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

AlunandFelicie

AlunandFelicie

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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?
 
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Nirvanauk said:
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....
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Had exactly the same with a 170bhp 2008 A4 Avant SE - normal according to Audi......
 
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Our 67 plate Fiat/Rapido and our 17 plate Fiat/Carthago both require a top up now and again (we thought the Rapido had bad access to the engine bay....its got nothing on the Carthago tho!). Its easy enough to keep an eye on it and top up as and when required....just make sure you can actually access it.

On the other hand our 2014 Bailey/Peugeot didn't need anything between services. It really depends on the engine.
 
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I do around 6k to 7k a year last oil change 01/22 no oil top up since using 0.30 oil

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I’ve been using this for past 20 + years and think it’s the best oil in the word imho and none of my vehicles have used oil between services.

My SIL brought a brand new Audi A3 Convertible and that drank the stuff from new, in fact it drank so much that my brother kept a total cost of how much he had spent on oil and a thorough analysis of mileage. In the end Audi admitted it was excessive and stripped the engine down and renewed pistons, rings and top end etc. Must have cost them. Car is utter rubbish mind, with the canvas roof wearing away, splitting and apparently quite common when checked across the tinternet with other users and terrible paintwork too.

At nearly 10 years old, it looks awful, whereas my hairdressers car is 18 years old and the ragtop is still like new 👍🏻

IMG_2771.jpeg
 
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PP Bear said:
I’ve been using this for past 20 + years and think it’s the best oil in the word imho and none of my vehicles have used oil between services.

My SIL brought a brand new Audi A3 Convertible and that drank the stuff from new, in fact it drank so much that my brother kept a total cost of how much he had spent on oil and a thorough analysis of mileage. In the end Audi admitted it was excessive and stripped the engine down and renewed pistons, rings and top end etc. Must have cost them. Car is utter rubbish mind, with the canvas roof wearing away, splitting and apparently quite common when checked across the tinternet with other users and terrible paintwork too.

At nearly 10 years old, it looks awful, whereas my hairdressers car is 18 years old and the ragtop is still like new 👍🏻
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But what is it😄
 
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AlunandFelicie said:
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?
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The two ducato's I have had do an oil level check on start up, it is 5 lines in the dash if full and less lines as the oil level goes down.
 
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Mzracer said:
The two ducato's I have had do an oil level check on start up, it is 5 lines in the dash if full and less lines as the oil level goes down.
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Same with mine ,if I forget to top up it let’s me know.
 
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Nirvanauk said:
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....
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That's nothing. My first car, a 1956 Ford Consul did about 60-70 miles per litre of oil.

The motorhome, 2016 2.3 Ducato 150BHP engine, does about a litre per 6-7000 miles.
 
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headlight said:
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 ?
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Not necessarily, the later 290's 2.2 use 0w-30 fully synthetic and state's in the manwell expect oil usage, crap I know but it is what it is. Mine was new in Jan 2023 did 1,460 miles and took a litre to top up, just covered 6,500 now for 2nd litre, so they do get better once run in properly.
But over 20k I would have expected little or no top up's between oil services, unless you have the wrong spec in it. If it was me buying a used moho/Pvc 1st thing would be an oil and filter change, make sure it's right. Possibly a cam belt and water pump/coolant etc, as you never know really 🙈
 
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Sammy 🍺 said:
Bit OTT Phil but each to their own lol 🤣 Your Adria got a stick or 2.2 with guage only???
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It may be OTT to some but it’s
an old army habit, ( first , last and halt parade😆)
I certainly don’t check every stop 🙄

It’s got a stick,.

if I am touring I will regularly make a check.

If I was using a litre every few 1000 miles like some appear too I would not be happy.
 
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AlunandFelicie said:
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?
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Alun has it got full service history, showing all oil changes, when was last one, and how many miles since???
Presume you have a stick unlike my 2023 with only a guage on dash, check it cold and if on Max it's fine, if below half way put a litre in should be on Max or close enough. You need to replace it if you not sure how old oil is, and make sure whoever does it puts the correct grade and spec in it, as Important. Also has it had a Cam/Timing belt change at 5 year's or 50k. Just remember how hard these motor's have to work pulling heavy weights compared to a car !
 
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I put a litre in this trip (circa 2500 miles) noticed a slight increase in engine noise after cross the alps both ways. Never have added oil before , though was serviced just before the trip and don’t know how accurate they filled it .

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Phill D said:
It may be OTT to some but it’s
an old army habit, ( first , last and halt parade😆)
I certainly don’t check every stop 🙄

It’s got a stick,.

if I am touring I will regularly make a check.

If I was using a litre every few 1000 miles like some appear too I would not be happy.
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It's weird how they did away with the stick on the 290 gen 8 2021 onwards I think, but I spose they think they're moving with the times. Not all like ourselves Phil (Old School) like to dip it and stick it 🤣 I've known people never pick a bonnet up in their lives, if it don't tell them on the dash then don't try messing with something you know nothing about 🙈
 
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PP Bear said:
I’ve been using this for past 20 + years and think it’s the best oil in the word imho and none of my vehicles have used oil between services.

My SIL brought a brand new Audi A3 Convertible and that drank the stuff from new, in fact it drank so much that my brother kept a total cost of how much he had spent on oil and a thorough analysis of mileage. In the end Audi admitted it was excessive and stripped the engine down and renewed pistons, rings and top end etc. Must have cost them. Car is utter rubbish mind, with the canvas roof wearing away, splitting and apparently quite common when checked across the tinternet with other users and terrible paintwork too.

At nearly 10 years old, it looks awful, whereas my hairdressers car is 18 years old and the ragtop is still like new 👍🏻

View attachment 825993
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Ha ! Ha ! Like it and know where you coming from with Audi's they are crap imo ! Engine's today are awful, the tolerances are a lot more than old school motor's, I am tempted to increase the thickness slightly to compensate the usage. Going to look into it with a few expert's in the motor trade !
 
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some on here seem to use an excessive amount of oil in their engines. If there is no wet staining, it must be getting into the cylinder and burnt or into the coolant but you would soon know. Regardless, please never be tempted to overfill the oil beyond the mark on the dipstick, it can destroy the engine. Worries me to see so many new vehicles with no dipstick, as it is going to end badly if the driver does not know how much to add
 
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Sammy 🍺 said:
Read this statement as per manual, it explains oil specifications and expectant usage ! Not nice when just spent £85K on your dream is it 😪

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Typo there I reckon the 600 should be 6000.

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Sammy 🍺 said:
Not on a new engine Lenny, running in stages will consume 0.5 ltr every 600 miles, mine took a litre after 1,460 miles. Then not touch it for 5,000 miles anotherlitre just added !
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Ouch! Expensive my current one is Euro 6c (twin EGR) always been about 8000 from new.
Fiat consider an engine run in at 15,000 miles.
 
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One thing worth noting is when you top up make sure you use the exact specification oil that Fiat specify, as it you have an engine problem under warranty the first thing they do is test the oil.
If they suspect incorrect oil has been used they will refuse the warranty claim.
 
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Lenny HB said:
One thing worth noting is when you top up make sure you use the exact specification oil that Fiat specify, as it you have an engine problem under warranty the first thing they do is test the oil.
If they suspect incorrect oil has been used they will refuse the warranty claim.
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Miller's look's best match, although Shell Helix ok as well ! Don't think anyone stupid enough to put anything else in, only as you say out of warranty !

Screenshot_20231019_095919_Chrome.jpg

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