I've just clocked over 10, 000 kms in my 1.9 TDi Golf and the low oil-level light has come on. I checked the dipstick and sure enough, the oil level is sitting on low.

Is this normal for a new diesel nowadays? Or is it just because it's the first 10K kms? I don't drive it hard - just mainly pretty much 50:50 freeway and urban driving..

Also, would this be covered under warranty? Should the dealer top up the oil?

Thanks!

um, how long have you had the car? Because most service shedules are now km's/time whichever is first.
And no, you're dealer most likely will not pay for your oil. they will have you pay for a 10.000km service.

I've only had the Golf for just under four months. The servicing intervals are at 15 000 kms or a year...
My mate's an engineer at Ford and he says that I shouldn't have to do ANYTHING until my service.. except maybe fill the windscreen fluid

I think checking the fluids - oil, coolant, washers - should be part of your weekly inspection. All engines use a little bit of oil, even new VWs and yes, even new Fords. Adding a litre every 10,000 km, if required, is no big deal - it is a 'consumable', like petrol. Do it yourself, and be happy. You should also check the air pressure in your tyres - same deal.

My Dad's old EL Falcon needed the oil topped up every week.

never checked oil for 10000 ks i'm stuned

Yes the wonders of modern VWs. It even tells you (with a warning light) that the level is low. Old VWs wouldn't do anything until the green oil pressure light came on, by which time the damage had usually been done.

I wouldn't worry about what a 'Ford engineer' says - he is probably jealous of your beautiful Golf.

some new cars can burn upto 4ltr of oil between services, thats why they have dip sticks.

Having now owned 3 TDI's as my last three vehicles I can assure you it is nothing unusual to have to top up with oil every 10K or 12K. It has been a regular occurence to the point where I carry oil at all times. It never takes more than 1 litre
countrybuggybill

Happened to my sisters golf.. she just stopped by a dealer and they topped it up for her (they didn't charge).

normal even the 2.0T engines do this

I check the oil regulary in my Crewman and the wifes' Forester, never (yep, never) have I had to top it up, the buggy's another story, but it's 45 year old technology and I can see where it drips out onto the drip tray that I position under the motor plus it burns a little, specialy on starting sometimes.

My 2.5 inline 5 in the USA didn't budge off the high oil mark in the 20,000 miles we had it. But that's not a TDi.

I've heard 1 quart of oil per 3 months is normal for 2.slows and TDis - i.e. VW will do nothing for you. But if it's over that, it's worth keeping track of the oil consumption and ringing VW to find out if they can do something if it keeps up.

Also - did you get the original fill oil out of the car @ 1000 km? This stuff is ultra thin and is not supposed to be in there forever. It should have been a free service within the first month of ownership.

thanks,
Andrew

Um, seriously - obey the owners manual for oil change frequency and the type of oil you should be using rather than listen to the dealer. The sales folks know less than nothing. The service department will know a lot more, but the manual is your guide.

It's what VW Australia will use if they are going to give or deny you warranty coverage.

[edit - whoops!] TDI Club FAQ states:

See, I was always under the impression that it was wise to have an oil change within, say, the first 2000kms of a brand new engine.. then at the halfway mark of a normal scheduled servicing timeline, and then just at each scheduled servicing point thereafter... the manual corroborates this too.. So one would expect that one wouldn't have to top up (let alone buy oil themselves) in between services. Esp nowadays where, if you do ANYTHING to the car, it could void the warranty!

Apparantly (also), you can't buy the diesel oil that VW use off the shelf because it's 'special'. pffft. Correct me if I'm wrong, but an engine's an engine. It requires a certain grade of oil that ether Mobil or Castrol or Shell will manufacture (I'm only listing three big names). VW would have to buy it off one of them.. SO LET ME KNOW WHAT TYPE OF OIL IT IS INSTEAD OF SELLING ME ONE LITRE OF IT FOR $25!!!!!

The only thing I can think Chris is that the turbo uses more oil than usual - heat disipation from the turbo. I find the same with my V70T Volvo that is also uses oil as well.

I will see how out NB TDi goes

We have 3,000kms on ours

I read the manual a dozen times and rand 3 service departments
Same answer - first service 15,000kms
No 1,000 km or 2,000 km oil change

its common in vw motors. it is wise to keep a check on the oil in between servicing as sometimes they use enough that they need to be topped up.
All you need is the oil coding and it should be available off the shelf.
Some of the guys over on vwwatercooled.org.au do their own servicing and as long as you use the VW specified oils and filters etc it will hold up under warranty.

I change the oil in the T4 every 5k kms n it's a diesel too
if your going to keep the thing a while look at doing the same yeah
it will last longer and be more efficent over the long haul
+ you should pay attention to general maintenance a little more frequently than that, what does ur service log book/self maintenace section say about this?
n there is no way imo that the dealer will top the oil up between services..
I think your mate is having a lend of u
cheers h

Also have a good read of your manual. Most new cars recomend a longer time between services now (ie 15,000km) but allot say if you are using the car for extreme duty, you should undertake a oil and filter change at half service interval. Most manfactuers rate city driving (stop start) as extreme use.

15000kms is way too long on oil, especially diesels. manufacturers are doing this to cut costs to the purchaser, but i would recommend changing it at 7500kms at the most. only downside is the cost of oil, but the oil filter is cheap.
my TDI Passat has nearly 7000kms on it now and hasnt used any oil, although the dealer said to expect some oil useage and to return to the dealer for a free top up

im around turbo diesel tractors and 4WDs all day everyday and even from new they use a bit of oil between services

altho having said that i hadnt really thought about it till this thread but my old 03 navara turbo diesel VW recovery vehicle never moved on the dipstick in the 44,000kms i put on it

nissan serviced it every 5000Kms but i was always a few thousand KMs late

oils are improving all the time but they still dont last forever, i know mercs for a while used their ECU to decide on on the interval based on how much urban driving the car had done but the intervals with them were upto 25,000miles.....
i dont care how expensive a car is u cant stop moisture and dirt contaiminating the oil for the 2km city trips that most of them do

most modern cars seem to have 10K intervals
thats what mine are but i still change it every 5k
oil and filters are cheap compared to engine work