A Future Problem Or Not ?

[Tynesider]

We have had our Avensis Tourer 2.0 Diesel TR (manual gearbox) from new June 2009, and to date no problems, we are due for our 20.000 mile service next week, but since our last service (10.000 mile) I have noticed the oil level on the engine dip stick has gone down by halve.

Is this a sign of future problems to come, or normal? all cars obviously use oil, but I have not had such oil consumption on other makes of new cars we have had,or is this typical Avensis.

Mike

[T Sport 1978]

I would say it is fine.

I believe tolerance is 1 litre per thousand miles.

Plus newer cars (20000 miles) tends to drink a little more.

My 2.2 use to do this when nearer to new, but as it aged it hardly drinks any now unless its had a hard slug toward the end of service period.

[bestseany]

Half a litre for 10k miles is nothing really, I wouldn't worry about it, especially on a diesel.

[Druid Boy]

Deceptive things dipsticks. Changes in the angle the car is parked on can have a significant effect on the dipstick reading as can the amount of time the car was stood idle before the reading was taken (oil draining back from the top end of the engine, oil filter etc canchange the level). You didn't actually say how much oil you had to add to bring it up to the same level. Was it much? A little use is not a significant problem and it is often cheaper to TUMO 'top up, motor on) than to fix the oil consumption. Significant increase in consumption does indicate problem though. Keep an eye on it and try to measure it under the same conditions (eg on the drive 1st thing in the morning)