Re: oil usage

[Elliott Potter <epotter@abraxis.com>]

Grant Lenahan wrote:
> 
> Howdy Elliot,
> 
> Absolutely.  I have stated categorically, about a million times, that audi
> engines
> traditionally use oil.  Every single one I know of (dozens) uses some oil.
>  The manual agrees.  Dealer and specialist techs agree.

I've only had one Audi that used a noticeable amount of oil; that was
the first year Audi Fox and it had other troubles; the block was warped,
things were misaligned in the engine, the engine itself was on
crooked...
I drive about 50/50 highway/city miles during the week, about 100 or so
per work week, and add about 200 highway miles every weekend.  During
the break-in period the car burned some oil (normal for new cars) but
then seemed to stop almost totally.  I change the oil about every 3000
miles and maybe once every 4 or 5 times I'll notice about 1/8qt missing,
but rarely.

> 
> The I-5 used oil seepage to lubricate the valve guides, by design.
> In fact, any engine needs to use some oil to lubricate the rings.  Most people
> don't noitice it as usage because the oil is replaced by distillates, gasoline,
> sludde,
> etc., and never gets burned off.  You need oil well above 100 degC for 30+
> minutes to
> remove that junk.
> 
> I didn't  "seem to suggest", I went *way* out on that limb.

I try to avoid using strong language on the Q-list as people take stuff
so seriously here; I find it easiest to stay out of pissing contests if
I sound non-commital...

> 
> Newer designs *may* use less, since audi had some legal troubles over oil
> usage in the 80s (slow drain -> no oil -> failure -> lawsuit).  But my "new" '95
> A6Q indicates that they're right on track (1 qt/750 during break-in, very low
> usage,
> about 0.5/4000, now).
> 
> Grant
Well I don't know, I guess I'm just lucky
It must have been the cat I sacrificed to the Audi Gods when I bought
the car...
(just kidding)

Elliott