Topic: New Subarus, BMW's and Audis burn oil

[X-Traction]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/07/consumer-reports-reveals-new-cars-dirty-secret/#more-1106329

[rrocket]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/07/consumer-reports-reveals-new-cars-dirty-secret/#more-1106329

Yea, I read that!!  1 quart ever 1000kms for the BMW?  Sheesh!!  And the drain interval is ~16,000kms..so that means you need to keep a case of oil in the trunk between oil changes!!   

[HeliDriver]

This thread reminds me of a Meat Loaf song. 

[rrocket]

This thread reminds me of a Meat Loaf song. 

Damn you!  I don't know any of Meat Loaf's songs, so I don't get the reference.   

[HeliDriver]

This thread reminds me of a Meat Loaf song. 

Damn you!  I don't know any of Meat Loaf's songs, so I don't get the reference.   

I'm just being an anal punctuation Nazi. You'll probably figure it out.

[rrocket]

This thread reminds me of a Meat Loaf song. 

Damn you!  I don't know any of Meat Loaf's songs, so I don't get the reference.   

I'm just being an anal punctuation Nazi. You'll probably figure it out.

I looked at his history of songs and figured it out.   

For you:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=167&v=IJ2SHSg5rIY   

[tpl]

I see the 2.0T Q5 is at #8 in CR's top 30.   From the AudiWorld forums it is clear that the 2.0T has had a mixed history of oil burning over the years. soem of the early ( 2009-) Q5 engines did get rebuilds under warranty.  My Q5 has used no oil in 18000 kms. My GTI with an older version of the 2.0T used maybe 100cc every 1000-1600 kms.

It does not surprise me that the use of very thin oil causes some extra oil to get past the rings or valve guides. Also doesn't surprise me that turbo engines might burn some.

[mlin32]

Maybe this is me having essentially starting my driving life with German cars, but why is the occasional oil consumption a problem? Of course if it truly was 1 litre per 2000km then that's problematic, but if it's a bit low after 7-10k km, I don't think twice about it.

[mmret]

Yeah unless its excessive I don't see why its such a huge issue. CR is being a bit polemic here.

Its a little more worrying for VWAG  I think since its in their bread and butter 2.0T. And of course Subaru as well.

But otherwise the main offenders seem to be BMWs high-zoot turbo V8s. Vast majority of people don't have to worry. Also at the bottom of the list we're talking like 1-2% chance? Who cares.

The worst case showed that, overall, owners of BMW 5 Series vehicles with V8 engines were 27 times as likely to suffer excessive oil consumption as owners of an average vehicle.

That's what happens when you take a ratio of ratios.

[Noto]

I continuously check Lady Noto's 2011 Fozzie XT (EJ255) for oil consumption. I have yet to see the dipstick anywhere low at all.

[Snowman]

I check mine monthly and based on the colour always go in early for a change.

[Ron]

What's surprising to me is the preponderance of European manufacturers - see CR report: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/06/excessive-oil-consumption/index.htm

It doesn't really touch on the root cause. Poorly seated rings? Vacuum? Or just poor design in the name of 'economy'? While I agree some oil usage is negligible, more so with the thinner oils used, what's being reported is clearly not. My brother in law owns a 2009 GTI that needed an engine rebuild at 20K and now is exhibiting again the same excessive oil usage behaviour around 36K. He is aware this time and has been monitoring, and likely will get rid of it as a result. Nice enough car, had the pleasure to drive it from Mexico City to Acapulco one holiday, but could not afford to maintain it here in Canada from all the work he has had done.

[Snowman]

I have owned 5 Subarus and one Audi and never experienced this.

[mlin32]

I don't think my dad has ever had to top off oil in his Tiguan with the 2.0 liter petrol. Surprising.

[quadzilla]

2009 GTI w/155,000 kms and never had to top off the oil.

[HeliDriver]

I check mine monthly and based on the colour always go in early for a change.

Based on the colour? Isn't that like reading tea leaves?

90,000 kms on my 2.0T and I've only had to add oil once. It was down about 1/2 litre after an afternoon at the track. Haven't added a drop in the 70,000 kms since. I've been using a 7,500 km OCI.

[Solstice2006]

I check mine monthly and based on the colour always go in early for a change.

Based on the colour? Isn't that like reading tea leaves?

90,000 kms on my 2.0T and I've only had to add oil once. It was down about 1/2 litre after an afternoon at the track. Haven't added a drop in the 70,000 kms since. I've been using a 7,500 km OCI.

OMG!  Not 7500 km!  Thats a deal breaker for some.  With the other thread, with all the knocking against some of the Japanese like Mazda, Honda, and Toyota for their shorter intervals. 

To be honest.  The last vehicle I used to check the oil regularly was my 98 Tercel, because it would burn oil (the seals needed replacing).  No other car since then has been low on vehicle.  As I ask my mechanic to check prior to each change... (never owned a turbo) .

[jamie1]

So do Hondas, apparently:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20131022/OEM11/131029975/american-honda-settles-class-action-suit-over-oil-burning-claim

I dislike CR so much.  Fear mongers.

Honda Canada has extended the engine warranty for the 2009+ Acura TSX for oil consumption. Mine can go 4000km's without using a drop and then pretty much burn 3L in 400km's.

[HeliDriver]

I check mine monthly and based on the colour always go in early for a change.

Based on the colour? Isn't that like reading tea leaves?

90,000 kms on my 2.0T and I've only had to add oil once. It was down about 1/2 litre after an afternoon at the track. Haven't added a drop in the 70,000 kms since. I've been using a 7,500 km OCI.

OMG!  Not 7500 km!  Thats a deal breaker for some.  With the other thread, with all the knocking against some of the Japanese like Mazda, Honda, and Toyota for their shorter intervals. 

To be honest.  The last vehicle I used to check the oil regularly was my 98 Tercel, because it would burn oil (the seals needed replacing).  No other car since then has been low on vehicle.  As I ask my mechanic to check prior to each change... (never owned a turbo) .

VW says to change it every 15,000 kms. I was just being extra cautious and did an oil change myself in between dealer visits. Now that the warranty is done, I think I'll just do it every 10,000 kms.

I should probably have an oil analysis or two done, but haven't bothered. But from what people have posted on the VW forums, 7,500 miles (12,000 kms) seems totally safe.

[Solstice2006]

So do Hondas, apparently:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20131022/OEM11/131029975/american-honda-settles-class-action-suit-over-oil-burning-claim

I dislike CR so much.  Fear mongers.

Honda Canada has extended the engine warranty for the 2009+ Acura TSX for oil consumption. Mine can go 4000km's without using a drop and then pretty much burn 3L in 400km's.

Interesting about the Odyssey, the recall is for 2008-13.  I guess the cylinder deactivation was different then.  I also don't see the Ridgeline mentioned.  That's why I buy as simple as possible...