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?

 

[pagey]

i use millers

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Some diesel engines use a bit through turbo might be worth checking one of my trucks did exactly that it was turbo seals

It's the crap tolerances they have to adhere to now for emissions, as in the viscosity of the recommended oil 0w-30, so the oil will get padt the oil ring's over time, but not enough to cause smoking

 

[Trev45]

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.

My first car was a 1956 Ford Consul POY 591 . Didn't use that much oil but as a first car was just what I wanted , bench seat column change what more could a 17 year old want in 1962 ? Well the bench seat helped with that.

 

[gus-lopez]

Bit OTT Phil but each to their own lol Your Adria got a stick or 2.2 with guage only???

I check my oil,water, p/steering, brake/clutch fluid & diesel filter, top up washers if necessary every morning before driving off. When traveling I do it every time I stop for any length of time.

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[PP Bear]

What happens to the good old days, when a wallop of sawdust in the oil, cured all known ailments

 

[Telrose]

What happens to the good old days, when a wallop of sawdust in the oil, cured all known ailments

 

[jennywren]

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

...maybe, they were a pair of dipsticks!

 

[bigtwin]

To need a litre of oil every 3-4000 miles surely means its either burning oil or has a leak ?

Yep, it’ll either be burning oil or it has a leak but it’s most likely to be the former. Most engines burn some oil but it’s immeasurable on many.

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....

We had a VW like that and, sure enough, after checking the owner’s manual it said it could be a litre/1000 miles.

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.

As above.

Had exactly the same with a 170bhp 2008 A4 Avant SE - normal according to Audi......

Must be a VW group issue.

Ian

 

[AlunandFelicie]

It’s had an MOT and timing belt change since I’ve owned it wouldn’t the emissions test show oil being burned in the exhaust check If that was excessive?

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[minesapint]

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?

We have had a 2004 and a 2017 Ducato, we have never needed to top up the oil between services, and that included the engine pulling us up over mountain roads and long European motorways.
It may need checking with by a mechanic for leaks or wear.

 

[St3v3]

Maybe not relevant but I had a car I tried to keep the level at maximum and used loads of oil. Was told to keep it in the middle and the usage dropped dramatically.

 

[MarionK]

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

I have some oil stain on my driveway and the bottom of the engine is definitely oily, but I haven't had any need to do top up. Even at servicing there's no real drop in level, but then again, I don't do the mileage. (Over 20yo Ducato)

 

[HugoBNB]

Ours was about 0.25ltr per 1k miles.

 

[PP Bear]

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.

Oooh now you’ve scratched my old brain, I taught SWMBO how to do a first, halt and last parade……on the lawnmower. See, now I’ve cracked myself up again

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[PP Bear]

I liked the old Ford’s, lots of oil leaks, especially from the big end crankshaft seal, but that meant it was flung all over the chassis and floor pan, resulting in less rust and specks of oil on the windscreen of anyone following too close behind you.

In those days it didn’t matter what viscosity it was, so long as it was oil

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

The good old day's I remember those " Old Fords never Die" on my windscreen banner 20w50 oil 🛢 by the drum. I remember 35 years ago an old Mk III Cortina had a supposedly recon blue ribbon engine fitted, it used more oil than petrol

 

[Dazzola]

It might be worth investigating the breather system on the engine, it will probably have a few pipes that recirculate some of the gases back into the cylinder head / inlet manifold to clean up some emissions, if any of the pipes are blocked or collapsed it can raise oil consumption.
Nothing will cause any issues other that a bit of oil usage, no damage done or anything.
BMW cars are famous for it on the 3ltr engines, I imagine most vehicles have this kind of thing fitted.

 

[scotjimland]

I have some oil stain on my driveway and the bottom of the engine is definitely oily, but I haven't had any need to do top up. Even at servicing there's no real drop in level, but then again, I don't do the mileage. (Over 20yo Ducato)

Also have a 20 yo Ducato 2.8JTD and had to replace the oil sump pan .. they are with paper thin steel.. renowned for rusting and leaking .. .. it's an easy and not expensive to replace.

new sumps with gasket , around £35 on ebay

 

[MarionK]

Also have a 20 yo Ducato 2.8JTD and had to replace the oil sump pan .. they are with paper thin steel.. renowned for rusting and leaking .. .. it's not an expensive job ..

Thanks for that! I have always assumed that they were part of the engine block, so equally robust. I guess the leaky gasket on mine has potentially extended it's life!

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[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Unfortunately the sump is made of a thin steel on older model's, as aluminium sumps were rare 20 year's ago, so they do corrode and eventually go porous where the rust scabs build up, then the oil can bleed through !
On the plus side there are many companies that manufacture copies online at a ridiculously low price Inc: Gasket and seals etc, so maybe worth getting one for your next service, most sumps are accessible and would only take an hour or less to change.

 

[jezport]

My Euro5+ 2016 uses around a litre in 5000miles over a year

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

That's spot on what Fiat say whilst running engine in expect .5 ltre after 600 miles. To be fair I left mine till nearly 1,500 miles and added a litre. Now after 3 weeks in Europe just hit another 5,000 miles so on 6,490 and required another litre !
Also to note being still in warranty used Petronas Selenia WR Forward, which is Fiat Professional oil at £15+Vat a litre. Just in case, I even keep the Invoice and empty cans as proof

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

i use millers

I've been researching Miller's Pagey, and think it look's like they cover the ds engine spec ACAE C2 DS1 0w-30 look's like ML Performance or Opie offer it on Ebay. Is this the exact grade you use, as you also have the Euro 6 motor???

 

[StillGoing]

In my manual it says the maximum oil consumption is usually 400g every 1,000km.

No idea what 400g equates to in litres.

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[Phill D]

In my manual it says the maximum oil consumption is usually 400g every 1,000km.

No idea what 400g equates to in litres.

A litre of water being a kilo so it must be less than 0.4 of a litre.

 

[scotjimland]

No idea what 400g equates to in litres.

0.4 litres x 0.82 sg of engine oil = .32 litres

 

[pagey]

I've been researching Miller's Pagey, and think it look's like they cover the ds engine spec ACAE C2 DS1 0w-30 look's like ML Performance or Opie offer it on Ebay. Is this the exact grade you use, as you also have the Euro 6 motor???

Not sure as I have not got the container

 

[jerryz]

Mobil 1 is a great oil ,, and its famous because it was the first heavily promoted fully synthetic 25 years ago ,, but most other decent fully synthetic oils are fine but dont use them in older vehicles

 

[scotjimland]

fully synthetic oils are fine but don't use them in older vehicles

can you explain why ..what do you mean by "older"

reason I ask, I get conflicting advice about what oil to use in my 2003 Ducato 2.8JTD

either 5w/40 fully synth .. or 10w40 semi synth

Last time I bought from Motor Parts Direct, who checked and said 10w/40 semi synth

Euro car parts say it can use either ..

Opie Oils say 5w/30

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[the1andonly]

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.

That's nothing. Wifes second car, a 1969 Hilman Imp did about a week per litre, never ever changed it.

The motorhome, 2017 2.3 Ducato 130BHP engine, does next to no miles and doesn't use a drop