Oil usage on petrol BBY 1390 1.4 engines

AlvaroP

Member
Morning.

Could I ask the opinion of those with petrol BBY 1390 1.4 engines, on engine oil usage?

Driving back from Dartmoor to London yesterday the 'minimum oil light' came on, so I stopped and topped it up with about 1/4 of the 1L container of 5W40 noted on the service documents and it resolved the warning light for 30 mins. The warning light then returned and I stopped and did the same again adding a further 1/4 of the container.

The oil was changed and serviced in December 4th on 55,550 miles and today we're on 57,622 when the light came on. If it's reached minimum oil warning in just over 2000 miles, is it unusual in cold weather doing a few long journeys on this engine? (My other A2 TDi diesel only once pinged the oil warning light in the several years we've owned it so unsure if the Diesel is just more frugal with oil usage)

2. Additional question - when the oil minimum warning light comes on, is it nearly empty, 3/4 empty, half empty? How much is full in litres on this engine even? On the motorway I was unsure whether to put just the 1/4 litre in, or more.

I've looked under the engine bonnet and under the car and can't see any obvious oil leak marks.

Thanks for any insights. Al
 
Morning.

Could I ask the opinion of those with petrol BBY 1390 1.4 engines, on engine oil usage?

Driving back from Dartmoor to London yesterday the 'minimum oil light' came on, so I stopped and topped it up with about 1/4 of the 1L container of 5W40 noted on the service documents and it resolved the warning light for 30 mins. The warning light then returned and I stopped and did the same again adding a further 1/4 of the container.

The oil was changed and serviced in December 4th on 55,550 miles and today we're on 57,622 when the light came on. If it's reached minimum oil warning in just over 2000 miles, is it unusual in cold weather doing a few long journeys on this engine? (My other A2 TDi diesel only once pinged the oil warning light in the several years we've owned it so unsure if the Diesel is just more frugal with oil usage)

2. Additional question - when the oil minimum warning light comes on, is it nearly empty, 3/4 empty, half empty? How much is full in litres on this engine even? On the motorway I was unsure whether to put just the 1/4 litre in, or more.

I've looked under the engine bonnet and under the car and can't see any obvious oil leak marks.

Thanks for any insights. Al

I believe when the light comes on it take 1 litre to bring back to the normal level THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING from what I have read previously and experienced on a 1.4i, is it possible you have an oil leak? Also is the oil you are using the correct spec I though it was 5w30 on the 1.4


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Also the oil breaker from the crankcase, if this is blocked the car will use a lot more oil


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I believe when the light comes on it take 1 litre to bring back to the normal level THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING from what I have read previously and experienced on a 1.4i, is it possible you have an oil leak? Also is the oil you are using the correct spec I though it was 5w30 on the 1.4


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Thanks @Edwrai

I was wondering about oil leak myself but no clear indication there is one yet, so troubleshooting currently.

5w40 was what the Audi service put in it in Devember at full service, so assumed that was correct ?

@PlasticMac thanks - not sure how to tell which is the root cause, level or pressure, from the warning light alone. Given the top up seems to temporarily have resolved it, is it likely level?

Cheers both.
 
Thanks @PlasticMac

As an aside, and I know this has been discussed at length elsewhere on the forum, the all black plastic dipstick that this model has on it seems bizarre. Whoever at Audi thought a black oil dipstick was a good idea must have been having a moment. My TDi has an orange tip which makes much more sense.
 
Is the oil light activated by low level, or low pressure? I'm guessing low pressure ...
Mac.

The oil light yellow is by the oil level sensor, the oil light red is by pressure, that one is serious


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My 103 000 mile BBY is putting the yellow light on at 1500-2000 miles on 5W30. It was 900 miles tops before on different oil (unknown). I put 1/2 litre in when the light comes on. I'm hoping Timmus will be fitting the colour DIS that will show oil level so that I don't have to use the black dipstick! I've heard that oil consumption can be 'variable' on these engines!

I have not checked the breather. Maybe there's somebody around who can comment on that.
 
Mine does about 4400 miles on 1 litre of 5W40 (though thats with never going above 2800rpm). 5W30 was about 30% worse I would say.

When the warning pops up for the first time, I have been able to fit in 1 full litre, though recently have gone down to adding 0.75 when it does since I don't always trust the warning to always be accurate enough to fit 1.0 in.
This suggests however, that it beeps at something like 2.3 litres remaining. The german A2 manual says to add 0.5l I think so it might be best to stick to that.

I would not recommend adding too little though (like the mentioned 0.25l) since for some reason, sometimes it seems to not register small amounts added as sufficient.
It will then beep again 100km (62 miles or is it 100 miles for UK models?) after last opening the service flap (since thats how far the warning is disabled for when opening the flap, which, in my opinion, is insanely stupid..) - this may have happened to you.
Reason for the non-recommendation is, that you might then think.. "oh it's not fixed, lets try to add a litre this time.." and then you would have overfilled. o_O

Take all this with a grain of salt - if the sensor should be failing, there is of course basically no way of telling how much oil is left with the A2's dipstick ? - If it is OK, a readout is possible via VCDS through instrument cluster Group 004 valuebox #4 with the level that triggers the warning being valuebox #2, as far as I understand.

Bonus points if the whole beep every 100km charade happens to you on your first trip "overseas" and you have no clue what's *Happening while wondering if the A2 is actually going to die on you on the A1M ??
 
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Thanks @Seb_Gurkyh @Edwrai @Providence your insights are useful.

@Seb_Gurkyh you're not wrong about the dipstick, arbitrary to say the least, the service flap algorithm you mention sounds bizarre ?.

I don't envy your overseas phantom beeps every 100! ? Cars always throw a curve ball when far from home or in challenging circumstances, I've always found that a remarkably reliable truth of life right?

I once had a brand new 2017 Peugeot hire car (literally the 2nd week it was available) die in the remote Alps, and the windscreen wiper motor on one of my A2s fail hundreds of miles from home taking my mother to hospital. The motoring gods have some funny ideas about the spin of the roulette wheel! ?
 
Thanks @Seb_Gurkyh @Edwrai @Providence your insights are useful.

@Seb_Gurkyh you're not wrong about the dipstick, arbitrary to say the least, the service flap algorithm you mention sounds bizarre .

I don't envy your overseas phantom beeps every 100! Cars always throw a curve ball when far from home or in challenging circumstances, I've always found that a remarkably reliable truth of life right?

I once had a brand new 2017 Peugeot hire car (literally the 2nd week it was available) die in the remote Alps, and the windscreen wiper motor on one of my A2s fail hundreds of miles from home taking my mother to hospital. The motoring gods have some funny ideas about the spin of the roulette wheel!

The service flag makes a lot of sense as if the level is detected low round a corner it will set it off, and remind you until the service flap is opened to top it up.


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@AlvaroP, I find no mention that you've check the oil level with the dipstick, and hopefully this is not the case.

Sensors can fail, and it's as bad, if not worse, to have more oil in the engine than too little.

Check the oil level on the dipstick on level ground, engine cool or stood for 10 mins.
Remove dipstick, wipe it clean, dip it and read it, wipe it clean and re-dip it to verify same reading.
Fill to correct mark on stick and check level every 200 miles or every week (assuming you're not leaving a trail of oil or smoke as you drive).

Do the above, and if you're burning excessive oil you'll notice before something bad occurs and you can plan your next move.

Cheers
Jeff
 
Hi Jeff, @Mustang-owner, thanks that's sound advice on the interval checks.

And yep - forgot to include that didn't I, first check with the dip stick on the motorway at time of issue occurring seemed to suggest full, though the engine had been running for 150 miles and it was dark and, well, black plastic dipsticks accuracy in the dark ?‍♂️?

The second check with the dipstick when back and it had been sat flat and off, suggested more like half way between B and A points on the petrol dipstick which I guess is more inkeeping with having just had .5 litre added after the minimum sensor bleeped.

No sign of any oil leaks under the bonnet or on the ground or smoke trails as yet ?
 
Okay - well if the oil is sitting mid-way between the marks and the oil level indicator bongs, I'd be inclined to suspect a failing sensor or sensor cabling rather than an actual oil useage issue.

I think you mentioned some recent service work - sometimes, depending on the work carried out, looms under the car can get a little stretched (especially with a cambelt change), and maybe if the oil fliter has been changed by someone not showing great care the connector to the sensor might have become loose.
Do you have an undertray fitted? They are essential for rigidity of the front wings and bumper but also they keep the verious looms and coeector free from crud at this time of the year.
if possible I'd remove the sensor connector and spray with contact cleaner and see if the erros stop.
If the fault comes back and the poil level is good, unfortunately you'll need a new level sensor.

Cheers
Jeff
 
@AlvaroP, I find no mention that you've check the oil level with the dipstick, and hopefully this is not the case.

Sensors can fail, and it's as bad, if not worse, to have more oil in the engine than too little.

Check the oil level on the dipstick on level ground, engine cool or stood for 10 mins.
Remove dipstick, wipe it clean, dip it and read it, wipe it clean and re-dip it to verify same reading.
Fill to correct mark on stick and check level every 200 miles or every week (assuming you're not leaving a trail of oil or smoke as you drive).

Do the above, and if you're burning excessive oil you'll notice before something bad occurs and you can plan your next move.

Cheers
Jeff

You know my friend has a 2012 s4 it has no dip stick and only has a sensor!


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Okay - well if the oil is sitting mid-way between the marks and the oil level indicator bongs, I'd be inclined to suspect a failing sensor or sensor cabling rather than an actual oil useage issue.

I think you mentioned some recent service work - sometimes, depending on the work carried out, looms under the car can get a little stretched (especially with a cambelt change), and maybe if the oil fliter has been changed by someone not showing great care the connector to the sensor might have become loose.
Do you have an undertray fitted? They are essential for rigidity of the front wings and bumper but also they keep the verious looms and coeector free from crud at this time of the year.
if possible I'd remove the sensor connector and spray with contact cleaner and see if the erros stop.
If the fault comes back and the poil level is good, unfortunately you'll need a new level sensor.

Cheers
Jeff

Thanks @Mustang-owner - all good thoughts, cheers.

Yep undertray fitted and agree. I'll monitor it over the next couple of weeks and see how it behaves.
 
The service flag makes a lot of sense as if the level is detected low round a corner it will set it off, and remind you until the service flap is opened to top it up.

Not sure we are talking about the same thing?
A permanent warning until opening the flap makes sense of course, however the way the A2 appears to work is that If for whatever reason you get the warning, open the flap, then don't fill up (or add way too little), the warning is still going to be disabled for the next 100km, regardless of whether it should be there or not.
I seriously hope that it does not "lock out" all new warnings (yellow or red) though have not been unlucky enough yet to get to test that. (Example: You've filled up windscreen washer fluid, then 20 miles later, the Oil MIN warning is triggered by the sensor. Does it show up because it's a new warning or does it not because opening the flap disables all warnings for 100km?)
 
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