what would you consider "normal" oil usage?
07-14-2003, 09:13 AM
#4
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Re: up to 0.5l per 1000 km is acceptable
One quart in 750 miles seems like way too much. My '93 with 100k and my 95 with 128k hardly use any between changes. I use Mobil 1 15W-50, and change at 5,000 miles. My previous car, a 1988 SAAB SPG, had 210k when I sold it, and it did not lose a drop between changes. If it were me, I would hold-out for something better.
07-15-2003, 06:48 AM
#7
The problem is the definition of "use". Is the consumption through burning or .....
external leaks. If the crankshaft seals are bad or the threaded sump plug or the oil filter were installed incorrectly, there could be leaks. These should show up during an undercar inspection (unless the owner pressure washes the bottom of the motor regularly. If it is still there, remove the "aerodynamic" undertray and see what's going on at the front of the engine re: leaks. Front seals can get done during a timing belt change. Rear seals can get done during a clutch change or tranny swap. Sump plugs can be changed to Fumoto's and oil filters get changed (and threaded on and tightened properly).
On the top of the engine, the cam cover gasket is notorious for leaking at the rear passenger side of the head. This gasket can be changed relatively easily at home.
To actually burn oil, the oil has to get into the combustion chamber. The two most common paths are around the rings and around the valve stem seals. The condition of the rings can be checked and assessed by having a knowledgible person do a compression test. Valve stem seals typically leak over night (you see it on morning start up) but especially under vacuum, e.g. driving on the highway normally (say 3000 RPM) and then totally taking your foot off the gas (closing the butterfly on the throttle body). When I lived in Germany, and was "chasing" Bimmers on the autobahn (in an 86 Jetta Carat (new at the time)) you could always tell when (older ones) were going to brake ahead of you: there would be a puff of blue smoke out of the tail pipe (the driver was off the gas) before the brake lights came on. (Kind of an early warning system). With our S-cars, and the catalytic converters, I doubt that this would show up even if there were minor valve stem seal problems. Anyway, the seals can be changed without removing the head from the engine (by a good skillful mechanic) (its easier with the head off, say for a new all metal head gasket to eliminate a persistent but small coolant leak).
My car 93 (now with 156 K km) used to "use" maybe 1 liter between 5000 km oil changes. Now, after a head gasket change when the valve seals were all replaced (because it was there and handy), it doesn't use any oil between changes. In contrast my wife's Jetta (the same 86 now with a 16V 2L Passat conversion) has "used" oil at a rate of about 1L per 1000 km (which I was told was "acceptable" by the factory) for about 7 years. I have never seen the car smoke. There is a minor rear seal leak but nothing shows on the ground. At this point, oil is cheap ($2/L) so I just check the oil every week and add as necessary. I would not want this in an S4 even if it was "acceptable".
Dave F.
On the top of the engine, the cam cover gasket is notorious for leaking at the rear passenger side of the head. This gasket can be changed relatively easily at home.
To actually burn oil, the oil has to get into the combustion chamber. The two most common paths are around the rings and around the valve stem seals. The condition of the rings can be checked and assessed by having a knowledgible person do a compression test. Valve stem seals typically leak over night (you see it on morning start up) but especially under vacuum, e.g. driving on the highway normally (say 3000 RPM) and then totally taking your foot off the gas (closing the butterfly on the throttle body). When I lived in Germany, and was "chasing" Bimmers on the autobahn (in an 86 Jetta Carat (new at the time)) you could always tell when (older ones) were going to brake ahead of you: there would be a puff of blue smoke out of the tail pipe (the driver was off the gas) before the brake lights came on. (Kind of an early warning system). With our S-cars, and the catalytic converters, I doubt that this would show up even if there were minor valve stem seal problems. Anyway, the seals can be changed without removing the head from the engine (by a good skillful mechanic) (its easier with the head off, say for a new all metal head gasket to eliminate a persistent but small coolant leak).
My car 93 (now with 156 K km) used to "use" maybe 1 liter between 5000 km oil changes. Now, after a head gasket change when the valve seals were all replaced (because it was there and handy), it doesn't use any oil between changes. In contrast my wife's Jetta (the same 86 now with a 16V 2L Passat conversion) has "used" oil at a rate of about 1L per 1000 km (which I was told was "acceptable" by the factory) for about 7 years. I have never seen the car smoke. There is a minor rear seal leak but nothing shows on the ground. At this point, oil is cheap ($2/L) so I just check the oil every week and add as necessary. I would not want this in an S4 even if it was "acceptable".
Dave F.
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07-15-2003, 11:20 AM
#8
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I wish my '99 A6 Avant and '02 S6 were as good as
the '95 S6. In 40K miles with regular changes at the 3 to 4 K mileage mark, have yet to consume, burn or lose any oil. I run 10W-50 Mobil One. Total mileage on '95 S6 72K.
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