Engine oil top up: Is it normal to add about a litre every 3000-4000 miles?

[AlunandFelicie]

When we bought our van the previous owners said we should top up the oil with about a litre every 3000-4000 miles ,would that be normal for a five year old Ducato?

 

[Phill D]

Mine is a 2012 euro V ,x250 2.3 180bhp, 50k miles I have never needed to top mine up in between servicing.

 

[David and Sally]

All engines are different. What does the dipstick tell you?

 

[Nirvanauk]

never topped mine up. Never needed to.

 

[Phill D]

Ps; just for clarity I check all levels regularly, before, during and after any trip

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[headlight]

When we bought our van the previous owners said we should top up the oil with about a litre every 3000-4000 miles ,would that be normal for a five year old Ducato?

I wouldn't have thought so.
I've never needed to top up my oil, it just gets changed every year on its annual service.
To need a litre of oil every 3-4000 miles surely means its either burning oil or has a leak ?

 

[Nirvanauk]

Used to have an early Audi A2. Was told to check oil level at every fill up. It used about a litre of oil every 1000 miles and Audi insisted that this was correct. Sold it quickly....

 

[AlunandFelicie]

I did think it was due to a leak rather than normal usage but having no experience at the time with motorhome engines wasn’t sure I’ve had the van serviced since and the timing belt changed but no mention of a leak.

 

[scotjimland]

Defiantly not "normal"
If they had told me that I would have been asking why..

What has the dip stick been telling you.. they may be mistaken

 

[Rogerwyn]

If it’s new might use oil until run in, if it’s done high miles it may use oil anything in between might use oil, check often until you understand your engine oil usage, every engine will be different

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[Phill D]

I always check the dip stick after any service just to make sure it’s correct and I have a minds eye picture of where level is on the stick

 

[AlunandFelicie]

There is definitely a fall in oil level over time but no oil stain on our drive or smoking exhaust

 

[WESTY66]

All engines are different. What does the dipstick tell you?

Pay attention, it said every 3-4000 miles

Seriously my 3.0L hasn’t used anything in 14,500mls
As David and Sally says, Every engine is different

 

[PP Bear]

Not used drop of oil and mines a 2006 2.8JTD. Just keep your eye on the dipstick. Get used to checking it and remember if the engines warm and only just been turned off, it’ll be low on the dipstick. Best check it cold in the morning and make that mental note of the mark. It should be at the top fill mark on the dipstick. Then when you fill up, go pay and then check it again, making a mental note. Finally use these as a gauge for future checks and never be tempted to simply add oil without being sure, as you could overfill it and much more hassle to sort out.

 

[scotjimland]

Not used drop of oil and mines a 2006 2.8JTD.

Likewise... 2003 2.8JTD .. never needs topped up.. and i use as a daily driver.

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[David and Sally]

A litre for 3500 miles seems quite a lot. Some engines simply don’t bed in well and that can depend on how it was treated from new.
If it’s otherwise running well I personally would not bother especially if there is no sign of a leak or blue smoke from the exhaust.
I have had a string of BMW motorbikes. Some used a bit of oil from new, some didn’t.
At least you are topping up with good new oil

 

[David and Sally]

Pay attention, it said every 3-4000 miles

Seriously my 3.0L hasn’t used anything in 14,500mls
As David and Sally says, Every engine is different

Pay attention. That was the old owners, not the dipstick

 

[BikerGraham]

Although my vehicles have never needed topping up between services for decades, I have known a number of people who have had too.

A few have had to add around 0.5-1.0 litres every thousand miles.

All of them have been told that it is within tolerance when complaining to the dealers / manufacturers. May seem excessive but it is usually detailed somewhere within the paperwork.

 

[scotjimland]

It's when the level rises you have problems ..

 

[pappajohn]

Check oil 5hen check again after 3000-4000miles then you know for sure how much it's using.

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[WESTY66]

Pay attention. That was the old owners, not the dipstick

I know my bad

 

[pappajohn]

It's when the level rises you have problems ..

Yep, diesel getting into the sump and diluting the oil.
Water into sump will produce a white-ish cream sludge in the cam box so you know the difference.

 

[Bfreebt65]

I did think it was due to a leak rather than normal usage but having no experience at the time with motorhome engines wasn’t sure I’ve had the van serviced since and the timing belt changed but no mention of a leak.

My peugeot boxer has taken 2 litres since new , just over 11000 miles on the clock.

 

[daveclare]

2020, 160hp 2.3, usually about 4200kg, with 40,000 now on the clock. Uses around 800-1000ml every 5,000 miles.

 

[Lenny HB]

When we bought our van the previous owners said we should top up the oil with about a litre every 3000-4000 miles ,would that be normal for a five year old Ducato?

Yep, completely normal, our last two Ducato's about 4000, to the litre.
It's the ones running on 0-30W oil that tend to use more.

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[Speve]

I did think it was due to a leak rather than normal usage but having no experience at the time with motorhome engines wasn’t sure I’ve had the van serviced since and the timing belt changed but no mention of a leak.

We have a 2018 2.3 180 hymer Fiat with comformatic gears and do use a drop occasionally but only just covered 20000 miles I think I’ve probably put about 3ltrs in total

 

[Phill D]

Let the dipstick guide you not the mileage.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

Fair enough seems to be within tolerance just keep an eye on it (now were did I put that sunflower oil)

 

[pagey]

Fair enough seems to be within tolerance just keep an eye on it (now were did I put that sunflower oil)

what year is your van

 

[AlunandFelicie]

2018 high mileage 60,000