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

[ViviTheMage]

just take it to a different dealer.

 

[Double Trouble]

A light driver (like your gf) puts maybe 10,000 miles on the car per year. That's about 200 miles per week -- if that. Anyone who thinks burning (at least) a quart of oil per 600 miles is "normal", especially on a new or relatively new vehicle is out of their mind.

Step one, you go to the dealer (instead of her) and tell them you want the car checked out and repaired such that you will not have to be back for another oil change in 3-4 weeks. If they give you any kind of runaround, let them know you will let Audi of America know about this issue, and that you will use the lemon law and simply return the vehicle. That should get the appropriate response from them.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: 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?

Quart really isnt that excessive for 3K miles if the car is burning a little. I doubt you'd hardly even smell it. My old Cherokee burned through a qt in under 1K, and you could barely notice it.

 

[chris7b]

Drive it off a Cliff. VW is the devil!

They tried to convince my gf that the 2.0 in her bettle was within factory specs. The the thing was burning over a quart b/w oil chages. Its a 2002 w/ less than 60K miles. They claim 1.5 quarts is normal. WTF!!

 

[spidey07]

I think if they have to put any amount of oil in the car or if the oil light really is not malfunctioning there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the motor. As in she should demand a new car or a new motor.

 

[Pakman]

Originally posted by: 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?

Listen, I'm just posting my thoughts. The OP in his original post never posted how much the Audi was driven. I have a big pet peeve when people tell others not to post. This thread shouldn't be an argument.

 

[Fenixgoon]

definitely go up the ladder and get that dealership to fix it, as someone else mentioned

 

[Vic]

Burning a quart every 3k miles is more or less normal and won't even be noticed out the tailpipe.
My car has burned half a quart ever 2500 since new, and I don't even give it much thought except that (because most of it is consumed the usual way, via crankcase blow-by that then get re-circulated back through the intake) it occasionally builds up a little in my intercooler. Yeah yeah I should get a catch can.

Anyway blah blah long story short, any consumption more than a quart every 1k miles qualifies for warranty work and possibly even Lemon Law (depending on if it's an actual engine flaw or just a leak). That much consumption is way beyond normal.

 

[Dirigible]

Document everything. What went on with the car, what you did, dates, amounts, who you talked to at the dealer and other places. If things get nasty, that can come in really handy, even if it's just your own notes.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: 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.

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?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: 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?

They put in a quart. This is happening every 400-500 miles ever since she got her car.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: JS80
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?

Well, that's not definitive (Could well be that it only leaks when the car is running), but we'll take her word on that.

Yes, in most cases oil leaks/burning is a PITA to pin down and a PITA to repair.

 

[Sukhoi]

A quart every 3 weeks is effing ridiculous in any new vehicle. If it's actually burning that you're probably going to need a bunch of other stuff replaced too.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: 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

Bah fvck that. I love my 07 A4. Its been rock solid for the first 1500.

Also, DIFF DEALER my man. Do that and I bet the problem is rectified...either that or contact the Audi rep for your region.

 

[JS80]

so do you guys think they are going to go through the pain of redoing the engine or just buy the car back from her? it's a 36 mo lease starting feb.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: JS80
so do you guys think they are going to go through the pain of redoing the engine or just buy the car back from her? it's a 36 mo lease starting feb.

I bet since its a new car they may just replace the car with another.

 

[NaOH]

My honda went through a little less than a quart after 3 thousand miles. Did a lot of long distance and mountain driving (hard on my little torqueless 1.6 liter).

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

What the hell... they're treating her this way on a lease? They'll end up with the car once the lease is over, I don't understand it from their point of view because they'll have to deal with it sooner or later. Anyway, gotta put it in their face and do whatever it takes to get them to take care of it, including contacting corporate or speaking with another dealership.

 

[FoBoT]

burning 1+ quart of oil in 3 weeks? yeah, the engine has a problem

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: JS80
so do you guys think they are going to go through the pain of redoing the engine or just buy the car back from her? it's a 36 mo lease starting feb.

It's a lease? WTF???? That dealership is obviously fully stocked with fscking morons.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: JS80
so do you guys think they are going to go through the pain of redoing the engine or just buy the car back from her? it's a 36 mo lease starting feb.

It's a lease? WTF???? That dealership is obviously fully stocked with fscking morons.

They've got more than a damaged brain, I bet.