Why Does My Audi 2.0 TFSI Burn So Much Oil?

A well-known problem

If you own an Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, Q5 or TT with a 1.8 or 2.0 TFSI petrol engine built roughly between 2008 and 2012, there is a fair chance you have been told to "keep an eye on the oil". Many of these engines use far more oil than they should — sometimes a litre every thousand miles.

The same engines were fitted to the VW Golf GTI, Passat, Scirocco and Skoda Octavia vRS, so this is not just an Audi problem. It is one of the best-documented faults on any modern petrol engine.

What causes it

The main cause is the piston ring design used at the time. The oil control rings have small drain holes that clog with carbon. Once they clog, the rings cannot scrape oil off the cylinder walls and it gets burned with the fuel.

Audi revised the pistons and rings later in production, and engines built after the change are much better. But plenty of affected cars are still on the road, and a lot of them have been driven for years with the level running low.

Why low oil is dangerous on these engines

The TFSI has a timing chain, a turbo and direct injection. All of them depend on a healthy supply of clean oil. When the level runs low, the timing chain tensioner struggles, the turbo bearings run hotter and the engine bearings wear faster.

Timing chain failures and bearing damage are well documented on engines that were burning oil without the owner knowing. Oil level warnings on these cars often come on late, so by the time the light shows, the engine has already been short of oil for a while.

It is not always the rings

Before anyone talks about pistons, the cheaper causes need ruling out. A failed crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve can pull oil into the intake. A worn turbo seal can leak oil into the exhaust. External leaks from the cam cover or timing cover can also add up.

We start with a measured consumption test. We set the oil to the correct level, mark it, and ask you to drive a set mileage before we check it again. That gives a real number instead of a guess. We also check the PCV system and look for leaks and oil-fouled spark plugs.

Fixing it — and when not to

If the rings are to blame, the permanent fix is fitting the revised pistons and rings. It is a big engine job, and on some cars it is the right call — a low-mileage, well-kept A5 or S3 is worth doing properly.

On an older, higher-mileage car, the honest answer can be different. If the engine is otherwise healthy and you are happy to check the oil regularly, living with the consumption may make more sense than spending a large share of the car's value. We talk you through both options.

Getting yours checked in Bromsgrove

If your Audi TFSI is using oil, book a consumption test with us. We will confirm whether your engine is one of the affected versions, measure the consumption properly and tell you plainly what we would do if it were our car. Call 01527 336608 or book online.