'OIL MIN'
12-25-2003, 07:04 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'OIL MIN'
ok, so i bought my '04 A4 1.8T almost 2 months ago... a few weeks ago, my "oil min" indicator came on, so i went to the dealer and they put more oil in it, saying that it was not uncommon for the car to eat up that much oil in the beginning... he said to check it in about 1000 miles... so about 1200 miles have gone by since then, the car has been fine, no problems, no oil light, etc... just yesterday it came back on! the last time the light was on, you couldnt see any oil on the dipstick! i havent checked the dipstick yet, because i really havent had time instead i just havent driven the car since... i am going to call the dealer tomorrow (hoping they are open) and take it in asap... they checked for leaks, and whatever else last time and came up with nothing... any ideas?
Marc
mlorenzo@alum.rpi.edu
Marc
mlorenzo@alum.rpi.edu
12-25-2003, 07:22 PM
#2
3+ quarts of Bozo oil is not helping your engine. Change it with Mobil 1 0w-40 and see if conumption
goes down or away.(wait until 4000-5000 miles to change) Most 1.8ts I have experience with use zero oil after break-in.
Add some more "General-Purpose" oil before driving, monitor it for a few weeks and keep an eye on it after the change. The difference between SL-rated dino 5w-30 and a super-oil like M1 0w-40 is like a Pinto and a Ferrari.
Audi allows 1 q per 1000 miles so complaining is out. The dealer can put ultraviolet dye into the oil and check for leaks with a black-light if needed.
PS you should have listened to the dealer nd checked it at 1000 miles, they were totally accurate in what they told you. Have some Junkie oil laying around for adding and use good stuff for changes, consumption will decrease. Pennzoil is about the best dino oil available, fwiw. Castrol GTX, a second.
Best advice is try adding something heavier than the watery 5w-30 like a 15w-40 HDEO Delvac, Dello, Pennzoil Long-Life or Rotella. I guarantee if you re-fill now with at least two quarts of 15w-40 fleet oil your consuption will be nill until you change to a GOOD synth. A 20w-50 synth or Syntec 10w-40 is another way to go for adding, I would save the money for your Mobil 1 0w-40 change.
Add some more "General-Purpose" oil before driving, monitor it for a few weeks and keep an eye on it after the change. The difference between SL-rated dino 5w-30 and a super-oil like M1 0w-40 is like a Pinto and a Ferrari.
Audi allows 1 q per 1000 miles so complaining is out. The dealer can put ultraviolet dye into the oil and check for leaks with a black-light if needed.
PS you should have listened to the dealer nd checked it at 1000 miles, they were totally accurate in what they told you. Have some Junkie oil laying around for adding and use good stuff for changes, consumption will decrease. Pennzoil is about the best dino oil available, fwiw. Castrol GTX, a second.
Best advice is try adding something heavier than the watery 5w-30 like a 15w-40 HDEO Delvac, Dello, Pennzoil Long-Life or Rotella. I guarantee if you re-fill now with at least two quarts of 15w-40 fleet oil your consuption will be nill until you change to a GOOD synth. A 20w-50 synth or Syntec 10w-40 is another way to go for adding, I would save the money for your Mobil 1 0w-40 change.
12-26-2003, 06:20 AM
#5
Flow,film strength,high flash point,less shear,less acid/oxidization,wider visc range,less sludge
If you run a dino 5w-30 in a car like ours, it starts out too thin as light dino is made from an even thinner base oil with polymer added to thicken it. As those polymers are broken down they form sludge and varnish, up to 20% of the total volume of oil. Soon the oil looses it's ability to neutrlize acids and your metal parts and seals are attacked.(esters condition seals, for comparison) Next, the oil shears down below the ~30 weight range, far below what it takes to protect engine parts, accelerating wear. How about cold flow, -80 degrees for GC, dino oil is frozen like a block at 10 below. In general, dino oil will burn off like a MF. I tried a few in mom's A6 and I could barely keep up with consumption, 1 q per 1000 miles, now I have to add about a quart during a 8000 mile change with GC or M1. (Nowak Volitility # gives a good indication of how an oil boils off)
A good synthetic oil will stay-in-grade perfectly, have a robust TBN (ability to neutralize acid) and zero oxidization. Lubricity and solvency are super-high with ester GV oils. Basicly, you put it in and it does exactly the job required for a long time. 3000 mile changes are not for me...7 a year, no thanks, I change with German Castrol twice a year.
A good synthetic oil will stay-in-grade perfectly, have a robust TBN (ability to neutralize acid) and zero oxidization. Lubricity and solvency are super-high with ester GV oils. Basicly, you put it in and it does exactly the job required for a long time. 3000 mile changes are not for me...7 a year, no thanks, I change with German Castrol twice a year.
Trending Topics
12-26-2003, 08:27 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check your oil! Do this at least once a week, or when you get gas. 1.8t only has 3.7qts and warning
means that it is approx 1qt low. Turbo lives and dies on oil.
How many miles are on your engine now? It's normal for it to consume oil during break in. Also, the accepted "norm" avgs state; 1qt per 1K miles. Your problem might be that you are not checking the oil level, so once it gets really low and there is not the necessary amount to protect the engine, then it is naturally going to run worse and consume more. You have to check it often. Get in the habit of doing this or you'll ruin your turbo.
My '03 1.8t consumed about 2qts total up until about 5500 miles. And about 1qt after 10K service (just passed 20K). I use Red Line 5W-40 now (started with their 5W-30 at 10K service).
How many miles are on your engine now? It's normal for it to consume oil during break in. Also, the accepted "norm" avgs state; 1qt per 1K miles. Your problem might be that you are not checking the oil level, so once it gets really low and there is not the necessary amount to protect the engine, then it is naturally going to run worse and consume more. You have to check it often. Get in the habit of doing this or you'll ruin your turbo.
My '03 1.8t consumed about 2qts total up until about 5500 miles. And about 1qt after 10K service (just passed 20K). I use Red Line 5W-40 now (started with their 5W-30 at 10K service).
