Losing oil? "Top Up Oil"

[bigmick777]

Hi,

Been getting the Top up Oil light on the car over the last few weeks. Put in about 2 to 3 litres in total.

Take yesterday for instance, got the "top up oil" warning, checked the dipstick and it did seem low (although I have to say the dipstick aint one of the best ones I have had on a car for checking!).

So, popped about 0.5 - 1 ltr of syth oil in, started and light gone. Drove about 200 miles before warning came back. Checked again this morning and did look low on dipstick. Put about another 0.75 litres in before the missus took it for MOT on her way work. When she left the Oil Low warning was still on.

Is there anything obvious I can check? There are no oil marks on the drive, no black smoke (you get blast of smoke if you really give it the beans?!?)

I also posted recently on a check injection and limp mode which I got to disappear by cleaning the EGR (it was really coked). When I removed the EGR and started cleaning there was oil on it - not sure if this is normal?

Any help (as always) greatly appreciated!

Mick.

[bigmick777]

PS. The car is a 53 plate, 1.9 DCi (120), 75K on the clock. Due for service in 11K but cannot guarantee the previous service as we didnt own the car then!

[anth_dci]

check your coolent see if it looks normal, along with the top of the oil filler for white gunk, either meaning the head gasket has gone, allowing oil and coollent to mix. You could be burning oil but if your getting no white / blue smoke it cant be much.

There is noway i would be leaving it 18k between services, or youll end up with your car covered in white smoke and very expensive turbo to replace. 9k or 1 year whichever comes first is more realistic.

I would be getting the oil and filter changed asap then seeing how it goes.

[bigmick777]

Well good news on the MOT. The car passed so saved a bit of money there!

The garage also offered the oil change and filter for £25 + VAT all in. This sounds like a very good deal to me. Surely the oil would cost that much! They said they change with Semi-Sythentic on this car???

Anyway the oil change is will be done ASAP!

[anth_dci]

no, use fully synth 5w40 for it. I changed my oil at the weekend, it cost me 32quid just for the oil and filter from opieoils after the club discount. If they can do it for 25quid they might aswel be using pish to lubricate you engine. Spend abit more on oil now and alot less on repairs later

[davelowe]

Anth_dci posts sound advice.

If the car is using oil and there is no external leak (remove the engine under tray - jack up on axle stands, 7 10mm bolts and it drops off), you may want to check out the breather system. I posted an in depth study on this. When I find the thread, I'll edit this message.

Edit: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11440

[bigmick777]

Got a friend to do an oil change this morning. used Fuchs fully synth / filter from GFS.

Anyway, passed him the details of the breather issue and asked him to check the return pipe to the sump / metal pipe that it connects to and hey presto, both blocked. He cleared them both and chaged the oil / filter so need to wait and see.

Got back to house and still notice that if I give it a real good rev on the drive black soot is left on the paving slabs??

[anth_dci]

diesels always smoke at high revs, thats normal.