FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ?

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Mon 13 Sep 2004 17:46
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - UpsetAudiOwner
Can anyone confirm if my catalyst will suffer as a result of high oil consumption on my FSI engine?

I'm using 0.5l/1000km at 27k miles 12mths old!! (No help from Audi as they say this is to spec!) Is my CAT still working ? Can anyone advise if my car would pass an emission MOT test??
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Mon 13 Sep 2004 17:52
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - Happy Blue!
Take the car to a specialist who has the diagnostic equipment and emmissions testing kit. They will tell you if its OK ot not. IF not, go back to the dealers and complain like mad!!
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Mon 13 Sep 2004 20:04
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - Dynamic Dave
Most handbooks mention that oil consumption can be up to 1 litre per 1000 miles. So what Audi tell you is correct.

Engines these days tend to use more oil when they're newer. When they get a few miles under their belt, it should use less. At 27k your engine is hardly run in yet.

See the following threads (found using the Forum Search) on Audi oil consumption:-

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=15148
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=16858
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=21330
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Mon 13 Sep 2004 21:30
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - Aprilia
Most handbooks mention that oil consumption can be up to 1
litre per 1000 miles. So what Audi tell you is correct.
Engines these days tend to use more oil when they're newer.
When they get a few miles under their belt, it should
use less. At 27k your engine is hardly run in yet.


Come on, even a Scania V12 truck engine is run in at 27k miles!

The bit in the handbook about 1l/1000miles is there to protect the manufacturer from warranty claims. At that sort of consumption you are heading toward the hydocarbon emissions limit - so that's as much as they can get away with specifying.

A modern engine should have a very low oil consumption after the initial bedding-in of the piston rings.

To go back to your original question - yes, 1pt. per 1000 miles is a little high and won't do your catalyst any good. Catalysts don't like oil at all.
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Mon 13 Sep 2004 21:42
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - UpsetAudiOwner
Aprilia... Thank you... I was starting to think I was being unreasonable... Oil is expensive and if I had known Audi would be so dificult I would never have chosen the car... Never again!

If the car fails the emission test are Audi legally obliged to take the car back??
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Mon 13 Sep 2004 21:38
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - UpsetAudiOwner
Thanks for the links... v interesting.

What I really want to understand is if this consumption IS going to ruin my CAT and fail its first MOT ? Can a CAT recover from this much oil (0.5l/1000km from delivery to 27k miles!!)

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Mon 13 Sep 2004 21:55
FSI High oil consumption - Catalyst ? - Aprilia
What happens is that the surface of the catalyst becomes coated in combustion particulates ('sooted up' in simple language). Its difficult to say what impact this will have, but I wouldn't be happy if it were my car.

If it were my car I would take it to local MoT station and ask them to put it on the 4-gas analyser and give you the print out (they'll likely only charge you a tenner - 10-minute job). Then look at the figures - post them on here or ask the MoT inspector his opinion. At least you then have some evidence of a problem if things go pear-shaped out of warranty.
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