New R8....Problem(?)

[Wojo]

Hey guys--

Just recently purchased a new 2009 R8 and now have about 650 miles on it. When driving the other day my 'Engine Oil' light came on and it was nearly a quart low. My AUDI dealer/R8 cert. mechanic said the vehicle is sometimes shipped with relatively low oil and just needed to be topped off. Obviously, this should have been checked and corrected during initial servicing but...I guess that could happen(?).

My question is this: When starting the vehicle (cold) and I see blue exhaust smoke...not sure if I should conclude that the R8 is burning oil or is this just coincidental?

LOVE the car! Just don't want to take someone's word on it and find out the hard way that there was a problem.

Jim in VA

[mngolfer]

Do a search on this site for oil usage. There is a great deal of talk regarding how much oil is used on the R8 during the break-in period. The R8 is just an oil hog. I keep one quart in the trunk...just in case.

[harrison]

I just realized car has a dipstick. Meaning my oil consumption is minimal.I don't rev her till she's warm thus preventing a bluish smoke.Mostly after sitting for a few days after being driven hard. I just hope that if my motor blows ,that she blows up and is covered under warranty= new engine!!! Don't worry I treat her like a baby---most of the time.In 6000 miles, computer only advised "ADD OIL " once. Am I in the clear? Maybe an oil analisis might explain excessive oil consumption???

[richcliffe]

I have put in 2 quarts of oil in 2500 miles

[gazza1]

Maybe to allay your fears.

I have seen many a NEW r8 blow blue smoke(and fill up car showrooms)

High oil usage is perfectly normal and will freak you out but does settle way down after about 10,000k


Enjoy the car and don,t sweat.

[Jimk]

Prior to the R8 I had an RS4 and the 4.2L uses oil in that car as well. Runs really rich on startup, blue smoke is common, nothing to worry about. As said previously, this engine uses oil, no big deal just keep a quart with you and keep an eye on it. My RS4 used a quart every 2k miles and I never had any problems with that car.

[R84ME]

I just clicked over 700 mi. and have not had to add any oil yet. Dipstick is almost into the ADD range. No excessive startup smoke though. Can't wait to see the results of an oil analysis at 1,000 mi.

[wedouglas]

Mine uses quite a bit. I have 9K miles on mine and recently had to add some. I always keep a spare qt with me.

[willyjp]

You may know that the puff of oil smoke on start-up is a well known signature of the "small block" Chevrolet v-8 (with only 2 valves per cylinder), due to inherently slightly loose oil seals on the valve guides; in smalll block Chevy circles it is not considered a bad sign, only shows your top end oiling is good. And it's not a sign that your top end is in need of work, as many very hi-perf. small blocks have run well for years with a blue puff every time they start up. The longer the engine has been sitting (with oil seeping down the valves), the bigger the blue puff. I suspect the same is true of the Audi 4.2 (with 4 valves per cyl.), even though it likely has tighter specs all-round than any small block Chevy.

[harrison]

My small block Chevy never shows any blue smoke.She is a fresh 350 with Edelbrok Jr. heads.I do see a brown puff when I rev her to 5700 rpm though.Quite normal,considering I am probably Over carbureted with the 750CFM double pumper I am running now.Will try a 650 CFM soon.R8 engine is like Yoda while the Chevy is more like CHEW BAKA.(chews rear tires).