Zafira oil usage

Just had my 2004 1.6 Zafira (17000 miles) into a Vauxhall dealer because
it was very jerky when setting off from cold. The problem disappeared after
two or three miles when engine had warmed a little. Dealer says that it was
because the oil level had been allowed to drop and the car had gone into
this mode to cope with it? Also said it was normal for them to use oil and
he had topped up with one and half litres of oil which the car must have
used in about 6000 miles since its last service in June. I admit I rarely
check oil levels as my previous car didn't use any and I didn't expect a
nearly new car to need topping up.

Does the dealer explanation seem feasible and is it normal for Zafiras to
use oil at this rate?

Thanks

John

 

not normal at all,something is going on with your engine

 

/snip

/snip

Can't speak from experience (only had my Zafira since last Friday) but in
the research I did before buying, Vauxhall's petrol engines are supposed to
be very good (reliable, quick, use next to no oil, etc). It's the diesels
that can have a problem with oil consumption.

I agree with ace13, it doesn't sound right at all.

 

just looked it up in my zafira owners book. Page 211, oil consumption for
X16XEL and X18XE1 engines is quoted at 0.075 litres/100km

Mike

 

Flippin 'eck Mike; if my mental maths is vaguely accurate ( maybe)
that's very roughly 2 gallons of oil per 10,000 miles. Even my "oil
guzzling" last Omega did'nt use that!

I assume they set the """normal""" figure so high so they don't have to
pay out warranty claims on oil guzzlers. My wife's 1.8 Zafira has used
pretty much nowt during the 8 months / 8000 miles she's had it; the
OP's figure does sound rather high.

 

now that I think about it, it does seem a lot (in the book).

Perhaps thats how they can get away with 20000 mile change intervals, as
theres none of the original mucky stuff left anyhow<g>

if anyone else has a vx owners book (of just about anything) would they care
to have a look for any consumption figures and post them here?

Mike

 

I've got a 2003 2.2 Vectra (27000 miles) which also seems to be using a fair
bit of oil, seems to use around a litre every 3,500 miles, GF has my old 1.8
Astra (2000) which still hardly uses any and it's done over 110k. Is the 2.2
generally bad for using oil or should I get it checked out, no problems
running other than using oil.

cheers

Mal

 

is it burning it, or is it leaking it?

 

there's no oil patch on the driveway or on the garage floor so it must be
burning it off, it's still under warranty until the back end of March next
year so if it's not normal I want to get it sorted, or at least reported
to
them, before then.