust it was right at the service that can bite you in the bum.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/306306-word-of-warning-dipping-vrs-oil-level

But these might use oil, and worse still start off with not enough oil, and if not checked before warnings you were 1/3rd low.

Page 2. 25th November 2016 & we are doing Jabazuma oil checks. Start the cold engine and stop it again.

Oil up in the top.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/417842-mow-much-oil-is-half-up-the-dip-stick/page/2

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/417842-how-much-oil-is-half-the-dip-stick

Edited 17 July, 202517 Jul by Ootohere

Warning.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/513601-warning-bosch-oil-filter-for-1.2-tsi-ea111-cbzacbzb