Modern VW forum

[JPB]

I'd be more concerned about why a new, low mileage car would be using oil between changes! Benfield gave me a litre "just in case" to keep in the boot of mine when I bought it, which implies that they can burn some, but it's done 7000 miles since the end of July and has yet to use any of the ridiculously expensive stuff which in this case is their "long life" oil that contains some sort of Star Trek technology which apparently communicates via the infotainment system to tell me when it wants an oil change. Fortunately, I can opt to have that first service done at between 9,400 and 11,200 miles rather than wait for a projected 20k interval and that's what I'll be doing since all services needed during the warranty period are included in the car's price and at my average mileage that'll be as many as ten scheduled visits to the workshop .
Call me cynical but I'd just as soon not have oil in an engine for that long, a concern backed up by the tribology boffins from work who reckon that the "long life" 0w40 specified carries the same spec as the previous generation of oil which was intended to be dropped every >< 9,400 miles.

Shame the big VAG forum didn't work out in this case though, but given how many millions of VWs are sold, a one model forum makes more sense. I've had some good answers on the VAG forum, particularly when I was asking about my MK3 Variant's premature corrosion issues a few years ago and received information that got me some welding done that was paid for by the manufacturer of what was then a seven year old car with 174,000 miles on the odometer.

[Luxobarge]

Shame the big VAG forum didn't work out in this case though, but given how many millions of VWs are sold, a one model forum makes more sense. I've had some good answers on the VAG forum, particularly when I was asking about my MK3 Variant's premature corrosion issues a few years ago and received information that got me some welding done that was paid for by the manufacturer of what was then a seven year old car with 174,000 miles on the odometer.

Yeah, it's luck of the draw I think - the big Volvo forum where I'm a member is one of the most active and responsive forums I've ever been on, but that's for the '96-2000 cars, I believe that other parts of the forum for other models are much more quiet. It doesn't surprise me that you got more response for an older model - I think there's generally just much more enthusiasm for certain models (especially older ones) than others. After all, who's going to get really enthusiastic and committed to a 1.0 Polo? Well, anybody who knows more than how to bolt on Halfords carp anyway?

I still haven't had time to poke around in the engine bay in the daylight, as he's using the car most days and goes away partying on the weekend. When I do I'm hoping that I'll find a nice easy vacuum leak, rather than the next favourite which would be a new MAF, which could cost £££.

Cheers all!

[tractorman]

I gather that many cars still burn a little oil until "bedded in". A former colleague blew the engine on a new Fiesta about eight years ago because, according to Ford, he hadn't checked the oil - as stated in the instruction book. He was pretty near going through a second engine for the same reason - he checked it after a month and was amazed how much it used!

VWs were legendary in that the engines weren't bedded in properly until about 70K miles! The current Golf (just over five years old) has nearly 120K miles and I've never put oil in (apart from having it changed) and it was a repmobile that only got serviced when the warnings came - so much so that it did 18 months between changes (and did 112K in three years). I would say the engine hasn't suffered, but modern VWs are hopeless with their warning lights and gauges - the oil pressure light goes out before you even crank the engine and the temperature gauge has two readings "0" and whatever the normal is (I forget!). However, it can't be too bad - starts almost as well as the big tractor!! All that is not to say that I would leave oil in an engine for that long - this will be the second oil change and, if you check the figures, I've only done about 5000 miles since May last year! I tend to change at around 6-7K - though this is the first engine that uses fully-synthetic oil (and it's supposedly higher spec due to the DPF/Bluemotion "technology" as it is basically the same PD engine as the last Golf that used semi-synthetic).

I used to like the VAG forum, though there were some doom merchants on there: It almost seemed as if every question I saw had the response that "they all do that just before the pack up altogether"!! I fear those that now buy Audis instead of BMWs have lowered the tone a little! Not that all Audi owners are bad - I have to say that our ex-BP neighbour has two and he's a great bloke!

[JPB]

I like the posts in the Bugatti section, it appears that owners of the Veyron tend not to do their own routine maintenance would you believe! See if I had one of those big chunks of ponce metal, I'd be underneath that thing checking for new patches of chipped underseal every other day.

[Minxy]

Just asked a friend who works on them and he recon's air leak, probably vacuum, apparently there is a point near the carb/mono jet that is favourite but could be any leak. Apparently the window or parameter that the system operates under is very small so the slightest deviation puts the light on - in this case the lambda is sensing a lean mix!! He did say it could be lots of things but air/ vacuum leak is where he would start.

Oh and if you didn't realise bank one is just referring to the whole engine I.e for cylinder engine has one bank V6 or 8 has two banks, bank one and bank two.

[Luxobarge]

Thanks Minxy - top man, that's just the sort of info I was looking for. I'll pay particular attention to that area. I've had the huge air-cleaner/engine top cover on and off a couple of times, so I may well have disturbed something down there. I hope you're right, as it's likely to be a cheap fix. I cleared the fault code when it first happened, and it hasn't returned, so I think you're spot on about the sensitivity of the system. Still worth fixing though, if I don't it'll come back sooner or later eh?

Yeah, I know about bank 1 - it's not a V8, unfortunately.....

Cheers!

[tractorman]

Of course there is another factor with the likes of the VAG forum. Many of the members will own fairly new cars and get them serviced at the main agents and only ask questions when the main agent is charging a fortune for something the owner thinks should be either done under warranty, or cost 5p inc fitting (even a new cat)! They may not be interested or able to do things like fault-finding or slightly technical repair/maintenance work.

The advantage of a forum like this one is that most of us are fairly handy with an adjustable spanner and mash hammer. We are also car enthusiasts, not just for the car we drive but for all cars - the "Members Cars and Projects" page is full of a variety of makes and models - not necessarily cars either - and I suspect most of us have read and been interested in every post there. Even if we don't like a particular make and model, we will read the stories and find some interesting and useful information and get inspiration from these tales of woe and daring do! And, being interested, we will chat with like-minded friends about problems (as Minxy has) so we can post suggestions and information for our "virtual friends".

I think, of the many forums I have visited, this has to be one of the most enjoyable - thanks to those friends with similar interests and enthusiasm for all sorts of things - not only cars! We may strive for perfection - or strive to get half way to Chap Foose's standards, but we are primarily here to share and enjoy our vehicles - old and newer.

Hmm, have I brought this thread to a "Mornington Crescent" moment??

[JPB]

......a "Mornington Crescent" moment??

That turned into Botticelli about a thousand pages ago didn't it?

[Luxobarge]

Hehe - Tractorman - I think you're spot on, in your whole post there. True!

[Luxobarge]

Had a hunt around for vac leaks on this car the other day. The air cleaner is in a big square flat-ish box that covers the whole of the top of the engine, and to get at anything you have to release 2 x 10mm bolts and lift this off. I've done this a number of times for various reasons (e.g. new cam belt, throttle body clean etc.) However, when you lift it it either stretches or detaches a number of air pipes and vac lines, and so when I had a look I found a small one down on the right hand side that was disconnected. Now it might have become disconnected when I lifted the air box to investigate, but I don't think so because a) I don't remember re-connecting it last time I lifted the air box and b) my son now reports that the car runs MUCH better, less hesitant, more responsive, smoother etc. so I'm pretty sure that was the problem.

So, sorted! And a lesson to be more careful in esuring that ALL the little pipes are properly re-connected whenever I lift the air box. At least it was a nice cheap fix eh?

Thanks for all the help in this thread - great stuff.

Cheers all.