I give my car a good going over once a fortnight, tyre pressures, levels, quick hoover etc. The Passat uses sod all oil, but still needs topping up between services.

Its worth noting that only cars compatible with variable servicing have the amber oil level indicator, although its pretty sloppy imho to leave it so long between topping up that the light comes on.

The Fabia used a litre between services, but that was driven hard, lots. The Passat uses a litre every 20k or so.

Mine seems to want a 1 ltr every 6-7k miles (Octy 2.0TDi on variable servicing).

Having reviewed the comments and poll results, I shall consider my wrists well and truly slapped, and try to check it more often.

I tend to check the oil every 2 - 3 days (doing 1000 miles a week). The car does use some, around 1 litre pre 15000 miles, but gets used for lots of low speed manoeuvres and round the houses driving. Spotting a leak or oil loss early can save you a big bill. A few scenarios to consider:

When your oil is low enough to trigger the oil pressure light, it means the oil pump is picking up air bubbles. If this happens under heavy load (say out of a corner under power when all the oil is up one side of the sump) you can kill the engines main bearings in less than 1/10th of a second. Air does not work well as a lubricant in crankshaft bearings for some reason?

Now imagine you do weeks of shortish journeys, never getting the oil up to full working temperature for long enough to dry it out. You will see the oil level staying constant as oil is burnt and water / unburnt fuel replaces it. Now you start going on long motorway journeys and the level drops a lot as the water and unburnt fuel boils off. If you don't check often, the chances are you will run it low. By the time the OP light is on, you are potentially already damaging the engine.

Tyres I do 2 - 3 times a week and a visual every time I get in the car.

Chris

I've check the oil everytime I clean the car .

I'll do the same, which means every week or at most a fortnight. Even do it on swmbo's Yaris, but it doesn't get washed as often as mine. Although the roads I drive on I could wash the car every day. :( Is a good time to visually check other fluid levels too.

My Fabia never used any, although I've topped up the Octavia once. Didn't needed much.

isn't the light on the dash an oil pressure light rather than an oil level light and by the time the pressure is low enough to trigger that you need to stop the engine ASAP and then add some oil there and then?

YES!!!! :eek: :eek:

I tend to check the oil every 2 - 3 days (doing 1000 miles a week). The car does use some, around 1 litre pre 15000 miles, but gets used for lots of low speed manoeuvres and round the houses driving. Spotting a leak or oil loss early can save you a big bill. A few scenarios to consider:

When your oil is low enough to trigger the oil pressure light, it means the oil pump is picking up air bubbles. If this happens under heavy load (say out of a corner under power when all the oil is up one side of the sump) you can kill the engines main bearings in less than 1/10th of a second. Air does not work well as a lubricant in crankshaft bearings for some reason?

Now imagine you do weeks of shortish journeys, never getting the oil up to full working temperature for long enough to dry it out. You will see the oil level staying constant as oil is burnt and water / unburnt fuel replaces it. Now you start going on long motorway journeys and the level drops a lot as the water and unburnt fuel boils off. If you don't check often, the chances are you will run it low. By the time the OP light is on, you are potentially already damaging the engine.

Tyres I do 2 - 3 times a week and a visual every time I get in the car.

Chris

just to note: this and richard blacks statement, the oil light (dipstick picture) on the GP is a level check, not a pressure check (different light) ...

and agreed, if you wait until the pressure light comes on... big worries for the engine!

and chris..... I never had to top up the vRS either... ran it to 80k (in the same driving , of course, as you) are you past that mileage yet? you must be close to the second highest vRS miles so far! (next to neo )

I don't think my car has ever used any oil!

I check about once a month just in case.

Never had to top up between oil+filter changes. I just check the dipstick occasionally (e.g. before a longer trip).

Our old Audi 1985 was a thirsty one, though, needed a check every other week. But then the manual said that oil consumption not exceeding 1 liter per 1000 miles was normal. Seems as this was a common feature of older VAG engines.

And I remember my old Mazda 323: Full tank of petrol and 1 litre of motor oil...never even had to look at the dipstick

YES!!!! :eek: :eek:

NO!!!

It's both

Orange = level, Red = Pressure.

can't understand why there isn't an 'oil gauge' like a petrol gauge fitted in cars rather than just a low pressure warning light! That way you be able tell easily if the engine required oil..

Perhaps its not possible to this?

Name drop here! Porsche cars do an oil check when you turn on the ignition so it is possible. Price though?????

I check every week or 2 (not doing a lot of miles)

The VRS has used 1ltr in 8000 miles. I suppose I'm quite lucky with mine. Most of that 1lr was used in the first 5000.

Recent cars

Clio dCi (100hp) never needed topped up even with 18000 mile service intervals. I did 65000 miles in 3 yr with that.

Focus tdi (90hp) never needed topped up in 65000 miles. But the service intervals there were 12500.

just to note: this and richard blacks statement, the oil light (dipstick picture) on the GP is a level check, not a pressure check (different light) ...

and agreed, if you wait until the pressure light comes on... big worries for the engine!

and chris..... I never had to top up the vRS either... ran it to 80k (in the same driving , of course, as you) are you past that mileage yet? you must be close to the second highest vRS miles so far! (next to neo )

Just gone past 103,000 miles, still uses the same amount of oil as it always did, runs from max to min in a service interval and tends to use more of it as it heads toward the service interval when the oil has been chopped about a bit.

Looking forward to seeing the next vRS as mine is up for replacement later this year.

Chris

Mine never uses oil between services , though I check the dipstick approx. once a month , and the tyre pressures at the same time (im usually adding approx 0.1- 0.2 of a Bar , if anything). The car only does 3-4K a year though.

Name drop here! Porsche cars do an oil check when you turn on the ignition so it is possible. Price though?????

Cars used to have them, just like some cars are now replacing coolant temp with a light for cold and too hot.