Well, the first phase fix didn't work. It needed another quart of oil at 1250 miles. It failed, in essence (yes, I know, it was 50 miles over the "standard" but it still failed in my mind).

I could not stomach the next phase fix - which, I understand, is to tear the engine down and replace the piston rings.

So, we traded it in on a 2013 Acura RDX.

It is somebody else's problem now.

I have enjoyed reading this forum and contributing where possible. Good luck with your own A4's oil consumption. I hope it doesn't require the phase 2 fix like ours did.

 

My local dealership just ordered a new breather valve and hose in response to my bringing it in for a consumption test. Only about 800 miles left on the warranty, would the hose and valve typically be covered?

 

You should point out that the warranty is about to expire but because this is an ongoing problem you want the fix made regardless of the clock ticking on the warranty. Audi knows full well that there is an oil consumption issue on the 2009 and 2010 models; as long as you have brought the problem to their attention they should make good on it, but get it in writing.

 

The oil problem existed with the introduction of the 2.0L turbo. The minor engine changes from 2008 to 2009 was not the cause of oil consumption but was also not the correction. I wonder what the 2012's are starting to see. Anyone have any input on that.

 

I have an'09 A4 which is my 5th one all purchased new. It is the only one to which I have had to add oil. The problem began at about 25 k miles has become so severe that I carry 4 or 5 quarts in the trunk. The last two times I had the dealer add a quart after 800 and 500 miles respectively but was told by the service manager that Audi of America will not do anything about the problem. They will, however, do another oil consumption test at 75 k miles. I now have 58 k miles on the car. Not what I wanted to hear. I called Audi of America and now have a consumer advocate looking into the problem. Hope to have an answer in the next few days. I have been very pleased with all the Audis I have owned in the past but if they will not address this problem which they acknowledge it will be the last Audi that I own.

 

I wasn't sure if I should create a new post, new to the forum, but I want to make sure my story is available to ALL Audi and none Audi Owners. In September of 2012 I purchased a 2009 A4 Quattro 2.0T with 65k from a local dealership. Not too long after I purchased it I noticed the display stated I needed to add oil, not more than one quart, okay to keep driving. I thought this interesting and started some research (while also adding some 0W-40 Mobil One). My research lead me to huge amount of data on B8 excessive oil consumption. Immediately I had anxiety, which drove me to spend countless hours reviewing forums (thus my post). It seemed as though the oil consumption issue was a miss or hit, with those suffering from it falling into 1 of 2 categories. Those that were near the 1,200 miles per quart burned or better that were unhappy with having to add oil (majority of people). And those that had excessive oil consumption at 1k or less per quart burned. I needed to know where I fell. As someone that likes to take on the very simplest of car related duties on I bought a filter, oil and conducted a standard oil change of my vehicle.

I then drove my car for approximately 400 miles, at which point it asked that I add more oil. Prior to this I realized I was in trouble as I saw the oil level dropping on my display. At this point my anxiety was through the roof as I'm driving a $20,000 car out of warranty that clearly has a major issue. The only comfort I found was in research via all of the Audi forums. I soon realized my first step needed to be contacting AofA (Audi of America). So I went to their website and submitted my problem. Shortly after I was contacted by Brandon Simpson, this was to be my customer advocate. I explained the issue and my concern not just for my car but the environmental impact of this vast oil consumption. I told him right off the bat, my experience from that point on would end up in a forum, either negative, losing a long time Audi owner forever, or positive, maintaining my business and respect.

After some discussion Brandon said I needed to make an appointment at the local Audi Dealership. I did so and dropped off my car. They stated my car is leaking no oil so CONSUMPTION PHASE #1 needed to be done. I was prepared for this diagnosis but unwilling to foot the bill. Brandon fought on my behalf and returned with an offer to split the $750 cost. Given my circumstances and deemed this fair and reasonable and accepted. PHASE ONE was quickly completed and my car were returned. If this repair worked, I leave happy, if not I drop the car off when my display asked for more oil.

Unfortunately, roughly 600 miles later my car had consumed another quart of oil. I promptly dropped it off with no advance warning and reached out to Brandon. I was already aware of PHASE 2 (thanks to this forum, An engine rebuild to replace the rings) and explained I would pay NO MONEY against this step. A 3 year old car with 65k should not need its rings replaced, regardless of how it's driven.

With in 1 day the local Audi dealership contacted me stating I needed new Piston Rings. That they were in touch with AofA and the repair would be completely covered, they would also provide a loaner during the process of the work. They said I could pick up the car and use it while they awaited delivery of the new piston rings. I was thrilled at this point. Brandon’s communication was thorough and fast. Audi was willing to stand behind their product to the tune of thousands of dollars for a car technically out of warranty.

Is it unfortunate I and others have had to deal with this... Yes. Could it affect ones choice to buy and Audi? Yes. However they will maintain my business. They manufacture a high end transport vehicle made up of computers and 10k+ different parts to make a combustion engine. I work in Aerospace, engineering, construction, quality issues occur. Every car company has issues at some point on some model. The best they can do is stand behind the product, as Audi has done thus far for me.

Right now I'm behind the wheel of my 2013 All Road loaner, my car has been in the shop for 2 days. Will this fix my problem? I really hope so. I do promise that I will continue my story through the end. I personally would like to thank Brandon and Audi for their service thus far... hopefully that sentiment doesn't change.

I know I wrote a book and I apologize. I just know how much a post like this could have helped me. I owe it to all consumers to post my experience.

 

Read my message below yours, it may help you navigate your upcoming experience.

 

REAL380. Do you have the contact information for Audi of America?

 

I posted the above back in August and I've been delinquent in my update. My A4 didn't even make it another 1,000 miles when the low oil warning came on again. At this point I had 55,000 miles on the odometer. I brought it back to the Audi Exchange and they performed the level 2 test which it failed. They then replaced the pistons at no cost to me. I asked to get the 55K service done at the same time. Greg, my service advisor, said that by replacing the pistons they would basically be doing the 55K service. All I had to do was pay for the filters (about $60) and spark plugs ($18). The engine rebuild took 3 days. 1 day into the process I got a call from Greg saying that the turbo charger was likely to die in the next 1-2K miles. They could replace it now for cost of parts ($1800) + 1 hour of labor ($175/hr) or I could wait and take my chances that the technician was wrong about the turbo charger. The labor is usually 3-4 hours. Since I was outside of my warranty this would not be covered. I went with option A.

I got my car back and it is running great! I have put another 5,000 miles on the odometer and have had no problems. I feel that the Audi Exchange treated me very well and gave me absolutely no hassles about the oil consumption issue even though it first cropped up after the 50K warranty had expired. I wish the sound system and turbo had not died an early death. Overall I am very happy my A4 - I bought this as a used vehicle with low mileage at a great price. Despite all the repairs this is the best car I have ever owned. I will likely roll the dice and buy another Audi when the time comes.

 

Glad you are happy but I would have not replaced the turbo. How did the tech know that it "was" going to go? This is a common dealer approach to getting more dollars for un-needed service. I suppose that you did not ask for the parts back. Anytime a service tech says that I think or this part is wearing it is code for I need to recover some costs.The most common area for this is brakes. I would have driven the car and wait until the turbo blew which based on history of these cars about 100K miles.