ElliottA6

Yes, I understand that perhaps some oil consumption may be normal in modern direct injection cars, but a quart every thousand miles on a premium car with only two previous oil changes is ridiculous. At that rate, you will have replaced all the oil before the next oil change. I'm keeping an eye on the oil consumption, so I can take it back to the dealer when the low oil message comes back. Although since they basically over filled the oil by adding a quart after I already added a quart the first time, I'll have to burn through two quarts for the low oil message to come back.

enGage

I would take it back to the dealer. If it's over filled, have them drain it to the proper level and then start a formal oil consumption ticket. Not sure how Audi processes that, but likely involves noting the level and mileage and then having you return after a given number of miles.

ElliottA6

Yes, I should do that. In a couple of months, it will be one year since the last oil change. so what I'll probably do is have them do the oil change and then start a formal oil consumption test. The dealer where bought it about an hour from my house. Do you think it makes much difference taking it there versus another dealer that's closer for this issue? Do you think the original seller will be more likely to be helpful than another dealer?

Acuransx

Where are you located? If the selling dealer did the last oil change I wonder if they messed it up by underfilling the crankcase. If they did last oil change I'd switch dealers. I'd also get a dipstick -- search up here and you will find the part number. That way you have both the MMI and the old school way of keeping tabs on oil level. Have the new dealer do the oil change and explain the situation to them. See if they want to start the formal oil consumption test. I'd be very surprised if your car was consuming oil at a significant rate. The 3.0T is not known for oil consumption issues other than the early ones with the PCV issue.

There is one other possibility. The lead tech at my dealer (excellent, can't say enough good about him and the dealership) told me that they do not drain oil from the pan -- the extract it via dipstick tube. What this means is that the belly pan almost never comes off and if there is a leak it is likely not going to be detected unless and until very severe. I've asked my tech to remove the belly pan and take a look-see next oil change -- not that I'm losing any oil -- I adhere to a 5,000 mile oil change interval and I've used no detectible amount of oil between changes. My car has 55,000 miles.

Best,
Jeff

enGage

I purchased my CPO at a dealer 60 miles away, but I have it serviced at my local dealer. I don't think taking it back to the original dealer is necessary, especially if you have a relationship with your local dealer.

ElliottA6

I bought the car from a dealer in Annapolis, MD. Knowing these cars don't come with dipsticks, I actually had the dealer throw one in the deal, but it had to be a special order. Otherwise, I would have picked up on the low oil immediately. This is a CPO car, so you'd think they would check the oil before selling, right??? Either they never checked, or the oil went somewhere, or both. My first suspicion about the cause of the low oil was an underfill at the last oil change at 14K miles. The low oil message came on at 17200K. (I bought the car with 17K miles. This tells me that it is losing oil somewhere unless the oil level was so borderline that he low oil message took almost 2700 miles to show up.) I added a quart which brought it to halfway on the MMI. The dealer checked the car for leaks but found none. They also added oil. From what I could see on the dipstick; too much oil. The MMI showed full oil. After driving it about 1800 miles afterward, I'm seeing a lower oil point on the dipstick, but the MMI still shows full. At this point we are about 2 moths away from an annual oil change or a few hundred miles from 5K miles since the last oil change. The car has just under 19K miles on it. (I plan to do oil change every 5K) The previous owner/leaser bought AudiCare so maintenance is covered to 50K. So it sounds like you recommend taking it to a new dealer, which would definitely be closer and more convenient.

Acuransx

FWIW below is what I would do:
1. If there is any lack of confidence in the dealer you are using, switch to another one but do some research/ask around to be sure that dealer you switch to has a good reputation. My selling dealer (I bought car new) service department was awful. Dealer I switched to (10 minutes from where I live) service department has been absolutely excellent, so much so that I wound up getting my wife an A4 from them.
2. Have the service done and ensure that both MMI and dipstick read full (a bit hard to tell on the dipstick when the oil is fresh). Keep your eye on the oil level -- if your car is anything like mine it will take 500 or so miles and the oil will turn a darker shade and will be easy to see level on the dipstick. Just make 100% sure car is on level ground when you check the oil. If dipstick shows full great. If a bit under, add some bit by bit until at full mark. Then just drive the car and check oil every 500 miles thereafter. With a bit of luck, your issue will turn out to be a non-issue and as you approach 5,000 miles since the oil change service the level will be full or very close to full. Once you get to that point you can stop worrying!
3. I would tell new dealer about having to add oil and I'd ask them to remove belly pan just to be 100% sure no leaks that are being caught by the belly pan and not showing up on your garage/driveway floor.

Again, I'd be very surprised if you had an oil consumption issue with this engine with so few miles but I guess anything is possible. There have been very few post on AW indicating that the cars beyond those that had the PCV issue back in /12 and /13-ish have oil consumption issues.

Finally, if there is a reputable independent German / Audi specialist in your area it might not be a bad idea to form a relationship with them for your intermediate (non-Audi Care) oil changes. You may find that when you need things like brakes the indy is significantly less expensive than the dealer. And if the indy is good and you have confidence in them you will have someone you trust for a second opinion if needed from time to time.

PS -- try not to worry too much about the rocky start (I had a similar experience but I'll spare you the details unless you are really interested in which case you can PM me) -- as I said above may well turn out to be nothing. Just drive and enjoy the car. Your car is CPO and since it is a 2018 I suspect you are under warranty for at least another 1.5 years, no? That should be plenty of time to figure out if there is an issue or not.

Best,
Jeff

ElliottA6

Thanks for the excellent advice and reassurance. I'm hoping to form a relationship with an Audi service department with a good mechanic near me. I did the same thing when I bought my first Honda Accord many years ago,. I asked the service manager for his best mechanic and since then, every time I went for service, I used that same mechanic. I plan to do my own basic maintenance, like oil changes, just as I have on my Hondas. I've already purchased some of the specialty tools and bits for German cars. Thanks again for such a thorough reply. I'm sure your advice will be helpful to just about any uncertain first-time German-car owner.

ElliottA6

With just over 19K miles, the latest issue beside the oil concern is a coolant leak. I get a heavy coolant smell coming into the cabin with the A/C on and the windows are closed. I found a small amount of coolant in front of the engine above a large radiator hose; some crystalized and some still liquid, but can't determine where it's coming from. I have scheduled a service for next week where they'll change the oil and track the level and also check the coolant leak. Any thoughts on what it might be given only 19K miles.

Harperb

We are in the same boat there. I couldn't quite figure it out until I read on here enough. It's a bullet we have to bite, unfortunately.