Large amount of engine oil burns off, is that normal?

[bartyboy]

Hi everyone!

I own an Audi A4 2001 B6 model here. I bought the vehicle from brand new. My Audi has always been using a lot of engine oil, but in the last 12 months ago the problem has got worse.

I have been monitoring my Audi in the last 10 months, the engine burns 0.5 litre of engine oil (0w-30) in every 700 miles, basically I need to top up the oil every two weeks. I went to a local Audi centre to ask about the engine oil consumption on my Audi. The centre says it is normal to burn up to 1 litre of engine oil based on the manufacturer's guideline for a catalyst engine. The centre has even done a consumption test for me and sent the report to Audi UK. Audi UK got back to me to say it is normal too. To me, using such large amount of engine oil in every 700 miles doesn't sound normal to me. Am I just being wrong here?

Has anyone experienced using large amount of engine oil on their Audis too?

Any suggestions and comments are very welcome and appreciated!

[yaman]

the engine burns 0.5 litre of engine oil (0w-30) in every 700 miles,

Any suggestions and comments are very welcome and appreciated!

Up to 1litre consumed per 1k miles is considered acceptable, so yours is well below that.

Try 5w-30 or 5w-40 syn oil and see if it helps

Regards
Jim

[mikeybutch]

I think this 1 litre per 1k is a get out of trouble card that Audi and others use.I would be most concerned if any car of mine ,apart from my 70s Spitfire, used that amount .Had a 1.8 Avant which I sold with over 100k and it never needed topping up between services.Present 2.5Tdi with 115k hardly uses any and previous 2.5Tdi about 0.25 ltitre every 5k.Wifes Bora V5 with 166k about the same.My sons S3s also dont use oil.How much oil did it use initially and has it suddenly got worse?.Whats the mileage?Seems to me that theres been something amiss from new but not much you can do now apart from wait for it to become terminal.Have you tried leaving it to idle when hot and then revving to see if blue smoke comes out the exhaust this usually indicate oil burning.I assume that you have checked for leaks cos that would be a simple explanation .Its hard to accept that an Audi would have such a poor build .Reminds of a Vauxhall that I bought new in 70s which did 250 to the pint.In those days they said if you cant afford the oil thats you prob not theirs but I found a leaking camshaft oil seal so pexed it for a Fiat which wasnt much better!

[yaman]

I think this 1 litre per 1k is a get out of trouble card that Audi and others use.

It would be good if it was a conspiracy theory, up there with JFK and Area 51 lol,
but it's just a recognized acceptable level of pain and inconvenience, with the
alternative being a rebore, new pistons, rings and valve-stem seals.

Makes a weekly top-up look very attractive......

Regards
Jim

[Brycie]

Yeah my 2.0 TDI gets thru about 1/4 to 1/2 litre every 1000 miles. maybe less just after a service. Seems normal to me too therefore.

[BrendanMCorr]

I had a 1991 80 that did this, my local Audi specialist changed the valve stem seals without the need to remove the head. The old ones were rock hard and you could fit a standard sized pencil in. The car was totally trnsformed, ran great and no more oil consuption at all between services.

[mikeybutch]

I had a 1991 80 that did this, my local Audi specialist changed the valve stem seals without the need to remove the head. The old ones were rock hard and you could fit a standard sized pencil in. The car was totally trnsformed, ran great and no more oil consuption at all between services.Yes that could be it but would they be like that when new?

[RON MOODY]

I had a 1991 80 that did this, my local Audi specialist changed the valve stem seals without the need to remove the head. The old ones were rock hard and you could fit a standard sized pencil in. The car was totally trnsformed, ran great and no more oil consuption at all between services.

A '91 80 is not the same beast!! My 2001 B6 V6 always has consumed about 1Ltr. per 1000 miles and is normal. Just waiting for it to die of old age,which it won't, so perhaps I'll go before it.:biglaugh:

[SWARCUP]

my 2001 b6 2.5tdi v6 quattro doesnt use hardly any, i check it every month as it uses so little. it never needs a top up between services at 10k intervals

[mikeybutch]

Also if you are burning oil there must be a carbon build up which wont help

[laur]

I said this in an other post,most likely on the b6 2.0 alt engine,is that oil gets in the intake from the top breather valve,poor design of the oil recuperation sistem,the car is euro 4,You should also do a compression test just to rule out things.
PS. Audi changed the norm for this engine it's now 5w 30 full syntetic
Sorry for my bad english,but not my first language