Oil Useage

[Hitman999]

Mar 2017 GTS 1 litre at 12,500 miles.

[On-Track]

The OP hasn't said how many miles his car has done. For the first 10k miles, my car was using oil at the rate of around 5k per litre. Oil consumption has steadily dropped and now after 4yrs and 40k+ miles it's approaching 15k miles per litre.

I previously had a Cayenne diesel which did 5k miles per litre for the two years and 30k miles that I owned it.

5k miles per litre wouldn't worry me.

[Fairynuff]

the 'Complimentary' litre of oil they put in the boot.

I didn't get a complimentary litre of oil in my boot - what is the standard?

[Fairynuff]

I have never had a car that has needed the oil topping up between services (two car household for past 40 years average 8k miles each per year).

I would be shocked if the oil light came on wondering if damage had been done!

[Paul]

^

Complimentary 1 litre top-up is normally given only after a service...

Cars have consumed oil “ever since” - 1 litre per 10000 miles is common / 1 litre per 5000 miles less so.

level warning lights are are a relatively new thing (since the disappearance of dip-sticks and the introduction of 24 month / 20000 mile servicing)

No damage will be done between min and max (min level is just that - don’t go below that level for too long)

[Fairynuff]

level warning lights are are a relatively new thing (since the disappearance of dip-sticks

I am a little embarrassed to ask this question (having never looked under the bonnet) but . . . . . are you telling me that my car does not have a dip stick?

[Nuclear Nick]

level warning lights are are a relatively new thing (since the disappearance of dip-sticks

I am a little embarrassed to ask this question (having never looked under the bonnet) but . . . . . are you telling me that my car does not have a dip stick?

And so you should be! Never ceases to amaze me how people spend many thousands on a complex piece of machinery and do not even bother to glance at the manual. I'm obviously old fashioned but clearly nowadays most drivers just rely on the car telling them when something is needed, from oil in the engine, air in the tyres, water in the windscreen washer reservoir, etc, etc. We are all sharing the roads with drivers who don't carry out even the most basic safety-related checks, ever. The situation is not helped by manufacturers bowing to pressure from fleets to extend service intervals beyond sensible limits to save costs.

No, your car doesn't have a dipstick. Do you know how to check the oil level?

[Fairynuff]

Do you know how to check the oil level?

No I don't I've had the book out (Page 97) reading it now . . . Instrument Cluster - Oil Measurement (instrument Cluster Page 113) . . . still can't see it and I'm now off down the motorway (litre of oil in the boot)

[Paul]

....try this (right hand scroll wheel....vehicle....oil level measurement.... )

[On-Track]

When I passed my test in 1963 virtually all drivers would check oil, water, battery cell levels and tyre pressures at least weekly. Failure to do so was likely to result in the catastrophic failure of a key component. I have to admit I don't follow such a rigid routine anymore.

At least once a journey, I check the tyre pressures via the TCM to make sure they are in range (allowing for heat build up). Every few weeks, I check the windscreen washer fluid and while the bonnet is open check the coolant reservoir. Every two or three thousand miles I check the oil level. In the three thousand miles since the last service it hasn't moved from the max level.

Looking at the graphic in the previous post reminds me that the one in the Cayenne was better as it had four graduations. That made it possible to add oil at quantities down to a quarter of a litre. My age makes me one of those people who still want to see the oil level at max.