stealership recommended maint schedule

 

Hmmm. When I first bought my A4 the first service/oil change was 5000tmls. I took it into an Audi dealer (German) and they looked at me like I was nuts. They told me the first oil change on Audi's (this was in 2007) was at 30tkms (or 18tmls or so) I told them my manual/warranty said otherwise. I am not sure if the oil/service is different with German Audi dealers vs US/Canada ones or the oil they use, but the issue's I see on different forums concerning carbon build up or even cam follower failure are almost non-existant here? I have spoke to several German Audi tech's and they have seen a couple of cam follower's wear through this happend on older models (04-06) and in excess of 120tmls+.

 

i did a google search for oil consumption a while ago and subaru's came up a lot. i think it's a combination of how hard you drive and how often you change the oil. oil weight may also have a factor.

 

My 2007 (35k mi) A4 started at a "normal" consumption of a quart every 1500 miles and then progressively got worse down to a quart every 800 miles. I noticed no oil leaks at all. I was told not to worry since it is just coming out of the exhaust as burnt fumes.
After finally failing the consumption test Audi authorized to replace the piston rings. They also found excessive carbon build-up and they had to clean that up. There is likely damage to my catalytic converter but I wont find that out until I fail my emissions test.
Since the piston rings have not been redesigned and since they did not "bore" out the pistons before putting into new rings, I expect the same problems to creep back up.
I love the car but I need to get rid of it as these problems outside of warranty are too expensive. Replacing the piston rings was around $5600 according to Audi.

 

A simple observation is just look at every A4 that you see and check out their exhaust tips. If they are black around the outside then they are using oil. My 2010 Lexus with 8K miles still has shiney chrome exhaust tips. I clean my kid's after every oil change. Just part of the ownership I guess. Here is an untouched pix of my Lexus exhaust tip with 8,000 miles on it and an oil change at 5,000 miles.

 

Heh, after putting on my HFC, my tips are black after a week.

 

my exhaust tips are as black as a panther !



luckily my car is black so it blends in well lol

 

My exhaust tips are black and my car doesn't use oil (at least not to the point of adding any between oil changes). I understand you didn't have a great experience with Audi, but you keep throwing out these generalizations that just aren't true. It is a small minority of cars that consume oil excessively. It is a small minority of cars that have the cam follower problem. They're just magnified by the fact that we're on a forum where most people come here to talk about the issues they have with the cars, not the great things about them.

 

Sorry king but I did not have a bad experience with Audi. If their manual says that 1 quart usage of oil per 1000-1500 miles is considered normal then they must have evidence that this is normal use. As to the small group of people here who complain vs. the rest of the Audi world I'm betting that they all use some. Some more then others. And last as for your specific car I don't believe it does not use oil. If you want real data just go ask an Audi service manager or a VW service manager. My kid likes the car and doesn't mind putting in a quart or two every 5000 miles. Just part of the ownership. I guess we worked this topic to death. On to bigger and better subjects.

 

I'm sorry, jagtoes. I forgot how much of an Audi expert you've become in the what, 6 months your daughter has had her Audi. Why, you even know what MY car is doing without ever seeing it or driving it. Amazing!

Oil consumption ratings like that are pure legal CYA and they've been around forever with all manufacturers. I bet your precious Lexuses (Lexii?) that you're always talking up on this Audi forum even have them. Stop scaring the newbies.