Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Consumer Reports finds some newer cars burn too much oil


Associated Press By TOM KRISHER
20 hours ago

.
DETROIT (AP) — Newer cars aren't supposed to need more oil between oil changes, but Consumer Reports found that some engines — mainly from Audi, BMW and Subaru — require an extra quart as often as once a month.

In an annual survey of car owners, significant numbers reported what the magazine considered to be excessive oil consumption. Consumer Reports focused on 2010 to 2014 models and called on automakers to make repairs under the powertrain warranty or to extend warranties.

"The companies should be willing to step up and take responsibility for their products," said Mark Rechtin, the magazine's cars content team leader.

Owners of newer cars, he said, shouldn't have to carry oil around and worry about adding it. Most cars, he said, have dashboard lights warning drivers if their oil gets too low. But failing to pay attention to that light eventually can cause engine damage. The magazine's survey didn't find any link between oil consumption and other engine problems, but it found that cars that burn oil early consume more as they age.

It's normal for cars to burn a little oil as they age toward 100,000 miles, the magazine said in its August issue. But for a late-model car to burn a quart or more between changes is not acceptable, Rechtin said.

The magazine focused on survey data from 498,000 owners of 2010 to 2014 models, finding that 98 percent did not have to add oil between changes. But even if the problem happens to only 2 percent of owners, that equals 1.5 million cars from the five model years, Rechtin said.

Several engines from three manufacturers were the main offenders, according to the magazine. Those include Audi's 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder and 3.0-liter V6; BMW's 4.8 liter V8 and 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8; and Subaru's 3.6 liter six-cylinder and 2.0- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines. The Subarus burned less oil than the others.

Affected models include Audi's A3, A4, A5, A6 and Q5; BMW's 5, 6, and 7 Series and X5; and the Subaru Outback, Legacy, Forester and Impreza.

The magazine says that standards for certain Audi and BMW cars say that it's reasonable to burn a quart of oil every 600 to 700 miles. Subaru considers one quart burned for every 1,000 to 1,200 miles to be acceptable, Consumer Reports said.

Audi spokesman Bradley Stertz said a class action lawsuit against Audi over oil consumption by the 2.0-Liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines is close to being settled without the company admitting liability or wrongdoing. The settlement affects 2009 A4, 2010 A4 and A5, and 2011 A4, A5 and Q5 models. With the other models, Audi hasn't been able to identify an abnormal number of oil consumption complaints, he said.

BMW said oil consumption is normal on all engines, and consumption within specifications doesn't mean there's excessive engine wear. The company said some regular BMW motors can consume up to a quart every 750 miles, and M series performance engines can use up to 2.5 quarts per 1,000 miles under certain conditions. The company says it has a service campaign to check and possibly replace some parts in the 4.4 liter V8.

Subaru spokesman Michael McHale said oil consumption can vary depending on how a vehicle is used. The vast majority of Subarus, he said, performed within specifications, and the company's vehicles have improved from 2010 through the current models.

mmarshall

No. No matter what company representatives say, oil use at those intervals is NOT acceptable. To try and claim otherwise is PR nonsense.


What's being overlooked, though, is that some owners are not breaking in their new vehicles properly. The guidelines in the Owners' Manuals for break-in (4000-4500 RPM max, no full-throttle acceleration, vary engine speed up and down, no hard braking except for emergencies) mean what they say.....they are not merely suggestions. Flaunt them, and one risks improper valve/bearings/ring seating and more-than-necessary oil use.

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

if the issue was improper break in how come its only 2% of cars had this oil consumption. Notice that its a specific set of culprits and are also turbocharged engines.

mmarshall

Only with the German cars. That's not the case with all of those normally-aspirated Subarus, which, in America, sell in even greater numbers. There are some Subaru turbos, but they don't sell in the numbers that their N/A engines do.

Of course, one cannot put all of the blame on improper break-in procedures (and I wasn't trying to suggest that), because the majority of new drivers don't abuse their vehicles. But enough of them do, especially with high-performance cars (hence the turbo engines), that it cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor.

spwolf

so bread and butter VW engines are crap :-).

VibeMotorsports

One of the cars I own is actually a 2004 Subaru WRX and man does she eat up a lot of oil. Well maintained, no leaks- don't worry guys shes in good condition and not abused. That's just how these cars are. I've heard the same thing from my BRZ and FRS friends that they have to keep an eye on their levels as well. I do agree that this shouldn't be the case, because for the average person who doesn't know how to check their oil this could lead to some serious complications, but it is what it is.

Toys4RJill

The break in has nothing to do with it. I bet its deemed normal and let the engineers decide. CR reports are the worst, this feels like an attention grab.

bagwell

sorry, but it's a TRUTH grab.

You'll see my comments there about my wife's A5 2.0T guzzling oil. So far Audi has done an oil consumption test and minor engine work before really tearing into it.

...and of course when adding oil they fill it to the very maximum you can stick in there so the oil light stays off longer. Even after that it's down to about 50% on the electronic indicator bar right now.

Supposedly the fix is new (revised) piston rings....but that's the final straw after trying other things.

mmarshall

I'll tell you what. Next time you get a new car, redline the engine routinely in the first 500 miles or so, and do routine pedal-to-the-medal acceleration, and let's see what kind of oil consumption your engine ends up with.


Now, that's not to say that all excessive oil consumption is break-in related. Sometimes engine parts themselves are made out of sub-standard components, which is something that is being looked into with the Subarus.....the material and manufacturing processes for the piston rings. And, the average 2.0L or 2.5L non-turbo Impreza, Forester, or Outback buyer, from their usual type of driving, is not likely to go around drag-racing.


CR is, and always was, a respectable publication. They haven't been tracking auto reliability since 1936 by reporting garbage.

LeX2K

This is a little extreme don't you think? Most people don't drive their cars like this at all broken in or not. And why do some of these engines apparently have such specific break in procedures? What is it about the rings/pistons/cylinders that need special driving characteristics versus most others. All you need to do with most new engines is avoid running the engine at the same RPM for any length of time for the first 500 miles or so. That's it.

BTW I owned an MR2 and I revved that engine to the redline occasionally when I first got the car (hard not to) and it never burned a drop of oil or had any other issues the engine ran flawlessly.

Aron9000

BMW hasn't ever built a reliable V8. The N63 twin turbo V8 is such a lemon BMW is doing a recall, I mean special service campaign.

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bm...ues-90678.html

Even their V8's before that one, from the 90's and 00's have way more problems than their straight six motors from that era.

Toys4RJill

It's not a "breaking a vehicle" in issue in any way. Lots of engines will go through some oil as the car ages. Every carmaker has their specs and I sure this issue within spec.

mmarshall

For the vast majority of drivers, yes, that is extreme. But it definitely happens..especially with high-performance cars. Some buyers just can wait to "She What She'll Do".

And why do some of these engines apparently have such specific break in procedures? [/quote]

Some are already broken-in, or partly-broken in, at the plant before the vehicle is shipped or sold.


Basically, you're correct. The advice most generally given now is to not run the engine too long at exactly the same RPM, and to avoid jackrabbit acceleration.

spwolf

whats crazy is that they are spending oil day 1... while Audi's take few years to go bad. In any case, CR data shows that Audi and BMW's problematic engines take issues at over 50% rate after few years, thats just crazy. I thought we had it bad when Toyota's AD had oil issue, but they fixed it in 2 years and it was something like 10%-15%....

mmarshall

For the vast majority of drivers, yes, that is extreme. But it definitely happens..especially with high-performance cars. Some buyers just can't wait to "She What She'll Do".

Some are already broken-in, or partly-broken in, at the plant before the vehicle is shipped or sold.


Basically, you're correct. The advice most generally given now is to not run the engine too long at exactly the same RPM, and to avoid jackrabbit acceleration.

Even over and aside from all of this, though, IMO, there is no reason why modern engines should use a quart of oil in 1000 miles or less. Company attempts to justify that are just a bunch of PR nonsense.