Oil Consumption Test explanation

[englishbay]

Hi All, I am burning lots of oil and took the car to the dealer, so they are doing an oil consumption test. I am checking the oil every time I fill up with gas and usually have to top up the oil at the same time. There is no oil leaking, because I park the car mostly at only two places, home and work and there is no oil on the ground.

The funny thing is when I took it in for the oil consumption test, the dip stick is way over the top. Usually I have it between the low/high. I actually did fill it too much a while back and thought that might be a problem so took it back to the dealer and it said it should be fine. I was thinking that there could be problems with too much oil.

The car will be going in to complete the test in the next couple of days, so will let you know what the results are.

Its quite a mystery where all this oil is going, I hate to think what my values are looking like.

[andyisgood]

May I ask which dealer you are doing the test with?

[englishbay]

The dealer is Openroad, should also let you know its a 2007 A4 2.0T and that I when I check the oil the car is at the normal operating temperature and it is done at the gas station when I fill up so the car is not cooled down before checking the dip stick.

After dealer oil changes, I check the oil the same way and it is usually between MIN/MAX it is never at the level that it is now. There could be some reason that there is so much oil in there now because of the test.

[jimrobbington]

You are always supposed to check the oil when the engine is cold, or has at least been sitting for about a half hour or so. Reasoning is, all the oil has settled to the bottom. If a lot of oil is still throughout the engine, the dipstick may tell you that you are low, then you fill it up, and you have too much.

[hockeyguy]

^^^^this, also are you letting your car warm up and cool down for a minute or two? if not you may be losing oil this way if you just jump in and go and park and stop...

[englishbay]

I check the oil after getting the gas, so it is usually after a few minutes.

[neverfollow-rs4]

Actually I just did this so let me explain. For the test they have to let out all of your oil minus oil filter. Once when the oil is out they add 4.2 quarts of oil plus whatever was left in the oil filter, this will bring the oil level to right where plastic piece starts on the dipstick so to Max. You should come back to dealer in 631-1000 miles and they drain the oil again to see how much of it is left. Word of advice, go after like 950 miles or the closest to 1000 becuase most likely if you go after 630 or so you will be fine and it s more likely for you to spend more oil if you drive the car for additional 300 miles or so. They told me to come back after 631 but I won't, I'll be there after like 980 miles. If you where at the dealer and they told you that they did oil consumption test but you see that your car is overfilled it means they did not do it and they just added oil to overfill it and thats it, they did this to me also and I came back a week after because it was obvious that they did not change the oil and did not add the right amount. Don't trust dealer, if they did the test on the ticket or at least in their computer there should be a line item that states that they got the oil from parts department and the first time they did it there was no oil checked out from parts dept. and they have to do it because they don't have 4-5 quarts of oil sitting around and even if they did they wouldn't just give it to us. They are not supose to overfil it, its actually not good for the car like you said, first time they tried to sell it to me as thats what Audi tells them to do, I was like GTFO, so I got a print screen from Elsawin (see the pic below) and showed it to them!! My car is also 07 2.0T, I'll be going back in 900 miles so lets see what happens.

[hercfe]

That should be plenty of time for it to settle. Do you have any smoke coming out of the exhaust at idle, cruise, WOT, or off-throttle deceleration? Each scenario identifies a different problem.

[englishbay]

I am in Canada so the dealer wants me to drive 1000 Kilometers which is around 620 miles. They are telling me that the car is fine if it is using 1 quart every 2000 kilometers, which will be 1240 miles. If you guys in the US are being told a quart every 2000 miles, the that is a difference of 760 miles or 38%.

I am not comfortable with that kind of variance between the US and Canada. Looks like they are just glossing over the problem and using 2000 whether it is miles or kilometers.

I actually wanted to get an oil changes as well, so they said that I should wait until after the test and get it done. If they are replacing all the oil for the test, then I don't need to get a change after - correct?

There is no smoke coming out of the car.

[jimrobbington]

FWIW, I have never had to top off my oil ever. I have never been warned by my shop when I get an oil change that my oil was low. I keep hearing about how our car is "supposed" to use up oil, but have never experienced this myself.

[neverfollow-rs4]

I am in Canada so the dealer wants me to drive 1000 Kilometers which is around 620 miles. They are telling me that the car is fine if it is using 1 quart every 2000 kilometers, which will be 1240 miles. If you guys in the US are being told a quart every 2000 miles, the that is a difference of 760 miles or 38%.

I am not comfortable with that kind of variance between the US and Canada. Looks like they are just glossing over the problem and using 2000 whether it is miles or kilometers.

I actually wanted to get an oil changes as well, so they said that I should wait until after the test and get it done. If they are replacing all the oil for the test, then I don't need to get a change after - correct?

There is no smoke coming out of the car.

My dealer told me that it is ok for a car to use 1q for every 631-1000 miles, and again like I said you will consume more oil by driving more so if you are going to drive 1K miles and then your car ends up using more than a quart they have to check/replace seals, gaskets etc. The numbers are accoding to AOA so I think it is the same for you. They replaced the oil but you still have the old oil that was in the oil filter and mixed with the other oil when you started driving but technically its like you got an oil change without changing the filer, I would change it anyway, old filter, some old oil would bother me.

[DuBTime]

I was told by a dealer in Strattam NH that the figures from Audi AG claim one quart every 1500 miles on us models but at the dealer they are seeing more of an average of 2000 - 2500 miles for us models

[englishbay]

I just checked the oil on the car, it has been sitting outside since yesterday and the oil is still over the max point. I need to head out pretty soon so will check it again when the car is warmed up. The oil was at this level the last time I checked it at the gas station around 5 minutes after turning it off and it was at this level or it could be higher because I am not sure how accurate a reading will be once the oil is over the measuring part and onto the wire cable.

Lately I have been having to add a quart after around 1000 kilometers or approximately 620 miles.

[neverfollow-rs4]

I just checked the oil on the car, it has been sitting outside since yesterday and the oil is still over the max point.

If the dealer overfilled it I would go back and tell them that they didn't even do the oil consumption test!! If the did it correctly the oil should be right there to the max line below the pastic piece which is 4.2 quarts plus oil filter.

[englishbay]

Well couldn't they still have done the test and just over filled it? When I took it in for the consumption test I was under the impression that they weren't going to be touching the oil. Just draining it out and weighing it. That is why he said to do an oil change after the test was done. The oil level was in the B level at that time.

[neverfollow-rs4]

Well couldn't they still have done the test and just over filled it? When I took it in for the consumption test I was under the impression that they weren't going to be touching the oil. Just draining it out and weighing it. That is why he said to do an oil change after the test was done. The oil level was in the B level at that time.

They have to weight it first before they put it in the car, so 4.2q exact. So if they did it right there shouldnt be any excessive oil, so obviosly the didn't do it right because if they overfilled it then the whole test will give wrong results, I think they overfill it on purpose to when you come back all is good, I just don't trust them. For the test they have to go by elsawin and do what it says there.

[Sanjman]

You are always supposed to check the oil when the engine is cold, or has at least been sitting for about a half hour or so. Reasoning is, all the oil has settled to the bottom. If a lot of oil is still throughout the engine, the dipstick may tell you that you are low, then you fill it up, and you have too much.

FWIW, I have never had to top off my oil ever. I have never been warned by my shop when I get an oil change that my oil was low. I keep hearing about how our car is "supposed" to use up oil, but have never experienced this myself.

So you got a car that doesn't consume oil. Good! But for most others this is common to an extent and I think every car should be taken into consideration on its own base. While my car was new, I would have to fill up a quart at 5k after the oil change (I used to go with 10k schedule maint.). Also, according to the manual you SHOULDN'T measure the oil at complete cold car either.

I think the only SOLID recommendation for the OP is to make sure to change the oil every 5k.

[englishbay]

Just got an appointment with the dealer on Friday to complete the test so will let you guys know what happens. The service rep told me that they didn't replace the oil they just topped it up to a specific weight and when I go there on Friday will drain the oil and reweigh it to see how much was consumed by weight and not volume. So he said it doesn't matter what level the dip stick is because the measurement is by weight.

[neverfollow-rs4]

Just got an appointment with the dealer on Friday to complete the test so will let you guys know what happens. The service rep told me that they didn't replace the oil they just topped it up to a specific weight and when I go there on Friday will drain the oil and reweigh it to see how much was consumed by weight and not volume. So he said it doesn't matter what level the dip stick is because the measurement is by weight.

It does matter! They are fucking assholes!!! If they do it by the book like they are suposed to it would not be overfilled!!! Bunch of fucking stupid retards!!!!

Sorry about rant, but it bothers me when they try to take a advantage of people when they don't know much about cars. I worked at service department for 2 years and since then I don't trust any service department since then!!!!

[englishbay]

Checked the oil this morning with the car warm and the dipstick is at the A level now, so it has burned from the top of the dip stick down to the A level. Lets see if that is enough for Audi to do something.

[andyisgood]

Sorry to thread jack, but anyone know how many quarts are left if the low engine oil light is on?

[mullardel34]

I find it interesting that Audi has defined the worst-case "normal" engine-oil consumption to be at such an absurdly high threshold on engines that have been certified to meet ULEV requirements. A ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) is a vehicle that has been verified by the Air Resources Board of California, USA, to emit 50% less polluting emissions than the average for new cars released in that model year. If Audi vehicles that are burning 1-quart/5K-miles meet the manufacturer's specification for engine-oil consumption, how can these same engines simultaneously still meet the ULEV standards? Were the rest of the cars in those model years actually dumping twice as much stuff out their tailpipes?

[TheHeggi]

So you got a car that doesn't consume oil. Good! But for most others this is common to an extent and I think every car should be taken into consideration on its own base. While my car was new, I would have to fill up a quart at 5k after the oil change (I used to go with 10k schedule maint.). Also, according to the manual you SHOULDN'T measure the oil at complete cold car either.

I think the only SOLID recommendation for the OP is to make sure to change the oil every 5k.

I'm on this boat as well...2005.5 @70k miles and haven't had a problem burning oil. By the time I replace it at 5k, it's only at the "B" point if that. Since jimrobbington and I have 2005.5 models, maybe it has something to do with the newer models? Are there several other 05.5s and 06s that burn oil? Did Audi replace/update piston rings on newer models?

[Tanner]

Mine eats a bit of oil but not the point where I'm low on oil before the next scheduled maintenance.

I know of one A4 that eats oil like crazy. Asked how it's driven. His wife drives it like a baby, never pushed. So I'm guessing here maybe the piston seals aren't set in properly or something but that's just not normal.

[englishbay]

Got the results of the test and it passed. I had 1050 kilometers and according to the test the consumption was 0.39 liters per 1000 kilometers. Apparently 0.5 liters per 1000 kilometers is normal.

If the test failed they were considering replacing the short block I am at 50K now on my car so have another 30K of warranty and after that I do have an extended warranty that I bought with the car.

Reading some of the earlier posts about not getting the extended warranty I am feeling that it may be a good idea for the FSI engines because of the oil consumption, carbon build up and other problems that probably would make up for the initial outlay. I will have to check but I think my warranty goes to 140K. Yes when I bought the car I planned on keeping it for some time.

Previously I had a 2004 A4 Avant CVT that went around 90K whose experience made be long for a quattro 6MT sedan.

[outlaw77]

Great info! Op, what dealership were you dealing with? I'm local and I have some of the same symtoms. I have a 07 B7 A4 and it does burn a bit of oil but I'm used to keeping an eye on it. I just want to make sure because if I have to but the extended warranty I'll be in good shape.

[Sanjman]

I'm on this boat as well...2005.5 @70k miles and haven't had a problem burning oil. By the time I replace it at 5k, it's only at the "B" point if that. Since jimrobbington and I have 2005.5 models, maybe it has something to do with the newer models? Are there several other 05.5s and 06s that burn oil? Did Audi replace/update piston rings on newer models?

Doubt it... but newer cars typically have less miles on them and tend to consume more oil as they are still breaking in, IMO... My car always needs a quart after 5k... but I end up changing the oil every 5k anyways. I consumed more oil when the car was new... now I'm at 63k