GFs new Audi A4 has to get oil replaced every 3 weeks

[JS80]

So my gf got an Audi A4 in February, and every 3 weeks the low oil warning comes on and the dealer just fills it up with oil and sends her on her way. She is very annoyed and pissed that they won't fix the problem.

Anyone know what she should do? Is there some kind of lemon law to protect against this? Does the A4 have a history of oil leakage?

edit:
ok she says it's not a leak because she checked her old driveway before. it's burning off engine oil excessively. is this a hard thing to fix that the dealer would just jerk her around like this?

 

[Fenixgoon]

warranty? different dealer? local mechanic?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
warranty? different dealer? local mechanic?

yea it's under warranty but they just want to patch it up with a short term solution (i.e. fill the oil up) and she's sick of going every 3 weeks to do it and they REFUSE to fix it!!!

 

[mb]

What dealership is she taking it to?

 

[Aharami]

has she expressed to the dealer that she wants this fixed? If they refuse to budge, contact Audi corporate.

 

[Pakman]

It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

No car should have a low oil light after 3 weeks unless they drive it like 4,000 miles.

Don't go in and ask them, if they have refused this far you need to TELL the mechanic that it needs to be fixed and that this is unacceptable.

Not only that, if the oil is leaking, it has to go somewhere- that somewhere is all over (ie: staining) where ever you park the car.

-Kevin

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

its a brand new audi. It shouldn't need any oil added in between each oil change.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

No car should have a low oil light after 3 weeks unless they drive it like 4,000 miles.

Don't go in and ask them, if they have refused this far you need to TELL the mechanic that it needs to be fixed and that this is unacceptable.

Not only that, if the oil is leaking, it has to go somewhere- that somewhere is all over (ie: staining) where ever you park the car.

-Kevin

You apparently know nothing about cars. Oil doesnt usually just leak out, it's burned off.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: mb
What dealership is she taking it to?

Audi/Porsche in Westwood

Originally posted by: Aharami
has she expressed to the dealer that she wants this fixed? If they refuse to budge, contact Audi corporate.

I assume so because she called me crying complaining they won't fix it yet. The guy said let's just put oil in it and see if the problem goes away :roll:


She drives like 10 miles to work and doesn't really drive around a lot.

She just recently moved, and she street parks.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

its a brand new audi. It shouldn't need any oil added in between each oil change.

Hmmm... Car maintenance 101 suggests people check their oil level at least every 2 gas fillups and top off as necessary. I think an oil leak would be very obvious, and I think the burn off rate is probably within operating specs so the dealer just refills is. Honestly, I wouldn't be happy if my brand new Audi did the same thing. Whenever I buy a car, I pray that I get an engine that doesn't consume(burn) alot of oil. So far, I've been pretty lucky with Honda's and my current Acura. This is one of the reason why I believe that proper engine break-in is critical.

 

[thomsbrain]

Don't most computers only flash the "low-oil" warning when the engine is CRITICALLY low on oil? As in, "pull over NOW" low? She should find out how much oil they are actually adding. If it is like 4 quarts, then she won't have much trouble convincing corporate that there is a problem.

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

its a brand new audi. It shouldn't be driven in between each oil change.

fixed

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

No car should have a low oil light after 3 weeks unless they drive it like 4,000 miles.

Don't go in and ask them, if they have refused this far you need to TELL the mechanic that it needs to be fixed and that this is unacceptable.

Not only that, if the oil is leaking, it has to go somewhere- that somewhere is all over (ie: staining) where ever you park the car.

-Kevin

You apparently know nothing about cars. Oil doesnt usually just leak out, it's burned off.

WTH? Don't tell me I know nothing. My idea was 100% legit and a definite possibility!

If it is in need of a fill up every 3 weeks there is a leak. Yes, oil, being a liquid, is capable of leaking :roll:- hole in the oil pan would do that. Bad seal would do that. Improperly installed (As in cross threaded) Oil Filter or Drain Bolt.

-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Pakman

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

its a brand new audi. It shouldn't need any oil added in between each oil change.

Hmmm... Car maintenance 101 suggests people check their oil level at least every 2 gas fillups and top off as necessary. I think an oil leak would be very obvious, and I think the burn off rate is probably within operating specs so the dealer just refills is. Honestly, I wouldn't be happy if my brand new Audi did the same thing. Whenever I buy a car, I pray that I get an engine that doesn't consume(burn) alot of oil. So far, I've been pretty lucky with Honda's and my current Acura. This is one of the reason why I believe that proper engine break-in is critical.

Driving very low mileage and having the oil light come on after 3 weeks is way way beyond spec. The engine has something seriously wrong with it if it is burning that much oil (Perhaps- just going way out on a limb- a piston scarred the side of a cylinder- you would burn more oil and compression would be off--- granted it wouldn't make this much of a difference.

This is way out of spec and needs to be fixed.

-Kevin

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Take it to an independent mechanic and pay him an hour of labor or whatever it costs to diagnose the issue and give you an estimate on repairing it. You'll now have documentation of the issue on paper, that you paid for. Send a copy of something proving the warranty as well as this invoice with a description of the issue to both corporate and the dealership. Make sure to include a nice letter documenting your experience, what happens with the car, etc.

If they still don't do anything, see if you can talk to someone you know to just get a basic letter from a lawyer that will scare them a little and hopefully get them to fix it. She paid for a car, and received one with issues, that's not how it works.

Very likely, they're just ignoring her because she's a "woman" and probably isn't talking with a stern voice to them. Go in with some papers, like the ones I described above, and hand it to someone in charge. Tell them you want this fixed, otherwise you will be escalating the issue to corporate. I've jumped around a bit, but pick something and go with it. They WILL fix it, just an issue of getting them to quit being lazy and just do it.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Don't most computers only flash the "low-oil" warning when the engine is CRITICALLY low on oil? As in, "pull over NOW" low? She should find out how much oil they are actually adding. If it is like 4 quarts, then she won't have much trouble convincing corporate that there is a problem.

I don't know about Audi's, but BMW has a warning light when it's a quart low. A quart low every 3 weeks seems like alot by todays standards... but not out of the ordinary. Maybe once the engine breaks-in a little more, it might consume less oil... or it might consume more... who knows.

 

[dr150]

Find a different MORE COMPETENT dealer that will help you deal with the problem.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Pakman

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Pakman
It's normal for engines to burn some oil... Seems to be the case more often in european and american cars I've noticed. My old chevy cavalier used to burn about a quart of oil a month. I believe when your GF low oil light comes on, it's probably about a quart low... I'm assuming they use the same "low oil standards" as bmw.

its a brand new audi. It shouldn't need any oil added in between each oil change.

Hmmm... Car maintenance 101 suggests people check their oil level at least every 2 gas fillups and top off as necessary. I think an oil leak would be very obvious, and I think the burn off rate is probably within operating specs so the dealer just refills is. Honestly, I wouldn't be happy if my brand new Audi did the same thing. Whenever I buy a car, I pray that I get an engine that doesn't consume(burn) alot of oil. So far, I've been pretty lucky with Honda's and my current Acura. This is one of the reason why I believe that proper engine break-in is critical.

A car should not be burning enough oil for her 10 mile commute to show a low oil light every 3 weeks. I'm not sure which cars you buy, but most of us don't hope to just get lucky with an engine that doesn't burn lots of oil.

A product has to meet its intended purpose, simple and basic law 101.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Pakman

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Don't most computers only flash the "low-oil" warning when the engine is CRITICALLY low on oil? As in, "pull over NOW" low? She should find out how much oil they are actually adding. If it is like 4 quarts, then she won't have much trouble convincing corporate that there is a problem.

I don't know about Audi's, but BMW has a warning light when it's a quart low. A quart low every 3 weeks seems like alot by todays standards... but not out of the ordinary. Maybe once the engine breaks-in a little more, it might consume less oil... or it might consume more... who knows.

If this was the case, would Audi produce thousands of cars with this same issue? This is something basic, would they want each of those thousands to deal with this issue and have to bug the dealerships?

Please, if you don't know what you're talking about, don't post. I know that in my statement, Audi isn't exactly the best at creating a product without issues, but the oil light saying its low? I'm pretty sure Audi would have caught that if it was an issue, otherwise a recall would be issued or fixed at the dealership. Don't you think the stealership would be tired of having people come in every 3 weeks to have the oil topped off?

 

[Demo24]

I'd recommend looking under the car to see if the tray is oily. That will atleast tell you if there is a leak or something else wrong.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Don't most computers only flash the "low-oil" warning when the engine is CRITICALLY low on oil? As in, "pull over NOW" low? She should find out how much oil they are actually adding. If it is like 4 quarts, then she won't have much trouble convincing corporate that there is a problem.

JS80: Check the manual on this, it should say what it means. I searched google and didn't have much luck on the first page of results, didn't go beyond that though. (Short on time)

 

[Vic]

Whoa. I would be concerned if a new (or even new-er) car was burning more than a quart every 3k miles. This sounds like WAY more than that. Assuming the oil light is working properly, it sounds like 3 quarts every 1k miles or worse. As such, it should qualify for significant warranty work (like engine rebuild or replacement), or even Lemon Law as it's in the first 12 months of ownership. Hell, I'm surprised it's not leaking puddles or puffing smoke. Or running poorly (oil is low octane and prone to detonation).

Take it to a different dealer. As soon as possible.

If that doesn't work, complain directly to Audi of America.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Vic
Whoa. I would be concerned if a new (or even new-er) car was burning more than a quart every 3k miles. This sounds like WAY more than that. Assuming the oil light is working properly, it sounds like 3 quarts every 1k miles or worse. As such, it should qualify for significant warranty work (like engine rebuild or replacement), or even Lemon Law as it's in the first 12 months of ownership. Hell, I'm surprised it's not leaking puddles or puffing smoke. Or running poorly (oil is low octane and prone to detonation).

Take it to a different dealer. As soon as possible.

If that doesn't work, complain directly to Audi of America.

Does anyone know how many pistons it would take without being properly sealed for it to burn that much oil. I'm, like you are Vic, thinking it is something pretty serious with the engine or merely a leak.

-Kevin

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

You apparently know nothing about cars. Oil doesnt usually just leak out, it's burned off.

If they're putting in a quart every 3k (and it could be more...not enough info in the OP) on a brand-new car, and she's not complaining of blue smoke coming out the back, it's probably not burning off. What magical world do you live in where oil NEVER leaks? It seems much more likely to me that a new car will have a bolt that didn't get tightened enough or a seal installed correctly, causing a leak, than for it to have worn valve guides, a bad PCV valve, or incorrectly sealing rings, though the latter is certainly the most likely if it's burning oil.

It would be good to know, OP, just how MUCH oil we're talking about here. Did you check the dipstick after the dealer added oil and confirm that it was on "F", and check it again when the light came on and confirm that it was on the Add line?