How Much Oil Does Your A7 Consume?

[sixgun95]

2012 A7, 3.0T. Car has 83,000 mi. Never had a car that I had to actually add oil between changes, this car seems to use 1/2-3/4 quart for every 1000 mi or so. I have not gotten scientific nailing the usage down yet, so I am estimating. I don't see any smoke from the exhaust, zero leaks, car runs great. Is this normal for an Audi A7?

[Valpo A7]

Last summer I went on vacation Chicago to LA and back for 4,600 miles and burned about 1 quart. My current oil change I have only used a small amount in 2,400 miles so far. Depends on how hard I am mashing on the skinny pedal for consumption. Replacing the PCV is supposed to help with consumption but doing that will depend on what it is gonna cost you. If you turn your own wrenches you can do it yourself for probably $200 in parts and seals. If you are gonna take it to a shop then it might be closer to $1,500. We have to change 7 quarts each oil change and if you burn an extra 3 quarts each oil change you will not spend $1,500 in extra oil in the life of your car.

$1,500 @ $25 per 5 quarts is an extra 300 quarts. Burning an extra 3 each change then that is 100 changes, at 10K per interval that is 1,000,000 miles as a break even point. An extra 4 quarts gives you a 750,000 mile break even.

My point, carry an extra quart unless the PCV totally goes out.

[MattyMarkey]

Last summer I went on vacation Chicago to LA and back for 4,600 miles and burned about 1 quart. My current oil change I have only used a small amount in 2,400 miles so far. Depends on how hard I am mashing on the skinny pedal for consumption. Replacing the PCV is supposed to help with consumption but doing that will depend on what it is gonna cost you. If you turn your own wrenches you can do it yourself for probably $200 in parts and seals. If you are gonna take it to a shop then it might be closer to $1,500. We have to change 7 quarts each oil change and if you burn an extra 3 quarts each oil change you will not spend $1,500 in extra oil in the life of your car.

$1,500 @ $25 per 5 quarts is an extra 300 quarts. Burning an extra 3 each change then that is 100 changes, at 10K per interval that is 1,000,000 miles as a break even point. An extra 4 quarts gives you a 750,000 mile break even.

My point, carry an extra quart unless the PCV totally goes out.

Is the PCV the only cause of oil consumption? As much as multiple OEM's have said "Some oil consumption is normal", I have never heard anyone say burning oil is good for your engines longevity - many other parts could fail due to burning oil, resulting in a repair bill much larger than $1500. My 2 cents.

[WatchMeSpend]

Rounding up one year on my oil change in 22 days. No oil added. 4300 miles

[DetRebel]

Is the PCV the only cause of oil consumption? As much as multiple OEM's have said "Some oil consumption is normal", I have never heard anyone say burning oil is good for your engines longevity - many other parts could fail due to burning oil, resulting in a repair bill much larger than $1500. My 2 cents.

Oil starved engines don’t like to play nice. Not fix a PCV can easily total your engine


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[MattyMarkey]

Oil starved engines don’t like to play nice. Not fix a PCV can easily total your engine


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Sounds like you and I definitely agree here. You were short and right to the point. Sometimes beating around the bush with a question and fluff gets lost in translation. Let me try this again...

If you have oil consumption due to the PCV, or something that can be fixed, just fix the dang thing! haha

[Valpo A7]

If the PCV goes bad then you certainly need to get it fixed. If the only symptom you have is a little bit of oil consumption then the PVC isn't necessarily bad. When it goes bad the computer will through a multitude of different codes to let you know.

There were some model years of the 3.0 that used a higher pressure regulation valve for the oil separator that led to higher consumption of oil. Replacing with a newer design was the first step in trying to fix that. Worst case fix was similar to the early 2.0 L where they had to pull the motor and put new rings in.

[DaQuan James]

If you like your car and want it last, don't do 10k oil change intervals and do 5k instead. I burn about a half quart every 5k miles but i've noticed the oil level doesn't change until about 4k miles.

[Valpo A7]

If you like your car and want it last, don't do 10k oil change intervals and do 5k instead. I burn about a half quart every 5k miles but i've noticed the oil level doesn't change until about 4k miles.

My A7 has ALWAYS had a 10K change interval and I am at 197,000 miles. 10K change interval is perfectly fine. There was an oil study I read many years ago where a guy put synthetic Amsoil and then later Mobil 1 synthetic in his Chevy Camaro with the 350 V8 and he did Blackstone Lab sampling every 1,000 miles. Mobil 1 went 15,000 miles before the test said to change it. Amsoil did not make it that far and in fact thickened with age and miles.

If you want to change the oil at 5K then that is your choice and you are perfectly fine for doing it but you don't need to. The 10K change interval is fine for these motors.

[MattyMarkey]

If the PCV goes bad then you certainly need to get it fixed. If the only symptom you have is a little bit of oil consumption then the PVC isn't necessarily bad. When it goes bad the computer will through a multitude of different codes to let you know.

There were some model years of the 3.0 that used a higher pressure regulation valve for the oil separator that led to higher consumption of oil. Replacing with a newer design was the first step in trying to fix that. Worst case fix was similar to the early 2.0 L where they had to pull the motor and put new rings in.

I would say the OP has a bit more than a "little bit of oil consumption", since he states he burns 1/2 to 3/4 every 1000 miles. Since he doesn't have any codes for the PCV, IMO it makes sense to get some diagnostic help - your Reg valve suggestion is a good place to start. Consuming that much oil is only bound to be an expensive situation down the road

[GodFatherMav03]

My 2012 A6 3.0T burns oil about a quart a month to a month and a half and its my daily driving around 160 miles per week. I have about 118K miles on it. I changed the oil separator in it and did not fix the problem. But its weird my 2013 Q5 3.0T with about 68K miles on it does not burn oil at all.

[llex02]

My 2012 A6 3.0T burns oil about a quart a month to a month and a half and its my daily driving around 160 miles per week. I have about 118K miles on it. I changed the oil separator in it and did not fix the problem. But its weird my 2013 Q5 3.0T with about 68K miles on it does not burn oil at all.

My situation is very similar to yours. My 2012 A6 (94k miles) burns 1 qt every 1000-1200 miles. It was like that before I tuned and been the burning the same amount since I’ve been tuned since 40k miles. I’ve read that changing the PCV/oil separator fixes the issue for some and does not for others. I’m buying the kit from the dealer and will get this done soon. Hopefully it will fix it. My wife’s 2012 Q7 3.0T doesn’t burn oil at all.


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[jrp916]

I have a 2012 with 68k miles and it burns about 1/2 qt every 1k miles. Less if more freeway, bought it at 38k miles and it was about the same. I’ve considered doing the pcv (and probably water pump while in there).


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