oil consumption?

B8 S4
#15

This is very true. I have seen much better oil consumption when I actually stagger my oil weight per season. Higher zinc values are more needed in race motors due to the piston acceleration and ring gaps.

I’m sure Jimmy will give his thoughts but I would say there’s a normal amount of oil consumption based on using a synthetic oil on an all aluminum motor. You have a larger ring gap due to the car being supercharged that adds to the equation. From what I can see across all the aluminum audi motors about 1 quart every 2500 is the range. Depending on driving. I think if enough b8 guys here check there oil next fill up you will see this is something normal. And nothing to worry about.

#16

^^ Thnx, Justin. Appreciate the input. In fact, on behalf of the forum, thnx for everything you do around here to keep the community informed. You are a widely respected member. +Karma

#17

I’m at 50k right now and I’ve had to add a quart between oil changes since about 30k.

#18

That was nice of you to say thanks. I feel very welcome here and there is a great set of standards everyone has here. Yourself included.

I thought this thread would be helpful as this isn’t the first time I had heard about oil issues with the 3.0t. I don’t really know that I would really call it an oil issue. But this isn’t the first time I have heard people talk about the 3.0t needing a quart top off. I know here the members would be honest. I found long ago when it came to the blatant issues with the 4.2 S4 some owners were covering them up and then again with the rs4 some owners wanted to deny carbon even happened.

I think most will find that the 3.0t will sip oil between oil changes and that’s actually normal and not a sign of a bad motor or break in. I think talking about this and demystifying it will help owners who currently have to top off know that they don’t have a lemon and that there isn’t something wrong with there car.

Since there are so many technical guys here I believe the community will actually get some help and knowledge on this. I think the more members on here check in the more we will see what is normal.

#19

My car consumed a quart in about 2000 km.
But!!!

The car is still new (at the time, it had maybe 5k km on it), and I track it.
Oil can be consumed through the PVC valve under high load situations. It’s one of the reasons for running a proper catch can on a serious track car – less chance of knock bc your fuel mixture is not affected by oil blow by (but wait…i guess that’s only relevant for port injection :D)…so less timing issues when the car is running hot and is in a long event.

I’ll keep an eye on it and report anything else I see. I’ve done an oil change about 1000km ago. I’ll report any consumption I see!

FWIW some oils work better than others for consumption–typically in turbo cars. Guys find oils with higher zddp dont get burned as much. Shell Rotella T6 is especially known to work well with the EJ25 (sti motor).

#20

West do you notice any small consumption after a long track event. Maybe check your oil level next chance you get and let us know.

#21

I generally think that the 3.0Ts that need internal engine work are either abused or neglected. There are two cars that needed that job that I am aware of. One car didn’t have the rings seat since it wasn’t driven very much like <3K miles per year. The other was abused at road courses in completely stock form so he could get everything covered under the factory warranty and play ignorant to why stuff kept breaking. That guy does more track days a year than West. Pretty sure that he does like 50+ road course days a year.

Having to top off the engine oil seems so normal with an Audi to me that I don’t even pay attention to it. But now that I think about it, a friend of mine had a B8 S4 and he had to top off I think every 3K to 5K miles. Also drove like a maniac most of the time until he got it beaten into his head that the punishment isn’t worth it.

#22

Honestly, I’ve never been pretty attentive to this. Never had a warning from the MMI, but I did buy a dip-stick. Should probably check it more often :-\ I’ve done one oil change myself at 20k, and had the dealer do the 5k, 15k and 25k as part of audicare.

I picked up my car north of Cleveland, so first day with it was a 300 mile road trip. Made sure not to rev over 4k for the first 1k miles (except 3-4 times) and made sure to switch through the gears constantly. I usually drive pretty sedately during my work commute, which is 90% of my miles. I rarely rev above 4k and don’t do so until oil is at 180 deg. Car is just way too fast to be enjoyed without being an ass on the road out here :D.

Been stg 2 tuned since about 17k miles and done 7 track days and a pair of trips to the strip.

#23

You got it out of the lake? LOL Sorry, I had to… Curious though what dealer?

As for the topic no oil consumption here but I wouldn’t expect it since I’m averaging 1,500 miles between changes :wink:

#24

Willoughby was the dealership…isn’t that kind of North? :o

Real crime against humanity was how they “had” to put those holes through the front grille. Front plates are the pretty much the definition of institutional fail.

#25

[quote=“drob23,post:24,topic:6781”]
Nah it’s east of the city… Ironically that’s where I’ve gotten all my Audi’s and that used to be one of the oldest Porsche/Audi dealers in the US… Penske bought all the dealers around here and split the Porshce Audi up… Porsche moved to Beachwood and Audi built a new building in Mentor, which is the next city over from Willoughby and then Concord which is where I live…

#26

Since looking across all the 3.0t motors not just those in the S4. It looks like it’s normal for these cars to consume oil. So far I haven’t seen anything to suggest that more mileage equals more oil consumption. What seems to be more and more of the case is the longer between oil changes seems to be factors. Primetime lol I doubt you would ever eat oil at that rate.

#27

My last oil service was @ 96,255 miles. Just had to add a quart @ 104,650. Have been using Castrol 5W40 Edge Synthetic.

Very happy with my “consumption”!!! Just so you guys know…car has been tuned with *full APR Stage II since 55k miles.

#28

That’s for adding more information. Just to make sure I understand how many miles do you go between oil changes and do you use 5\40 all year

#29

Yes, documented by Audi that the previous owner maintained at suggested service intervals…10k miles. I know that seems crazy…but, this vehicle was driven mostly highway use.
Last change was @ 96,255 miles. @ 103k miles…I checked the level through MMI…and it showed 1/2 quart low. So, basically 7k miles and I had barely any consumption. From 103k miles to 104,650…I burned another 1/2 quart.
*This is because the vehicle is now being driven primarily in town and very little long distance. Now that this change in driving has occurred, I’ll be doing an oil service at around 6-7k miles.
I’ll mostly likely be using the vehicle for long distance driving again and hope to see the oil consumption remain low!

I’m thinking about getting an oil analysis done…just so I know what’s going on, if anything. Can’t say enough good things about this vehicle. I’ve owned 5 BMW M3’s. This Audi @ almost 105k miles is almost like new. Sure I can feel a bit of suspension bushing degradation…but, comparing to BMW’s with 100k miles…those things are almost dead and have to be rebuilt (suspension, bushings, cooling system, sub frames!!!).

#30

Yes as you just proved the longer the oil is in the more it’s likely to get consumed at a faster rate. I think the thing that works against you guys is depending in what year you really can’t mechanically check. It’s all electronic right.

#31

Forgot to add that the oil changes were always with Castrol 5W40.

With my in town driving…should I consider switching things up if I continue to see 1/2 quart burn every 1600-1700 miles?

#32

Ya it’s through the MMI, and I question it’s accuracy.

#33

Yes, electronic. Though, a dipstick is available for the b8 S4!

#34

No longer a 3.0T but I haven’t had to top up any oil on my car in it’s 22k of life. Apart from the first 5k, the MMI electronic meter has always shown it at full. No dipstick location sadly…

Oil changes done every 5k miles. I actively try not to exceed 3k rpm until oil temp is above 190F. I also did the hard break in (redlined day from day 1 after oil temp are up).

My B8 S4 didn’t really drink any oil either (never had to top up).