Looking to buy 2011 A4 - Concerned about Oil Consumption
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 377
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Your light comes on at 1qt. low. Your mechanic wants you to do changes more often because it makes him money. If you really want to see the health of your oil, send it Blackstone labs. FWIW, about 100 miles after an oil change your oil will look like it does when you drain it.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Dec 2004
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My mechanic is not GreaseMonkey. He doesn't need any new business. He is booked sold for months in advance. He saved me many thousands of dollars and I trust him. 30 years of experience working on VW and Audis should count for something... Have you taken your oil after 10K to a lab? We all know lab results depend on many factors.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 2
My mechanic is not GreaseMonkey. He doesn't need any new business. He is booked sold for months in advance. He saved me many thousands of dollars and I trust him. 30 years of experience working on VW and Audis should count for something... Have you taken your oil after 10K to a lab? We all know lab results depend on many factors.
I'm sure your mechanic is very good, but if he's using the color of your oil as a determination of it's change intervals then, at a minimum, he's got some learning to do.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 600
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My Avant uses around 1/2 quart between changes. That's the most any of my A4s has ever needed and certainly no big deal.
I was going with 5k oil changes but I sent in a sample from my last change to BlackStone and they suggested that I push my next change out to 7500 miles. Unfortunately I probably won't get an analysis at 7.5k miles as I should be driving a TTS by then.
I was going with 5k oil changes but I sent in a sample from my last change to BlackStone and they suggested that I push my next change out to 7500 miles. Unfortunately I probably won't get an analysis at 7.5k miles as I should be driving a TTS by then.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 361
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From: New York
I add about 1 quart for every 7.5K miles or so. The engine definitely burns some oil but at this rate I am not concerned.
Color of oil is not considered a valid gauge of it's condition unless you got a serious mechanical engine issue (for example, coolant mixing with oil). Only a chemical analysis will give you a definitive answer.
Color of oil is not considered a valid gauge of it's condition unless you got a serious mechanical engine issue (for example, coolant mixing with oil). Only a chemical analysis will give you a definitive answer.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2002
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During the summer months my '09 A4 2.0T required the addition of 2+ quarts; during the non-summer months, it requires 1+ quarts. Here is what I have found (and I use and trust the on screen oil level display): I check the oil level perhaps 2 or 3 times per month. I add a quart of oil, based on the season at 3 - 5,000+ miles, meaning I need either 1, 2 or 3 quarts between factory oil changes.
As a practical matter, if I add oil at about 5,000 miles, it will "need" it again just about when the next change is due -- about 1/2 the time I added the 2nd or 3rd quart at 9,000+ miles (since the dealer provides the oil at no charge and is more or less on my way to and from the office.)
I do NOT think this is a lot of oil [added] in 10,000 miles. It is, however, the most oil usage of any of the 29 Audis my wife and I have had since our first one in 1977.
I would not be concerned -- and god knows, I assume it is better now than in my 2008 built 2009 A4.
As a practical matter, if I add oil at about 5,000 miles, it will "need" it again just about when the next change is due -- about 1/2 the time I added the 2nd or 3rd quart at 9,000+ miles (since the dealer provides the oil at no charge and is more or less on my way to and from the office.)
I do NOT think this is a lot of oil [added] in 10,000 miles. It is, however, the most oil usage of any of the 29 Audis my wife and I have had since our first one in 1977.
I would not be concerned -- and god knows, I assume it is better now than in my 2008 built 2009 A4.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,501
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The Audi "mechanic" (actually technician) doesn't really care, personally, about my adding or not adding oil from a financial perspective (often the srvice mgr adds the oil whilst I wait (I am certain he is on salary).
And, since I have Audi Care, it costs me zip and, if I have the time, I get a free quart of oil, a cup of coffee and a car wash for "stopping by" for a free quart of oil.
And, since I have Audi Care, it costs me zip and, if I have the time, I get a free quart of oil, a cup of coffee and a car wash for "stopping by" for a free quart of oil.
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AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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I added a less than half a quart in the first 5k. Then I think I added nothing between 5 and 9k (my out-of-pocket oil change). I don't think I'll need to add before 15k (or a tiny bit if any). Some usage is normal during break-in. I'm sure 10k intervals are fine, but I want to be extra OCD about this turbo engine with not that much oil in it until we have more high mileage users around.
