Why so much oil?

[richcliffe]

Hi
I have read many times on this forum about the amount of oil that the R8 uses, with some people constantly having to top up. I bought mine with just over 4k on the clock and currently have just reached 7k. In that time I have had to top up twice with a litre each time. Although I have read it plenty of times, and everyone seems to expect the oil usage to be high, I haven't really seen or heard and explanation WHY?? My local Audi dealer, when asked why the car drinks so much of the black stuff, replied "Because it does - it can take a litre every 1000 miles". OK then, but WHY?

Can anyone explain? Is it because of the type of engine that's in there? Does the 4.2 from the RS4 drink oil in the same way?

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere in the dim and distant past.

Thanks in advance!

[randombloke]

fwiw, I topped up at just over 4.5k miles and then again at just under 7k miles which is around where you did - prior to that was 1,100 and 2,900 miles.

seems par for the course in high revving engines - my m6 was a heavy oil drinker too and the m3 before that - at least the r8 uses readily available oil vs the castrol 10w60 that was specced for m's.

[harrison]

Could an improper break-in cause this? Mine drinks 1 litre approximately in 3000 miles.I feel lucky.Add the high price of the oil to fuel and that adds up to terrible petrol consumption. Those of you with high consumption...is the rear of your car moist,sticky or oily?

[randombloke]

I can only speak about my own car which was broken in as per the owners handbook - but this type of oil usage seems normal for the r8. There's no oiliness at the rear of the car.

Add the high price of the oil to fuel and that adds up to terrible petrol consumption

it's a 400bhp+ n.a. engine - what kind of fuel consumption were you expecting?

[richcliffe]

Those of you with high consumption...is the rear of your car moist,sticky or oily?

No such problems at the back end (or on the car )

[Jimk]

I have only 800 miles and have not had to add any oil. My RS4 needed a quart every 2k miles or so. Reports of oil consumption seem normal for this engine.

[harrison]

If a guy has to add more than a litre in a thousand kilometers of normal street usage that is ALOT in my book.Now... under racing conditions that would be normal. If you start adding things up...registration,insurance,safety sticker,sales tax,weight tax,gas guzzler tax,luxury tax,and an occasional quart of oil...it's all worth it !! And you have to love our fuel prices over here 2.50/Gal. Oil costs about 4 bucks a quart...for now.We were at almost 5.00 /Gal. a few months ago !! It's time to burn some more fuel !!!

[bz888]

Well. To be honest, if you're adding oil very regularly it MAY have something to do with an improper break in. I did my own break-in. Did not read the hand book. The car has consumed about 500ml in 12,000kms!

[wings22]

To provide the other extreme, I followed the manual recommended break-in to the letter. I expect I am on the lower end of the revving spectrum compared with most, as I put a lot of miles on the car as a cruiser/tourer. My consumption has also been minimal. I had the dealer add a small amount right at 2000 miles, and that has been my only oil warning. I am now approaching 14,000 miles. Of course, I don't know if they added any at the 5000 mile scheduled service.

[harrison]

Hey Wings,I'm pretty sure your oil was changed at 5 K service.Now is the time for us to take note of consumption.I just hsd my 5K service/oil change done last month.We don't know if we need oil 'till computer says 1 Qt. needed.There is no dipstick as far as I know.Maybe the dealer has a way of measuring how much oil is still in there !!.