Oil Problems

[bike867]

Hey guys, I bought a s4 a few months back at 45000 miles. After about 2k miles I ran out of oil?? I mean, nothing in there, dipstick dry. I took it over to the dealer(riverside Audi) and they said that everything was fine, that the car just burns oil. Now I've owned 4 Audi's and I can say I have never seen 6 quarts of oil being burnt in 2k miles. So anyways, I got an oil change at 49000 miles and everything checked out to be ok. I was driving into work today(50,500 miles) and the oil light came on, so I checked the stick and I was almost down to the bottom part of the yellow. I called the dealership and they told me it was normal to burn oil, yet again. I can hardly believe that I would be burning all of this oil. By the way, its only been 1500 miles since my last oil change!! Any information would be great guys!!

Thanks in advance

Tony

[91gl]

they do burn oil but not like that. you need to go there and insist that there is something wrong because until you do, all your gonna hear is the same thing. they should burn a quart every 5k or so, not that much in only 1,500

[SuperAvant]

I think when it is to the bottom of the dipstick though that is about a quart so a quart every 1500 miles is normal...

[fitzS4]

do you have any leaks i would look behind the belly pan..same thing happend to me and it was teh front crank seal....

[channad]

try using some better oil. I had low oil after 1100 miles. Put in some good stuff and never had to fill up again.

[ant7701]

check your valve cover gaskets for leaks....common.

on mine...i burn a quart every thousand. My low oil light comes on every 2k like clockwork...and it takes 2 quarts to top her off. Audi considers that normal. Anything more then it would be an issue I was told. And your oil pan holds 10 quarts of oil...a dry dipstick would mean approx 2 quarts down.

[wwb4]

I have to add a quart roughly every 1500 miles myself...........I too have been advised that the B6/B7 S4s are infamous for burning oil....much like the E39 M5.

[Meradin]

I drive 5k between oil changes and barely ever have to add any oil. Some S4s burn more then others and but anything up to a quart/1000 miles is considered normal. It generally depends on how well the rings are seated in the cylinders which you can't do much about after break-in. You might want to do a compression test if you are burning a lot and don't have leaks.

[Tek4ever]

Same, about 1500 to 2000 roughly. Everyone using synthetic? Does synthetic maybe burn a bit easier???

[channad]

Synthetic is what Audi recommends. I use Lubro-Moly which has the VW 502.00 rating we need. It's pure synthetic from Germany. A group of RS owners run that. Others also use Motul, Elf, and AMS. These are all high grade oils.

I bring 10 quarts of Lubro-Moly for my oil changes, and I keep 2 quarts in the trunk. Jose at Eurotech claims you can go 7500 miles without change, using Lubro-Moly. I personally won't.

[Tek4ever]

Thanks for that info Channed. About a month prior to me following the DIY for changing plugs, I thought the only time I'll bring the car to the dealer is for oil changes. Figured I'll pay the $150 to keep the record to continue to appear on carfax reports and...not having to find a place to bring the used oil to. After doing only 30 minutes of research, (and realizing my question - does synthetic burn faster? - is NEGATIVE) I think I'll buy the better oil, find a local place to bring the used oil, and actually save money. I would think keeping receipts for buying good oil would be just as good as a carfax reporting oil changes.

[bike867]

Thanks everyone. I use 0W-30 synthetic oil. I checked for any leaks and there were none. I'm guessing if it is normal to burn in 1500 miles then I should be fine. Thanks again for all the input!!

[RAudi Driver]

Thanks everyone. I use 0W-30 synthetic oil. I checked for any leaks and there were none. I'm guessing if it is normal to burn in 1500 miles then I should be fine. Thanks again for all the input!!

What synthethic oil are you using? 0/30 seems a bit thin. You should try 5/40 from one of the Manufacturers that Channa mentioned. I use Motul, Channa uses Lubro Moly. I would jump on the band wagon and switch out the oil.

Good Luck and keep us updated on the issue.

[channad]

I use Motul, Channa uses Lubro Moly. I would jump on the band wagon and switch out the oil.

I would suggest the same if you want to keep your car for a while.

I say it's the best mod you can do. Along with top tier gasoline. Next would be driving school then start fiddling with suspension/brakes/wheels/exhaust. Sorry for getting OT!

And yeah, keep us posted!

[jester7677]

And change it yourself.

You'll see any leaks that there might be and save yourself the money on the labor, especially for such a simple job.

Total should be about $70 with filter.

[bike867]

Yea, I payed 175 the other day for the oil change, they charged me 65 for the filter alone.....I will probably go on ECS later and purchase some oil filters for my next oil change. I'll also give this new oil a try, anything is better then the oil issues I am having now. For some reason the Audi manual recommends that you use 0W-30, but the other day they told me to use 5W-30. I will upgrade from this and use this Lubro Moly. Thanks again!

[jester7677]

Holy mother. Paying that much is robbery.

$60 for the oil, $10 for the filter. You'll also need to make a one time purchase of Rhino Ramps, large oil pan, drop light, maybe a breaker bar, proper bit for the drain, maybe a torque wrench if you want to do it by the book. All that will still not equal $175 (well torque wrench might put you at that... :).

Drain the oil from the bottom, not the top... (my opinion). 1hr job.

[91gl]

ever since i switched to motul x-cess 5w-40, i dont burn a drop

[SuperAvant]

QUestion - How does everyone get underneath their cars for an oil change? jack stands in the front seem too sketchy to get it in the air. What does everyone do here?

[RAudi Driver]

ever since i switched to motul x-cess 5w-40, i dont burn a drop

I put this oil in all my cars. It's one of the best.

[RAudi Driver]

QUestion - How does everyone get underneath their cars for an oil change? jack stands in the front seem too sketchy to get it in the air. What does everyone do here?

Floor jack. I jack up the car and slide my arms underneath to access everything. Once the plug is removed, I lower the car for about 1/2 hour. I don't put the car on jackstands, even though I know it's safer. I trust my jack for this simple job. Anything else and the jackstands go under.

You could do 4 ramps which would make the job really easy.

[jester7677]

You could do 4 ramps which would make the job really easy.

Uhhh, just use two Rhino Ramps, one for each wheel in the front. This is motor oil we're talking about, not transmission... :)

[Tek4ever]

It doesn't look like ECS sells Lubro Moly or motul x-cess 5w-40 oil. Where are you guys ordering from?

[Lugi20]

Here is a site that sells the oil everyone is raving about:

http://shop.edoperformance.com/motul...40-p-9810.html

$40 for a 5 liter jug, so $80 for all your super-premium oil isn't too bad.


**EDIT**

I wanted to add a link to a short .pdf with considerable information on it for anyone interested.

http://www.thezstore.com/Motul/8100_..._3682_(GB).pdf

[RAudi Driver]

Uhhh, just use two Rhino Ramps, one for each wheel in the front. This is motor oil we're talking about, not transmission... :)

The car should still be level when draining the motor oil.

[channad]

It doesn't look like ECS sells Lubro Moly or motul x-cess 5w-40 oil. Where are you guys ordering from?

here:

http://www.eurosportacc.com/liquimol...nthese_oil.htm

[cops04s4]

Does this oil really make that much of a difference? Ive come to terms that im just gonna have to add a quart every 2000 miles or so, audi has checked the car numerous times...

[jester7677]

The car should still be level when draining the motor oil.

I'd rather pass on the 100% level than jack the car up. I think most would agree, but if your that comfortable with the jack, bless you. I don't use it enough and I believe mine needs to have the fluid replaced as I left it in the garage over the winter. That was a mistake.

[RAudi Driver]

I'd rather pass on the 100% level than jack the car up. I think most would agree, but if your that comfortable with the jack, bless you. I don't use it enough and I believe mine needs to have the fluid replaced as I left it in the garage over the winter. That was a mistake.

lol, I did the same thing and just ended up tossing the old floor jack into the trash. I went out and purchased two new low profile floor jacks and they work great.

[jester7677]

RAudi, let me ask though, would you agree that keeping the car level, thereby needing a jack and not just 2 ramps, is a bit obsessive?

Don't get me wrong, I'm obsessive but I save that energy on detailing the car. Perhaps you pay someone to do that?...:)

[RAudi Driver]

I just jack up the car, usually with one jack, remove plastic and drain plug, lower the jack and let the oil drain. 1/2 hour later, I return, jack up the car, pop the plug back in, install the plastic covers and lower the jack.

It doesn't seem any harder than grabbing two ramps placing them in front of the car, getting in the car, starting it up, driving it up the ramps, getting out of the car, then going through the rest of the process.

I just think that the car should be level when draining fluids. Besides, floor jacks are super easy to use. You just roll it to under the car. Lock it into place, and jack the car up.

Your a ramp guy, I'm a jack guy. Are you sure that all the motor oil comes out of the car when it sits at an angle? I can't remember where the drain plug is on our cars. Is it at the back of the pan or on the bottom?

I still think that both ways are better than sucking it out the dipstick tube.

[jester7677]

Well now that your talking about it, you might have sold me on the ease.

Now all I have to do is decide what to do with the jack that lost it's love all over my garage... :)

[B18b1ex]

please put the jack stands under car while you are under there, I'd hate to hear the jack failed, it does happen. It takes all of two min or less to save you from harm.

[UberDave]

please put the jack stands under car while you are under there, I'd hate to hear the jack failed, it does happen. It takes all of two min or less to save you from harm.

Right. I can live with RAudi's method as long as he puts a jack stand under there, just in case...

[RAudi Driver]

Jack stands it is for my safety net.

[Addicted2Bass]

Does anyone know the torque spec for the drain plug?

[S4J]

I find it ten times easier using an oil extactor...you never have to get under the car...$75 at Griot's. Plus, you can do it with one hand in your pocket while wearing khakis http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...d+extractor.do

[Addicted2Bass]

I find it ten times easier using an oil extactor...you never have to get under the car...$75 at Griot's. Plus, you can do it with one hand in your pocket while wearing khakis http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...d+extractor.do

That's sick, I'm ordering it.

[nimski62]

How does that thing get deep into the oil pan and such...?

[SuperAvant]

How does that thing get deep into the oil pan and such...?

I think it sucks it out from the bottom. They claim BMW techs use this method but thats not sayin much..