B7 RS4 Oil Consumption Issues

[blackincali]

I have a 2007 RS4. Purchased from the previous owner on BAT in June 2022 with 91K. Currently at 98K. The previous owner did lots of maintenance, like carbon cleaning at 86K. Don't think he deflapped. The car has been burning lots of oil, though. I have to top off every 500-600 miles or so. And I don't see any leaks other than a tiny one my mechanic noticed, which could be valve cover gasket. I drive spirited, but this seems abnormal. Running Pentosin 5w_40. Any advice on what to tell him next time I bring the car in for maintenance to tackle this issue?

[Nash_TDI]

No leaks? Done any oil analysis to see if there is any coolant migration? How about spark plugs, are they dry? I would say PCV first, then do valve covers and or cam girdle gaskets. If you get all the way to cam girdle gaskets then valve seals should probably be on the list. Slippery slope.

[philbegas]

Did you ever drop the belly pan to see if the leak is pooling up there? My oil cooler pipe o-rings were leaking and it was hard to see the severity of the leak due to the angle I parked at and where it pooled on the pan.

[blackincali]

Haven't dropped the pan, but will check to see if oil is there.

[jonan]

I have a 2007 RS4. Purchased from the previous owner on BAT in June 2022 with 91K. Currently at 98K. The previous owner did lots of maintenance, like carbon cleaning at 86K. Don't think he deflapped. The car has been burning lots of oil, though. I have to top off every 500-600 miles or so. And I don't see any leaks other than a tiny one my mechanic noticed, which could be valve cover gasket. I drive spirited, but this seems abnormal. Running Pentosin 5w_40. Any advice on what to tell him next time I bring the car in for maintenance to tackle this issue?

i have definitive proof from multiple blackstone UOA that 10w69 reduces wear PPM and oil consumption, for me it's liquimoly 10w69...simple ass mens

[AudiManx96]

i have definitive proof from multiple blackstone UOA that 10w69 reduces wear PPM and oil consumption, for me it's liquimoly 10w69...simple ass mens

Can't imagine this can be ran in a cold climate?

[S3NICK]

Hey, BMW does it. You can also look into the Motul 5w50. Still, the most important thing to consider is alignment with Audi oil certification and/or how well the additive package aligns with the factory-specified oil. You can try some Liqui Moly Engine Oil Saver additive as well but it's best to do with a fresh oil change.

[blackincali]

I'll actually be bringing the car in for servicing soon and switching to LiquiMoly 5w_40 Molygen. I'm only using Pentosin because I want to use the same oil the previous owner was running. Oil is very dirty I noticed. Black. But I'm waiting for my mechanic to wrap up with other car so I can swap.

[RS4forfrank]

Hi Guys,

Running into the same issue. Previously 900-1000 miles would need a quart, now it's about 500 miles. Did find leaks on oil cooler hoses. Having O rings changed. There may be some seepage from the oil cooler on the block as well. What would be the tell tale signs if it was piston rings?

[1CarbonRs4]

What si considered normal oil consumotion?

[kRussia]

I am at 184K miles now and I add about 3/4 of a quart every 2400-2500 miles. So it falls in between my 5k change interval.

[longlivenacars]

My car is at 173KM and needs 3/4 of a quart added every 3000KM, although I have had oil cooler o-ring slow leak for a while now. Working on getting those done soon

[Gewaltakt]

It is part of this engines architecture that the piston rings leak until it is warmed up. Audi was cheap in choosing the ring supplier and this is the result, so some oil consumption is normal and I forget exactly how much.

Other places to check for oil leaking. The vally under the intake manifold, the PCV, and into the coolant system. I suspect it is leaking from the oil filter housing and pooling massivly in the valley as well from the cam girdle possibly down the sides and burning off on the exhaust. None of those are easy to see unless you really get down into the engine bay with a mirror and a light.

As well as was said above, if you pull the engine to change XYZ.. then beware it is a slippery slope. Trust me I am still falling down that one.

[ginch]

Do you guys wait until the low oil light comes on or top up before that happens? I have yet to have a low oil light come on once in the 5 years I've had my current RS4 (141,000 km's). I change the oil every 6,000 km's.

[blubusdrvr]

Do you guys wait until the low oil light comes on or top up before that happens?

Hell no! I check it every single time I fill it with gas. I carry a quart in the trunk and give it a few oz every here and there. I’m religious about it. Take care of these motors and they’ll last for you. Starving them of oil is probably one of the worst things for them.

[longlivenacars]

Do you guys wait until the low oil light comes on or top up before that happens? I have yet to have a low oil light come on once in the 5 years I've had my current RS4 (141,000 km's). I change the oil every 6,000 km's.

This is a good point to bring up for people who have just bought their first RS4. When I first bought at 160KM , I did a fresh oil change with Motul (Have heard Motul burns more then liqui-moly). I did not know mine would be an oil burner so after 3K the low oil light came on and I added about 3/4 quart if I remember right. The point here being that if you've recently bought one, do the blubusdrvr check with the oil dipstick frequently so it doesn't get too low. I don't know if getting to the oil minimum light can have serious impacts if you fill right away, but obviously don't let it get to this point. I check every 500Km now

[longlivenacars]

It is part of this engines architecture that the piston rings leak until it is warmed up. Audi was cheap in choosing the ring supplier and this is the result, so some oil consumption is normal and I forget exactly how much.

Do you have more info on the piston rings quality? I'm going to do a compression test soon. Once the engine is warmed up, are the rings robust if they pass compression test, or should they be changed as a mid-life item anyways, because they can maybe break, fail, score cylinder walls? Any experience people have had with ring failure or issues would be be appreciated. Any after market piston ring options that people have used in builds? I was recommended king rod bearings on this forum which I'm going to do this year. Hopefully this is not even an issue to be considered and the rings are good on these cars from factory.

[blackincali]

Just wanted to give you all an update on this thread. I replaced/did the following, and oil consumption issues seem to be gone. Went on a spirited drive on the 3 twisted sisters in Texas hill country w/ the Audi Club of Houston and light never came on. Would have been impossible to do prior to maintenance. See below:

Was previously using Castrol 5w_40, switched to LiquiMoly Molygen 5w_40

Replaced injectors, coils, spark plugs, HP and LP fuel sensor, and PCV.

Did deflap, carbon cleaning.

Fresh fluids and filters.

[b57]

Checking in on this. Still no oil consumption?

[blackincali]

Checking in on this. Still no oil consumption?

Car is good. Took a long time for the low oil light to come on after driving pretty aggressively. I think we are good.

[longlivenacars]

^^ How long did it take for it to come back? My car is currently non-functional, but when it was I would get the oil light every 3000km

[blackincali]

I'd say every 1500 miles give or take.

[CrickiKaze]

I will have something to add but not going to do it on my phone due to the way it acts on this site, I'll post something later on it.