Are You Using Oil?

[Hurdy]

From the huge numbers in complaints over oil consumption from owners of every models of VW around the world, I came to the conclusion the gentle engine break in do not work. My chances of having an oil burning engine is 50% be it gentle or hard run in I concluded.

This is my method of running in and I will report back the results as time goes by.
100km- Load up the engine on various gears below 3000rpm with half throttle.
200km- Occasional full thottle to 5000rpm and load the engine up on manual mode 7th gear with half throttle from 1500rpm tilll 5000rpm.
300km- Find a small hill and climb up using the highest gear possible on manual mode. example 3rd gear 2000rpm 1/4 throttle till peak then cruise down on 2nd gear using engine brake most of the time.
350km - Short burst of sprinting on a long straight road reving till Redline from 1st till 5th gear or speed of around 200km/h then use engine brake to slow to 40km/h then 200km/h again. Total of 3 times. Trying to let the clutch plates settle in also.
500km- Change oil and original filter out replace with cheap American Mobil 1 5W30.
500km- 2 full power dyno run done to get a baseline power.
500-1100km- Drive as normal but daily redline on at least first 3 gears.
1100km- Change oil & filter again using cheap American Mobil 1 5W30. Change DSG Oil!!!
1100km- Did 3 times 0-225km/h pull on the straight highway with 5mins cooling down in between. Did not want to stress the engine too much so let off at 225km/h. Vmax shd be 230km/h.
2100km- Went on highway cross country to fully stretch out the engine and brakes. Did a total of approximately 800km averaging 140-200km/h
2900km- Done a total of 1800km and check the dipstick with engine fully warmed up and parked for 5mins. Still around the max mark or 95% on the dipstick
2920km- Change oil and filter again with Mobil 1 5W30 and planning to go to the same dyno for a power run to compare with the power curve during the previous run.

Points to note.
1. Make sure your oil is at least 90 degrees celcius before you load or rev up your engine.
2. DO NOT IDLE your engine for more than 5mins. Switch it off and restart if possible.
3. After every hard rev, try to use engine brake to slow the car for a few seconds each time.
4. Even though the GTI has a power assisted oil circulation system to cool the turbo bearing down when engine is shut off, try to idle the car for 1min before shutting it down.
4. If you have a mountain around your area, drive up using the highest gear possible and keep rpm to below 3000rpm. Cruise down using engine brake then drive straight to a workshop to have the oil changed out.
5. Follow my method at your own risk but oil change done more often wont hurt anything other than your wallet.

Looks a bit like hard work that running in regime! If you are going to run it in hard then it is the first 100km that counts. After that drop the oil and put in your chosen tipple. Simples!

[gavs]

That regime will do nothing unless you get an engine that is built properley, like seemingly mine and Kawabanga's.

Mine has now got 24,000kms on it, I just drove it hard for the first 200kms, changed the oil at 6000kms and aside from that oil change, i've only put 3 litres of oil in it. All this speculation is just hurting my head. It's as simple as this:

If the tolerances in the engine are not matched properley, then you will suffer from oil consumtion issues.

Got nothing to do with how you run it in, the type of volumes for consumption being seen are manufacturing related.

I agree with Kawabanga though regarding the oil separator, if this is how it was meant to operate with this much blow by, why have they done a full redesign of the separator for the CTHE engine update? What's the point of using 5W30 oil when you're pumping this much blow-by through the intake system? True, i've seen several Mk4 Golf GTIs empty a considerable volume of oil from 10+ year old intercoolers, but this is on another level to that.

To answer another question, no,it is not just the Polo GTI effected, the Audi A1 that uses the same motor is effected also, as is all models in the VAG stable that use this and any other TSI motor. A mate has a Mk5 Golf GTI that uses just as much oil, if not more than many of you on consumption tests.

[skipster]

An update on mine, I was due to start another 1000km test this weekend, but talking to my dealer today, they have said it is not worth doing now as there is a new 'fix' in due course. This is exactly what foggy69 reported on 31st May (below) and is this crankcase breather. As per normal no dates were given but I did at least get acknowledgement that this is an issue.

Saga continues!


Foggy69 wrote:
My GTI went in last week for new piston rings to be fitted because of excessive oil consumption.
After a week, I got a call from the dealer saying that this work now won't be done.
The dealer said it was advised by VW to postpone repairs as an optimised crankcase ventilation is in preparation.
No time-scale was given but fingers crossed it is soon as the current drought order in the SE is making it more difficult to wash all the soot off the boot lid

[skipster]

Just got off the phone with VW Customer Care and they said there will be a fix issued in the next 2 weeks

Just remembered your post from May 31st Stuart about the fix in 2 weeks. It is now nearly 3 weeks later and I have not heard anything. I reckon VW are telling porkie pies.

[WatchcamGTI]

I have done 800 miles in mine and level below half way. Also noticed a oil burning smell when i got home after a long drive the other night .... Problem?

[WatchcamGTI]

Just got off the phone with VW Customer Care and they said there will be a fix issued in the next 2 weeks

Just remembered your post from May 31st Stuart about the fix in 2 weeks. It is now nearly 3 weeks later and I have not heard anything. I reckon VW are telling porkie pies.

Nah

[skipster]

Indeed, if only 800 miles on the clock it may well be ok, as clearly a new engine will burn more oil anyway. As you have probably read earlier in the thread anyway the dipstick is not linear so it does not indicate that the sump is only half full.

I think yours will begin to settle but ensure it is kept topped up and don't wait for the light.

[WatchcamGTI]

Indeed, if only 800 miles on the clock it may well be ok, as clearly a new engine will burn more oil anyway. As you have probably read earlier in the thread anyway the dipstick is not linear so it does not indicate that the sump is only half full.

I think yours will begin to settle but ensure it is kept topped up and don't wait for the light.

I agree - not going to panic yet. Will keep an eye on it.

What oil should I be using out of interest?

Cheers

[skipster]

Indeed, if only 800 miles on the clock it may well be ok, as clearly a new engine will burn more oil anyway. As you have probably read earlier in the thread anyway the dipstick is not linear so it does not indicate that the sump is only half full.

I think yours will begin to settle but ensure it is kept topped up and don't wait for the light.

I agree - not going to panic yet. Will keep an eye on it.

What oil should I be using out of interest?

Cheers

Yes - I think you are ok buddy. Mine would be off the bottom of the dipstick after 800 miles. I think most of us are using Castrol Edge fully synthetic VW 504/507 spec. 5/30

[WatchcamGTI]

Thanks will pick up a bottle!

[Vissa]

No more oil consumption on mine. Still on the same level after 2000 miles with 0W40!

[kawabanga]

Could be this one the oil separator modification...??

[skipster]

Could be. I am still waiting for the call from my dealer about the fix.

[stuart.cameron]

Okay spoke with Volkswagen this morning and they have managed to create a shortage of the new parts already...

Don't ask me how they managed that but they have! Once the parts are readily available the Dealers will be informed of the fix and they will arrange with you to get the vehicle into the workshop.


Cheers, Stuart

[skipster]

Okay spoke with Volkswagen this morning and they have managed to create a shortage of the new parts already...

Don't ask me how they managed that but they have! Once the parts are readily available the Dealers will be informed of the fix and they will arrange with you to get the vehicle into the workshop.


Cheers, Stuart

Many thanks Stuart for the update, sounds like they are stalling for time on that one.

Kawabanga - many thanks for the picture, sounds like it may not be to far away, but I am not holding my breath!