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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: entropy on 22 July 2010, 09:37

Title: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: entropy on 22 July 2010, 09:37
Hi Guy's,

Just registered here on the forum - so hello!

Now to my question.

We have a 57 reg golf which I bought from a lease company as it was a former company car and it had 58k miles. When we bought the car it hadn't been serviced in 10 months but it was due one. So I drove it straight to the garage after I bought it. They said they did the service which was changing the filters and a inspection etc.

Approximately 1,200 miles later the check oil light came on so I didn't check it as I just took it straight to the dealer. The VW tech said they couldn't see any signs of an oil leak etc and he has topped up the oil and said to let them know if it does it again.

I was thinking that they probably never put enough oil in the 1st place. anyways, fast forward nearly 3 months and another 1,000 miles and its come on again. THis time I checked the oil and it was below the low line marker. I've now filled up the oil so its just on the max line and am going to monitor it every week.

I just wanted to double check how often you are putting in oil because 1,000 miles sounds excessive to me. We have no oil patches on our drive either so it doesn't seem to be leaking at all.

Thanks for ya help
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: AlanD on 22 July 2010, 09:59
I hardly need to top it up at, I cant off the top of my head give you inbetween distances though. Having to top it back up from below the marker every 1000 miles is NOT normal.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Wayne on 22 July 2010, 10:17
What engine is it.

Not normal but knowing which engine may help some more.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: entropy on 22 July 2010, 10:57
Hi Wayne,

It's just a standard 2.0 GTI with DSG - what other details would you need? It was on a long life service plan they said but whilst it's not doing the miles its now been changed to a shorter life service.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: FamilyDub on 22 July 2010, 11:43

While this is not 'normal', per se, it's within VW's tolerances - I'm sure i've read it on this forum - of a litre of oil per 1,000 kilometres, which tranlates as 621 miles.  :nerd:

My car is T&D, looked after above and beyond what the service book says and mine goes no further than ~2000 miles for every litre of oil.

Any GTI should be on T&D servicing, so good call there.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Ed30DSG on 22 July 2010, 12:46
I've never put any oil in mine (10k miles oil changes) - it hardly moves on the dipstick!

You will be out of warranty soon, so kick up a fuss!
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: FamilyDub on 22 July 2010, 12:52
You will be out of warranty soon, so kick up a fuss!

Why? All VW will say is:-

...A litre of oil per 1,000 kilometres... is within tolerance.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: entropy on 22 July 2010, 16:51
One reason I bought the car was that it was 2.5 years old and thought I had 6 months warranty on it, when its actually 3 yrs or 60k miles whichever comes first. I'm over the 60 k miles so now out of warranty.

Family Dub - I also read that in the manual. I guess now its filled up with Oil I will check weekly to see how fast it's going down.

There are no leaks I can see under the bonnet and no marks at all on the drive.

Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: AlanD on 22 July 2010, 16:54
Sounds like you just have one of them engines. If its within the tolerances that VW set, which it is, then you just got to keep topping her up.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Rhyso on 22 July 2010, 16:56
What sort of journeys do you do?

Short, start-stopping journeys can have a big effect on oil usage especially if the car never reaches operating temperatures
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: AlanD on 22 July 2010, 16:57
Also count yourself lucky you dont own a 2.0 8v engine. They go through oil faster than petrol.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: FamilyDub on 22 July 2010, 17:28
Family Dub... I will check weekly to see how fast it's going down.

^^^ I'm obsessive about this - every fortnight I put a clean cloth, weighed down, under my sump just to make sure, but there's no leaks - it just likes a drink!

Short, start-stopping journeys can have a big effect on oil usage especially if the car never reaches operating temperatures.

^^^ Entropy, that description from Rhyso sounds exactly like the way I use my car - does this sound the same as your use, perhaps?
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Gene Hunt. on 22 July 2010, 20:10
Mine is due it's annual service in August & i've never had to top up since it was last serviced.  :smug:
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Stitch on 22 July 2010, 21:33
I wouldn't worry about that. I've had my GTi for 3.5 years (6mnths old when I bought it) and it was using 0.5 l of oil every month. It has got better as the milage increased ( now on 48k miles) but sounds  ok to me.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Saint Steve on 23 July 2010, 18:37
One reason I bought the car was that it was 2.5 years old and thought I had 6 months warranty on it, when its actually 3 yrs or 60k miles whichever comes first. I'm over the 60 k miles so now out of warranty.

Family Dub - I also read that in the manual. I guess now its filled up with Oil I will check weekly to see how fast it's going down.

There are no leaks I can see under the bonnet and no marks at all on the drive.


Mines the same. On my Edition30 dsg. Car runs well and uses about 2 litres between services at worst.

No leaks either, and can only be going out the exhaust.


Doesnt worry me at all, she's done 48k,is always very healthy on the rolling road.

These engines are known to do this, and is not uncommon.

Just keep an eye on it, but as VW say, its well within their tollerances
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: marty341 on 24 July 2010, 19:37
Yep they do love to drink the oil, ill give mine a litre or so every 5k!
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: TrickGTI on 26 July 2010, 12:21
Yea mine uses about half a litre a month I tend to find it dotted all over the back of my car and it sticks out bein a red car.
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: entropy on 03 August 2010, 09:57
Hi again guys.

Well i've been keeping an eye on it. I topped up the oil 2 weeks ago and it was on the the max line. 1 week later its still on the max line and now 1 more week later its gone from the max line to nearly halfway on the dipstick.

We have only done 200 miles since we topped up the oil so i'm convinced its not right..

Anyways its booked in at the dealership so we will see what the problem is..

If it was in warranty would this be covered? I only ask because I took it to them before when I still had warranty left and they said they could'nt see a problem
Title: Re: I'm topping up my oil ever 1,000 miles! Can't be normal?
Post by: Wayne on 03 August 2010, 10:19
I don't think using that much oil is normal, if you have a problem they should cover it.