2.2 (non-direct) Vectra Oil Usage (1Ltr / 2k) - Advice please

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mal
  • Start date Start date
M

Mal

I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my '03
Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They say they
can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better than a litre
every 1000 miles is acceptable!!

I've had quite a few Vauxhalls in my time and this is the first where
I've had to keep oil in the boot never mind topping it up inbetween
services.

It's done it since I bought it used with around 10k on the clock ..
I've been to the local VXL dealership a good few times and been told
"some engines use more oil", "we'll contact VXL for you", "the full oil
change at the service might cure it"?! etc.

Anyone know what might be causing it or what I can do next to get it
sorted?

btw there's no blue smoke from the car either when starting from
cold/warm or if I drop down a gear and accelerate to overtake and no
sign of leaks either on the engine or patches on the garage floor.

TIA

Mal
 
Mal said:
I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my '03
Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They say they
can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better than a litre
every 1000 miles is acceptable!!
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it's still under warranty? You could get a compression
check done but sometimes they're not conclusive. The oil *must* be
going somewhere. If the rings/bores are worn then you can usually
smell it in the exhaust. Check over the whole engine and transmission
for oil patches. Apaprently sometimes the crankcase ventilation gets
bunged up and that causes high oil consumption. A litre every 2000
probably isn'tenough of a problem to be able to work out why.
 
Hi! I work for a Vauxhall dealership, and this issue of Vauxhall's
burning 1 litre per 1000 miles is a well known fact, we have had
vehicles coming in without a drop of oil inside them! We have to
explain to customers that this is something that is clearly stated in
the owners manual, of course people only use handbooks for reference
and I doubt there are many who read it from cover to cover and absorb
its entire contents. As I have worked within a Vauxhall dealership for
over ten years now I have been aware of this oil consumption issue for
a few years now.
The only way to see if your vehicle is burning more than the average
amount of oil would to have an oil consumption test, the dipstick is
tagged and the customer is told to return the vehicle after 500 miles
for inspection. This oil usage is not engine specific.
 
adder1969 wrote:

+AD4-
+AD4- Mal wrote:
+AD4- I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my
+AD4- '03 +AD4- Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They
say
+AD4- they +AD4- can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better
+AD4- than a litre every 1000 miles is acceptable+ACEAIQ-
+AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4- I'm guessing it's still under warranty? You could get a
compression
+AD4- check done but sometimes they're not conclusive. The oil must be
+AD4- going somewhere. If the rings/bores are worn then you can usually
+AD4- smell it in the exhaust. Check over the whole engine and
transmission
+AD4- for oil patches. Apaprently sometimes the crankcase ventilation
gets
+AD4- bunged up and that causes high oil consumption. A litre every 2000
+AD4- probably isn'tenough of a problem to be able to work out why.

no .. it's not under warranty any more .. ran out in March :( .. but
even while it was under warranty they still wouldn't even look into why
it was using up oil .. it's just been in for a service and they said
they checked the engine over and found no sign of a leak. Guess I'm
stuck with it until it's time to change .. one thing I know it won't be
VXL after this :/
 
Judas wrote:

+AD4- Hi+ACE- I work for a Vauxhall dealership, and this issue of
Vauxhall's
+AD4- burning 1 litre per 1000 miles is a well known fact, we have had
+AD4- vehicles coming in without a drop of oil inside them+ACE- We have
to
+AD4- explain to customers that this is something that is clearly
stated in
+AD4- the owners manual, of course people only use handbooks for
reference
+AD4- and I doubt there are many who read it from cover to cover and
absorb
+AD4- its entire contents. As I have worked within a Vauxhall
dealership for
+AD4- over ten years now I have been aware of this oil consumption
issue for
+AD4- a few years now.
+AD4- The only way to see if your vehicle is burning more than the
average
+AD4- amount of oil would to have an oil consumption test, the dipstick
is
+AD4- tagged and the customer is told to return the vehicle after 500
miles
+AD4- for inspection. This oil usage is not engine specific.

a litre every 2k isn't average .. this is my 10th VXL and they've all
been used to do the same sort of journeys and mileage 70-80k+- over 3
years (GF has my last car 1.8 Astra which has 120k on the clock) and
none of them have used anything like the amount of oil this one does.

I did the check with the dealership and the level on the dipstick went
from full to nothing in 1300 miles (couldn't get back to dealership any
sooner)

The litre every 1000 miles is ok reads very much like a get out clause
to me .. it's not the norm as I've explained above so there must be a
reason why it's using so much oil compared to the others I've had in
the past (1.2, 1.6D, 1.6 (x2), 1.4i, 1.7D, 1.7TD, 1.8 16v (x2)) none of
them used any noticable amount of oil between services.

All I get from the dealership is +ACI-some engines use more than
others+ACI- .. I'm sure that's right but not to this degree .. by the
time it's back in for it's service it'll have already had an oil change
and be part way through a second and at +AKM-10/litre it was cheaper
running the Astra getting serviced every 10k than running this one with
it every 20k.

I wish I'd stuck with the Astra tbh or at least picked a different car
... I know I'll not pick VXL next time.

--
 
Mal said:
a litre every 2k isn't average .. this is my 10th VXL and they've all
been used to do the same sort of journeys and mileage 70-80k+ over 3
years (GF has my last car 1.8 Astra which has 120k on the clock) and
none of them have used anything like the amount of oil this one does.

I did the check with the dealership and the level on the dipstick went
from full to nothing in 1300 miles (couldn't get back to dealership any
sooner)

The litre every 1000 miles is ok reads very much like a get out clause
to me .. it's not the norm as I've explained above so there must be a
reason why it's using so much oil compared to the others I've had in
the past (1.2, 1.6D, 1.6 (x2), 1.4i, 1.7D, 1.7TD, 1.8 16v (x2)) none of
them used any noticable amount of oil between services.

All I get from the dealership is "some engines use more than
others" .. I'm sure that's right but not to this degree .. by the
time it's back in for it's service it'll have already had an oil change
and be part way through a second and at £10/litre it was cheaper
running the Astra getting serviced every 10k than running this one with
it every 20k.

I wish I'd stuck with the Astra tbh or at least picked a different car
.. I know I'll not pick VXL next time.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree - I've run a Mk2 Astra, Mk4 Astra and a Cav - the Cav was on
225k when the body fell off into a big pile of rust, the engine was still
going strong being fed on 15/40 mineral oil, non of yer fancy synthetic
here. None of these used oil such that I needed to keep topping up between
oil changes. £10 a litre - must be a fully synthetic oil - you must be
rich.
 
other than what has already been said about compression & various other
tests
I would quite comprehensively any engine breather pipes, valves, holes or
whatever in the service data.

particularly the crankcase one if ness take the angle nozzle off [if fitted]
and dig every bit of crud out.
had a veccy on an 01 plate [2.2 ecotec] that was doing a litre over that
distance and found the crank breather to be half blocked by a large lump of
crap dug that out and away she went. oil usage was very minimal after that.

it might well be an idea also to have a check of the idle control valve [if
fitted] and the pipes feeding to/from this and the one up the front from the
sump.

it might well give you some clues.

how does the emissions look?

mike
 
I've got a 2.0 DTi 2001 Astra G and it is very thirsty on oil. 1k / 1 ltr
is average if not a little more. I once got told it was down to the very
shiny bores in this model (?).

I just see the engine as a 2-stroke !







mikeFNB said:
other than what has already been said about compression & various other
tests
I would quite comprehensively any engine breather pipes, valves, holes or
whatever in the service data.

particularly the crankcase one if ness take the angle nozzle off [if
fitted] and dig every bit of crud out.
had a veccy on an 01 plate [2.2 ecotec] that was doing a litre over that
distance and found the crank breather to be half blocked by a large lump
of crap dug that out and away she went. oil usage was very minimal after
that.

it might well be an idea also to have a check of the idle control valve
[if fitted] and the pipes feeding to/from this and the one up the front
from the sump.

it might well give you some clues.

how does the emissions look?

mike

Mal said:
I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my '03
Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They say they
can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better than a litre
every 1000 miles is acceptable!!

I've had quite a few Vauxhalls in my time and this is the first where
I've had to keep oil in the boot never mind topping it up inbetween
services.

It's done it since I bought it used with around 10k on the clock ..
I've been to the local VXL dealership a good few times and been told
"some engines use more oil", "we'll contact VXL for you", "the full oil
change at the service might cure it"?! etc.

Anyone know what might be causing it or what I can do next to get it
sorted?

btw there's no blue smoke from the car either when starting from
cold/warm or if I drop down a gear and accelerate to overtake and no
sign of leaks either on the engine or patches on the garage floor.

TIA

Mal
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
+AD4- +ACI-Mal+ACI- +ADw-no.spam+AEA-home.com+AD4- wrote in message
+AD4- +AD4-I've
+AD4- tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my '03
+AD4- +AD4-Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They say
they
+AD4- +AD4-can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better than
a
+AD4- litre +AD4-every 1000 miles is acceptable+ACEAIQ- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-I've had quite a few Vauxhalls in my time and this is the
first
+AD4- where +AD4-I've had to keep oil in the boot never mind topping it
up
+AD4- inbetween +AD4-services.
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-It's done it since I bought it used with around 10k on the
clock
+AD4- .. +AD4-I've been to the local VXL dealership a good few times
and
+AD4- been told +AD4AIg-some engines use more oil+ACI-, +ACI-we'll
contact
+AD4- VXL for you+ACI-, +ACI-the full oil +AD4-change at the service
might
+AD4- cure it+ACI-?+ACE- etc. +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-Anyone know what might be causing it or what I can do next to
+AD4- get it +AD4-sorted?
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-btw there's no blue smoke from the car either when starting
from
+AD4- +AD4-cold/warm or if I drop down a gear and accelerate to overtake
+AD4- and no +AD4-sign of leaks either on the engine or patches on the
+AD4- garage floor. +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-TIA
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-Mal

mikeFNB wrote:

+AD4- other than what has already been said about compression +ACY-
various
+AD4- other tests I would quite comprehensively any engine breather
pipes,
+AD4- valves, holes or whatever in the service data.
+AD4-
+AD4- particularly the crankcase one if ness take the angle nozzle off
+AD4- +AFs-if fitted+AF0- and dig every bit of crud out. had a veccy
on an
+AD4- 01 plate +AFs-2.2 ecotec+AF0- that was doing a litre over that
+AD4- distance and found the crank breather to be half blocked by a
large
+AD4- lump of crap dug that out and away she went. oil usage was very
+AD4- minimal after that.
+AD4-
+AD4- it might well be an idea also to have a check of the idle control
+AD4- valve +AFs-if fitted+AF0- and the pipes feeding to/from this and
the
+AD4- one up the front from the sump.
+AD4-
+AD4- it might well give you some clues.
+AD4-
+AD4- how does the emissions look?
+AD4-
+AD4- mike
+AD4-

the emissions look ok afaik (well within limits when it had it's MOT)
don't really get any info from the dealer tbh.

as for checking breather pipes etc. I'm a bit lost under the bonnet
these days .. prob gonna have to rake around on the net for pics of
what I'm looking for :)

the 2.2 01 plate will be the same engine as mine i think? .. don't
think they changed it until they brought out the 2.2 direct.

thanks for the advice .. gives me something to work with

Mal
--
 
"Judas" wrote in message
Hi! I work for a Vauxhall dealership
Click to expand...

Sorry for side tracking this thread but as you work in a dealership perhaps
you could you give me an approx price for a high pressure diesel pump on a
2005 1.7 CDTi (100PS) Astra, and a price for an injector. The reason I ask
is someone told me lately that the pumps cost in the region of £2300 and an
injector £500. This seems like nonsense to me, is it?

Oil usage, I've had maybe 12-13 new Vauxhalls the past 20 years. None of
them seemed to use any oil between services except for the last 1.6 16V
Corsa I owned. From 45K miles onward it used more and more until the point I
sold it (72K) and it was then going from max-min on dipstick every 500-600
miles. It was blue smokie when starting.

My Honda motorcycle (CBR1000RR) has used a litre of oil in 3500 miles, and
like Vaux are telling you Mr Honda is telling me that this is normal. I'm
not happy as none of my other bikes have used oil at this rate.

JC
 
J said:
I've got a 2.0 DTi 2001 Astra G and it is very thirsty on oil. 1k / 1 ltr
is average if not a little more. I once got told it was down to the very
shiny bores in this model (?).

I just see the engine as a 2-stroke !







mikeFNB said:
other than what has already been said about compression & various other
tests
I would quite comprehensively any engine breather pipes, valves, holes or
whatever in the service data.

particularly the crankcase one if ness take the angle nozzle off [if
fitted] and dig every bit of crud out.
had a veccy on an 01 plate [2.2 ecotec] that was doing a litre over that
distance and found the crank breather to be half blocked by a large lump
of crap dug that out and away she went. oil usage was very minimal after
that.

it might well be an idea also to have a check of the idle control valve
[if fitted] and the pipes feeding to/from this and the one up the front
from the sump.

it might well give you some clues.

how does the emissions look?

mike

Mal said:
I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into why my '03
Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000 miles. They say they
can't/won't do anything as Vauxhall say anything better than a litre
every 1000 miles is acceptable!!

I've had quite a few Vauxhalls in my time and this is the first where
I've had to keep oil in the boot never mind topping it up inbetween
services.

It's done it since I bought it used with around 10k on the clock ..
I've been to the local VXL dealership a good few times and been told
"some engines use more oil", "we'll contact VXL for you", "the full oil
change at the service might cure it"?! etc.

Anyone know what might be causing it or what I can do next to get it
sorted?

btw there's no blue smoke from the car either when starting from
cold/warm or if I drop down a gear and accelerate to overtake and no
sign of leaks either on the engine or patches on the garage floor.

TIA

Mal
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

From what I recall reading elsewhere there are a number of related
Click to expand...
issues with this engine:-

1) The oillevel takes ages and ages to settle after using the vehicle,
so getting an accurate reading is difficult.
2) There was a problem with incorrrect finish on the cylinder bores
leading to excessive oil consumption, made worse by incorrect running
in when new i.e. these engines need a good thrashing from nearly new to
prevent the high oil consumption.
 
JC (Spam Trap) wrote:


Sorry for side tracking this thread but as you work in a dealership
perhaps
you could you give me an approx price for a high pressure diesel pump
on a
2005 1.7 CDTi (100PS) Astra, and a price for an injector. The reason I
ask
is someone told me lately that the pumps cost in the region of £2300
and an
injector £500. This seems like nonsense to me, is it?

Hello, that wont be a problem, I will converse with you by email if you
like, rather than take this thread of its course!
I know in the past diesel injection pumps were big money on the X17DTL
and the X17DT, Vauxhall offered an exchange unit for these cutting the
cost dramatically.
Because the vehicle is current, exchange units will not be available
for some time, as its an 05 model the manufacturers 3yr warranty will
still be valid unless its gone over the 60k mark, Vauxhall have an
excellent goodwill service should this be the case.
 
JC said:
Sorry for side tracking this thread but as you work in a dealership perhaps
you could you give me an approx price for a high pressure diesel pump on a
2005 1.7 CDTi (100PS) Astra, and a price for an injector. The reason I ask
is someone told me lately that the pumps cost in the region of £2300 and an
injector £500. This seems like nonsense to me, is it?
Click to expand...

Are you having problems with the engine? I have the same in a 2004
Corsa (1.7CDTi Z17DTH) and the engine keeps cutting out. It has
currently been in the dealers for 6 days while they try and work out
the fault, which I have the impression is electrical rather than
mechanical.

It's already had a replacement fuel injector rail under warranty to try
and fix the same fault but the cutting out problem is back and they
don't seem to know why... :|

Tariq
 
"Judas" wrote in message

Hello, that wont be a problem, I will converse with you by email if you
like, rather than take this thread of its course!

emailed

John
 
"Tariq" wrote in message

Are you having problems with the engine? I have the same in a 2004
Corsa (1.7CDTi Z17DTH) and the engine keeps cutting out. It has
currently been in the dealers for 6 days while they try and work out
the fault, which I have the impression is electrical rather than
mechanical.

It's already had a replacement fuel injector rail under warranty to try
and fix the same fault but the cutting out problem is back and they
don't seem to know why... :|

Tariq

Hi Tariq

My car refused to start a few times (Didn't even crank over) but that was
cured by fitting a new CIM (I think that means column integration module)
I've had no cutting out problems, the engine sounds a little too harsh for
my liking but has give no trouble. Hope you get sorted soon.

John
 
airsmoothed+AEA-hotmail.com wrote:

+AD4-
+AD4- J wrote:
+AD4- +AD4- I've got a 2.0 DTi 2001 Astra G and it is very thirsty on
oil.
+AD4- 1k / 1 ltr +AD4- is average if not a little more. I once got told
it
+AD4- was down to the very +AD4- shiny bores in this model (?).
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- I just see the engine as a 2-stroke +ACE-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +ACI-mikeFNB+ACI- +ADw-mikefnb+AEA-moc.dlrowltn+AD4- wrote
in
+AD4- message +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- other than what has already been said about
compression
+AD4- +ACY- various other +AD4- +AD4- tests
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- I would quite comprehensively any engine breather
pipes,
+AD4- valves, holes or +AD4- +AD4- whatever in the service data.
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- particularly the crankcase one if ness take the angle
+AD4- nozzle off +AFs-if +AD4- +AD4- fitted+AF0- and dig every bit of
crud
+AD4- out. +AD4- +AD4- had a veccy on an 01 plate +AFs-2.2 ecotec+AF0-
+AD4- that was doing a litre over that +AD4- +AD4- distance and found
the
+AD4- crank breather to be half blocked by a large lump +AD4- +AD4- of
crap
+AD4- dug that out and away she went. oil usage was very minimal after
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- that. +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- it might well be an idea also to have a check of the
idle
+AD4- control valve +AD4- +AD4- +AFs-if fitted+AF0- and the pipes
feeding
+AD4- to/from this and the one up the front +AD4- +AD4- from the sump.
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- it might well give you some clues.
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- how does the emissions look?
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- mike
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4- +ACI-Mal+ACI- +ADw-no.spam+AEA-home.com+AD4- wrote in
+AD4- message +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4APg- I've tried in vain to get my local dealer to look into
why
+AD4- my '03 +AD4- +AD4APg- Vectra is using a litre of oil every 2000
+AD4- miles. They say they +AD4- +AD4APg- can't/won't do anything as
+AD4- Vauxhall say anything better than a litre +AD4- +AD4APg- every
1000
+AD4- miles is acceptable+ACEAIQ- +AD4- +AD4APg- +AD4- +AD4APg- I've had
+AD4- quite a few Vauxhalls in my time and this is the first where +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4APg- I've had to keep oil in the boot never mind topping it up
+AD4- inbetween +AD4- +AD4APg- services. +AD4- +AD4APg-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- It's done it since I bought it used with around
10k on
+AD4- the clock .. +AD4- +AD4APg- I've been to the local VXL
dealership a
+AD4- good few times and been told +AD4- +AD4APg- +ACI-some engines use
+AD4- more oil+ACI-, +ACI-we'll contact VXL for you+ACI-, +ACI-the full
oil
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- change at the service might cure it+ACI-?+ACE- etc.
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- +AD4- +AD4APg- Anyone know what might be causing
it or
+AD4- what I can do next to get it +AD4- +AD4APg- sorted?
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- btw there's no blue smoke from the car either when
+AD4- starting from +AD4- +AD4APg- cold/warm or if I drop down a gear
and
+AD4- accelerate to overtake and no +AD4- +AD4APg- sign of leaks either
on
+AD4- the engine or patches on the garage floor. +AD4- +AD4APg-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- TIA
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4APg- Mal
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-
+AD4-
+AD4- +AD4-From what I recall reading elsewhere there are a number of
+AD4- related issues with this engine:-
+AD4-
+AD4- 1) The oillevel takes ages and ages to settle after using the
vehicle,
+AD4- so getting an accurate reading is difficult.
+AD4- 2) There was a problem with incorrrect finish on the cylinder
bores
+AD4- leading to excessive oil consumption, made worse by incorrect
running
+AD4- in when new i.e. these engines need a good thrashing from nearly
new
+AD4- to prevent the high oil consumption.

I didn't have the car from new (bought it with about 10k on the clock)
... if there's a known problem with the finish on the cylinder bores
then why doesn't the dealer know? ... and how can I get them to look
into wether mine is one of the faulty ones and fix it?

I think I've got the number for VX customer service but I suspect I'll
get the same +ACI-1ltr / 1000 miles is ok+ACI- routine.

--
 
Mal said:
I didn't have the car from new (bought it with about 10k on the clock)
.. if there's a known problem with the finish on the cylinder bores
then why doesn't the dealer know? ... and how can I get them to look
into wether mine is one of the faulty ones and fix it?

I think I've got the number for VX customer service but I suspect I'll
get the same +ACI-1ltr / 1000 miles is ok+ACI- routine.

--
Click to expand...

Maybe your dealer doesn't use Google :-/

http://www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=64760

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Vauxhall_Zafira_Comfort_2_0_dti__Review_5306631

http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/oilmonster/

For starters :-(
 
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