Fiat Ducato 2021 2.3 (140) Oil consumption

[VXman]

We did 18000 miles in the first 18 months of our owner ship. On many occasions I have had low oil warnings. Now I understand that in the running in period it would consume more but this continued throughout the following 12000 miles.

Browsing the Ducato handbook I came across this...

'The maximum oil consumption is 400 grams per 1000km. When the vehicle is new the engine will need running in therefore consumption will not be stabilised until 5-6000km.'

So I got my calculator out and worked out that 400grams = 400ml. 1000km is 630miles. 1 litre = 2500 km or 1550 miles.

Therefore over 12000 miles (1 year) you could have to add nearly 8 litres of oil which is more than a complete oil change!!! Mo wonder I had so many warnings. Having said that I reckon I've added 2 to 3 litres.

So, anyone experienced similar? Are my calculations correct?....

.....and, isn't this a mad consumption rate? Add a litre of oil to the amount of adblue it drinks it and diesel cost isn't the only consideration in 'fuel' costs!

 

[Stealaway]

My 2019 engine used 1 litre of oil in the first 8K miles.
It used 1/2 litre of oil in the second 8K miles
I changed the oil last year after 16K miles
This year at 24K miles it used less that 1/2 litre - It seem to be getting better.
No a real concern and fortunately my Euro6 2019 engine was just prior to the AdBlue engine.

 

[OutTheOffice]

I have found it the oil consumption to be nearly negligible on our van which we bought new in 2019. However, on one occasion we did a very long day across Germany up into Denmark, the next morning I was concerned to see the oil level on the dashboard had dropped from its usual 5 stars to just one. Sure enough the dip stick was barely covered. It took over a litre to get it back to 5 stars and hasn't used a drop since despite long trips around Spain and Portugal. Why, on just the one day it used a lot of oil and hasn't done since is a total mystery to me.

 

[Stealaway]

I have found it the oil consumption to be nearly negligible on our van which we bought new in 2019. However, on one occasion we did a very long day across Germany up into Denmark, the next morning I was concerned to see the oil level on the dashboard had dropped from its usual 5 stars to just one. Sure enough the dip stick was barely covered. It took over a litre to get it back to 5 stars and hasn't used a drop since despite long trips around Spain and Portugal. Why, on just the one day it used a lot of oil and hasn't done since is a total mystery to me.

It was probably the sensor that was faulty. I would dip it again to check

 

[jezport]

2016 less than a litre in 6000miles

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Mine is pre add blue 2017 150 hp uses between 1 to 2 litres in 8000 miles I think it has got slightly better since doing about 35000 miles. Previous 2014 Euro 5+ was about the same.

 

[OutTheOffice]

It was probably the sensor that was faulty. I would dip it again to check

No, I dont think it was, I regularly check the oil level, when the display showed it had dropped , the dip stick was virtually dry. Have checked it multiple time since as we have covered many more miles, sensor shows full as does the dip stick. No real clue as to why , just one day it dropped, other than it was a long motorway day.

 

[steve69]

I read somewhere it was best to ignore the sensor and just use the dipstick. Mine always reads low oil, but the dipstick says full.

 

[Lyrick]

No dipstick on mine. I have to rely on the sensor unfortunately.

 

[Stealaway]

No, I dont think it was, I regularly check the oil level, when the display showed it had dropped , the dip stick was virtually dry. Have checked it multiple time since as we have covered many more miles, sensor shows full as does the dip stick. No real clue as to why , just one day it dropped, other than it was a long motorway day.

I seem to remember my brother having a similar problem years ago driving up north from Hampshire

It can be that the oil has absorbed a quantity of water while its in storage or lack of use.
The oil floats on top of the water giving you a false dip stick reading
Taking it on a long run and getting the engine hot can boil of the water and give you those results.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[steve69]

It can be that the oil has absorbed a quantity of water while its in storage or lack of use.
The oil floats on top of the water giving you a false dip stick reading
Taking it on a long run and getting the engine hot can boil of the water and give you those results.

I would be extremely worried if that much water got into my sump! And I certainly wouldn't run the engine to boil it off.

 

[ontheroadagain]

We have a 2.3L, 140 Ducato with adblue.
It has only done 3200 miles.
1/2L added to date so not excessive.
Having said that, my previous half dozen cars have used no oil between services.

 

[Stealaway]

I would be extremely worried if that much water got into my sump! And I certainly wouldn't run the engine to boil it off.

No - I'm pretty sure it cost my brother a new/second hand engine. Austin1800 as I remember.
I'm sure he only used it to get to work normally and wouldn't have noticed. A trip up the new M1 was the death of many older cars.

 

[VXman]

A little research found this, which suggests that there is an increase in oil consumption in modern engines. The strive for better fuel consumption has resulted in a fight for lower friction. Key area is piston rings and valve heads which as a result allow more oil through.

 

[Lenny HB]

Austin1800

Blimey I had one of them when I was 21.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[VXman]

I read somewhere it was best to ignore the sensor and just use the dipstick. Mine always reads low oil, but the dipstick says full.

I would agree here. Often mine flags a low oil on start up but when I check the dip stick it seems ok. However, dip sticks can be difficult to read sometimes too.

No dipstick on mine. I have to rely on the sensor unfortunately.

Interesting - which make/engine? This would worry me a little. Sensors can often be unreliable.

 

[Lyrick]

2022 Fiat Ducato 2.2 140 Auto

 

[Stealaway]

Blimey I had one of them when I was 21.

Was your one rubbish?
That's an old man's car for a young lad

I had a Mk 2 Jag about then.

 

[Pausim]

So I got my calculator out and worked out that 400grams = 400ml. 1000km is 630miles. 1 litre = 2500 km or 1550 miles.

Not sure about your maths. 1 gram of water weighs 1ml but oil is lighter than water. I don’t know the exact weight of your oil but Google tells me that 1ml of 5W40 oil weighs 0.85g in which case 400g of oil would be 340ml not 400ml. As a rough guide this would mean your engine should use about 1 litre over 3000km/1850 miles.

 

[VXman]

Not sure about your maths. 1 gram of water weighs 1ml but oil is lighter than water. I don’t know the exact weight of your oil but Google tells me that 1ml of 5W40 oil weighs 0.85g in which case 400g of oil would be 340ml not 400ml. As a rough guide this would mean your engine should use about 1 litre over 3000km/1850 miles.

I never considered weight. Quoting in grams for liquid seems a bit odd. You don't buy oil by weight. Anyway, its near enough. It still means 6 litres of oil in a years travel. On other words the engine will consume it's full oil capacity in one year.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Was your one rubbish?
That's an old man's car for a young lad

I had a Mk 2 Jag about then.

It was a good one.

 

[Delboyarapaho]

When checking the oil level on motorhomes I’m always unsure how the levelling of the van affects the readings from the dash and dipstick. For example I arrived at my pitch after a reasonable length drive and no message to check oil. Put levellers down (the pitch was slightly on a downslope so the front wheels were just off the ground) switched off and put the kettle on. A few days later when to prepare to leave and message comes up check oil. I wish I had dropped the van level at that point to see if the message persisted but I didn’t. I topped it up with a couple of litres and displayed 5* and the dipstick ok. When I dropped the van onto the tyres I checked the dipstick again and it showed a little high. I worried for miles that I may have overfilled it. Motorhomes often appear to be low at the front anyway even on a level surface and I do wonder whether the relatively small changes in level have any impact on what the dash and dipstick tells you the oil level really is? Obviously it should be checked when level but when the sensor told me to check oil I was obviously on a slight downward slope as the levellers then put the front up.
You might say such minor changes shouldn’t affect the readings? I really don’t know but I do wonder how critical the level is?

 

[MrTVR]

Our 2020 reg 150hp has not used any oil (always 5 blob on startup) in the three years of ownership…

 

[donkey]

Blimey I had one of them when I was 21.

And me. A heavy old beast, you could pick one up or peanuts if it had a worn clutch, as it cost more to replace than the car was worth.

Geoff

 

[Lenny HB]

When checking the oil level on motorhomes I’m always unsure how the levelling of the van affects the readings from the dash and dipstick. For example I arrived at my pitch after a reasonable length drive and no message to check oil

How level you are does affect the dash read quite a lot more so side to side.
But the readout does appear a bit random, we have full air so nearly always sitting dead level but the readout varies day to day.
As for the stupid low oil warning that just comes on when it feels like it regardless of oil level.

I just hope it works better on the new vans without a dipstick, otherwise a lot of us will be running around with low oil or overfilled.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Most engine manufacturers rate acceptable oil consumption as below one litre per 1000 miles so you are well within what would be considered acceptable.
The initial running in of an engine although not required as a part of its wearing in these days does in fact have some bearing on oil consumption. Lots of idling etc is very bad during the first few hundred miles and at any mileage not a good thing to do. Within reason modern engines give far better service life if worked well (hard but not thrashed) during the early stages.

 

[rrowe]

If 1ml of oil weighs 0.85g or 0.85g occupies 1ml then 400g of oil occupies
400 divided by 0.85 = 470ml

 

[scallywag15]

If 1ml of oil weighs 0.85g or 0.85g occupies 1ml then 400g of oil occupies
400 divided by 0.85 = 470ml

in a previous life as traffic cop i stopped an old landrover near helmsley lots o smoke i asked the old farmer driving it if it used much oil reply" she would if i gave er some" Fine