Oil Problems - A3 1.8TFSI (Petrol)

[Alcatraz]

Hello Everyone,

 

I Have a Audi A3 S-Line Black Edition 1.8 TFSI (Petrol), Recently the oil has been burning more than normal, My car's oil light is coming on every 300 miles instead of the usual estimated 1000-1200 miles from Audi.I had the car put on a oil consumption test and it failed at 304 miles before the light came on.

 

Audi are stating to me the only thing they can do is replace the pistons and cams and hope this solves it. unfortunately as you can imagine the cost on this is more than buying a new engine due to the labour costs (estimated 20 hours). Has anyone had an experience with this issue and could be a simple fix (seen something about a choke valve sometimes sticking causing this problem?

 

please help if anyone has any advice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Alcatraz]

Hi guys,

Had a call from Audi about my oil problem, they have sourced this to be piston rings failing. The cost to repair was £4226.00. Luckily Audi decided to do this free of charge and includes new pistons and cams as well. Not sure if this is due to a recalled part or what but is good news. Having it done in two weeks so will keep everyone posted.

[jeffers]

Hi Alcatraz,

 

What year is your motor and what sort of service history do you have and have you had it done and the outcome.

 

Cheers

[jeffers]

Hi Guys,

Unfortunately I now appear to be using oil but haven,t noticed any smoke I have done around 1100 miles in the last month and put in a litre of oil I have just contacted Audi Preston regarding this only yesterday Saturday 03/06/2017 so have not had a reply yet. My car is a 2010 A3 1.8 TFSI model and 71100 miles it has Audi long life services at 18703 miles 33662 miles 50642 and 59315 and two indie at 67100 and 70000. Do you think these services are adequate enough to get the oil consumption tests free and possibly the piston piston rings and con rod change if necessary. Does anyone know if anyone has been refused and for what reason ? 
I also see Carter and Carter solicitors Stockport advertising to take anyone's case on that has been refused on a no win no fee basis has anyone used or any info on them just in case.

Thanks in advance for any advice 

Jeffers.

[cliffcoggin]

At 7 years old and 71000 on the clock I doubt your car is under guarantee any more, so the chances of getting free repairs are zero.

If oil is disappearing from the engine there only four ways it can come out: the oil is burning in the cylinders, or it is leaking from a degraded joint onto the ground, or it is leaking into the gearbox, or it is leaking into the cooling system (if you have an oil cooler.) Is the exterior of the engine wet with oil? Are there oil spots on the ground where you park the car? Is the coolant clean? Is there oil in the exhaust tailpipe? You need to have good look round your engine and the underside of the car for clues to the cause of the oil consumption before deciding how to cure the problem. Anything else is sheer guesswork.

[jeffers]

Hi Cliff,

 

Cheers for that will take a good look around.

 

 

[Plamen]

Hi, I have an a3 2.0 tfsi and it is burning the oil but there is no leaks and smoke. The only thing I can see is the exhaust pipe is black. Any help on that will be much appreciated. Thank you

[jeffers]

Hi Plaman,

 

Sorry pal I dont think your motor is in the right bracket for the repair or issue (Incorrect size piston rings) its Years  2008 - 2012 so I dont think Audi UK will take your issue on.

[nsallabank]

Hi all

 

 my wife bought a A3 1.8t 10plate start of the year. It's under warrenty from the garage we bought it from, but since we've got it, it's gone back 3 times due to oil consumption. 

 

The first time they said it was the turbo and that was changed with a new one fitted. Since then it's been back every 4 weeks, after 3 weeks the oil light comes on and te oil is gone. It's done about 55k, and she does around 300mile a week. The garage rang Audi last week and Audi have said that this engine uses a lot of oil. But 2-3L every 4 weeks seems excessive!

[Wardy002]

Hello everyone. I have the same problem at the moment. I have been for a compression test with an engine specialist and shows all good. They suggested a carbon clean and as I expected didn’t help. I’m burning a litre of oil every 300 miles. Has anyone got any ideas 

[Magnet]

Hello Rhys,

As a matter of interest, what engine does your car have? 

Does it exhibit any blue smoke under acceleration, or if left to idle for a few minutes and then revved? 

300miles to the litre is about 120 miles to the pint in my old English. Yes, excessive in anyone’s book, and expensive too. 

Did you inherit the car with this issue, or is it something which has occurred during your ownership? 

Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Wardy002]

Hi Gareth I have a 1.8 TFSI engine. More grey smoke under acceleration however sometimes a hint of blue. Also when sat on idle if I bounce it off the Rev limiter it will smoke black 

[Magnet]

Hello Rhys,

Sorry about more questions, but does the car use any coolant? 

You don’t mention whether you inherited the car with this high oil consumption, or if has developed it during your ...? ...time of ownership.

’........bouncing it on and off the rev. limiter...’! Not surprised it’s burning oil Rhys. That is what we used to call .. revving the guts out of it! 

I think you will find a steady 2000 rpm is about right for most exhaust smoke testing. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Wardy002]

Hello. No it doesn’t use coolant and yes it’s always been an issue since I bought the car. I don’t mean bouncing off 7000rpm. I meant when the car is still the Rev limiter is set at 4000rpm

[Magnet]

Hello Rhys,

OK - whatever. 

Back to where we came in - perhaps better described:- 

(1) Ask someone to follow you and observe any smoke when you accelerate from say 50mph.

(2) Let the car idle for at least a couple of minutes, then get your observer to assess any smoke when you rev the engine to no more than 2500 rpm. 

(3). Hold revs. at a steady 2000 rpm for at least 2 minutes and again observe any smoke. 

All the above should be carried out following a run of at least 5 miles (10 if possible) to ensure the oil is up to operating temperature. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[Luke S]

Afternoon everyone hope everyone is doing well given the current situation.. 

Im having problems with oil consumption ive got a 1.8 tfsi 2010 black edition A3 now i dont know if its the model that just burns through oil like it does but bacl before the whole coronavirus my oil light would flash atleast once a month generally i would fill it begining of the month and by the end i need to fill it again anyone had similar issues? I can see that the first comment on herr had a similar issue 

[cliffcoggin]

A neighbour with a petrol A3 had a similar oil consumption problem. She got it sorted out by an independent VAG mechanic who told her Audi had admitted there was an inherent fault with some engines and replaced or repaired the engine at little or no cost. I don't know the details of the problem or which particular engines were involved.

[seagulls98]

hi Guys,

Got a 2011 a3 1.8 tfsi, having the same oil consumption problems, took it to the local and after being told theres nothing wrong with it, the oil warning light came on 300 miles after filling it up. I took it back to the dealer who thinks the turbo is leaking the oil, but upon reading this I'm not too keen to go splashing a lot of money a new/refurbished turbo if it is not in fact the problem. Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Steve Q]

1 hour ago, seagulls98 said:

hi Guys,

Got a 2011 a3 1.8 tfsi, having the same oil consumption problems, took it to the local and after being told theres nothing wrong with it, the oil warning light came on 300 miles after filling it up. I took it back to the dealer who thinks the turbo is leaking the oil, but upon reading this I'm not too keen to go splashing a lot of money a new/refurbished turbo if it is not in fact the problem. Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

As per previous posts, my advice would be to speak to Audi to see if your car has one of the affected engines. 

Cheers

Steve

[Magnet]

Hello Alfie,

Sorry to hear of your issue with oil consumption. 

Wondered if you had recently bought the car, or if you have owned it for some time, and it’s only now using oil. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[seagulls98]

On 6/7/2020 at 7:40 PM, Magnet said:

Hello Alfie,

Sorry to hear of your issue with oil consumption. 

Wondered if you had recently bought the car, or if you have owned it for some time, and it’s only now using oil. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

got the car around 3 months ago, noticed the oil consumption problems after having to top it up about 3/4 weeks after buying.

[seagulls98]

On 6/7/2020 at 7:14 PM, Steve Q said:

As per previous posts, my advice would be to speak to Audi to see if your car has one of the affected engines. 

Cheers

Steve

will definitely give it a go! cheers for the help

[Steve Q]

You're welcome 👍

[Magnet]

Hello Alfie,

OK - short ownership. 

‘....I took it back to the dealer....’ The one you bought it off?

If so, they have to guarantee the vehicle being fit for purpose for 3? ( could be 6) months, so if they say the turbo is the issue (questionable?) then they will have to sort it. 

Audi and engine issues and claim? 

You will need to consider that the car is now 9 years old and even if it has main dealer service history up to the hilt and complete, I would not be holding my breath on getting any redress there - but yes, worth a go. If it’s that simple, why didn’t the previous owner/s go down that route? 

Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Alfie. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[seagulls98]

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

Hello Alfie,

OK - short ownership. 

‘....I took it back to the dealer....’ The one you bought it off?

If so, they have to guarantee the vehicle being fit for purpose for 3? ( could be 6) months, so if they say the turbo is the issue (questionable?) then they will have to sort it. 

Audi and engine issues and claim? 

You will need to consider that the car is now 9 years old and even if it has main dealer service history up to the hilt and complete, I would not be holding my breath on getting any redress there - but yes, worth a go. If it’s that simple, why didn’t the previous owner/s go down that route? 

Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Alfie. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

So yeah i took it back to the dealer i bought it from, they've said theyll cover the cost of finding the problem and anything after that i will have to pay for. Im going to go pick it up ASAP and get a friend (mechanic) to take off the turbo/check that is indeed the fault. As said will also give audi a call and see what they say. Will keep you guys posted. Thanks again! Alfie.