Xantia oil thurst

Nikolaymk · Post by **Nikolaymk** » 11 Jul 2003, 06:04

hi,
After my first 2000 miles in a Xantia I'm a bit puzzled: The owners manual clearly says that the OIL consumptiion can reach 1/2 litre per 600 miles - yet I haven't topped up the oil and the level seems exactly the same. Is the manual too "pesimistic"? It's 1.8 16V petrol. Could this have something to do with the fact that I'm using injector cleaner (seems unlikely) ?
Cheers

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 11 Jul 2003, 13:27

My BX17TD uses minimal oil at 188,000 miles and my wife's ZX 1.9D uses about the same at a mere 58,000. I've noticed the warning in the handbook and think there are a number of reasons for it - namely to make sure we look at the gauges etc. and keep it topped up, to protect against warranty claims (I've had to put oil in after 2000 miles - its defective!) and probably because eventually it will burn oil as the ring or (petrol) valve seals go or it starts to leak.
Jeremy

CITMAN · Post by **CITMAN** » 11 Jul 2003, 15:01

my zx 1.4i has started to burn some oil around 300ml to 700 miles so its not bad. it started burning oil when it passed the 70,000 mile mark.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 11 Jul 2003, 18:29

1/2L per 600 miles seems a heck of a lot, especially for a petrol model. Or did you mean 1/2L per 6000 miles. Even that would be on the high side.

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » 11 Jul 2003, 21:39

Yes you're right, the handbooks do say up to half a litre per 600 miles, the fact that yours doesn't is a bonus!
Some engines tend to use more when new and then settle down, others tend to use oil from new without any consequences. Often luck of the draw until mileages are very high when ring wear and hard and brittle valve stem oil seals come into play.
Half a litre every 6,000 miles would not be classed as high and would be more than common!

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 11 Jul 2003, 22:07

Older VW & GM Opel handbooks used to say upto 1L/600mile oil consumption as normal [8)]

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 11 Jul 2003, 22:38

b***** h*** you would have to top the oil up every time you filled up with fuel, if not more often!
The last car I had that used that much oil was a Reliant Regal and it was k******d, it only did 26mpg (with a 700cc engine).
The 6 Citroens (all petrol XU engines) I have had have barely used any oil. Maybe one small top-up between oil changes. I would be looking for a leak if it used 1/2 L in only 600 miles. And most of them have had 100k plus miles on the clock.
They only take 5L or so which would mean you are effectively changing the oil every 3000 miles, why bother at all when you service it.[:p]
Even the Escort I had didn't use that much and it blew out so much smoke on acceleration people thought it was a diesel.[:I]

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 11 Jul 2003, 23:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> b***** h*** you would have to top the oil up ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Homer .....
I've noticed a couple of unpleasant comments/answers from you ...
Is this just your way using english language ??

franciscolunn · Post by **franciscolunn** » 11 Jul 2003, 23:52

my 1.8 16v xantia hardly uses any oil, remember engines have to use minimal oil just to run efficiently so a small amount is normal.

Nikolaymk · Post by **Nikolaymk** » 11 Jul 2003, 23:58

Thanks guys,
1/2L per 600 miles (as in half liter) does indeed seem a lot for a modern car. Maybe Citroen are just being too cautious.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 12 Jul 2003, 13:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by AndersDK

Is this just your way using english language ??
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'm just expressing my incedulity (is that a word?) at a modern (petrol) engine using nearly a pint of oil for 600 miles. I don't even think a 2-stroke would use that much. Unless that 600 miles was driven at an average of about 2mph.
I thought the days of checking oil levels weekly were long gone.
No offence intended, sorry if I come across a little harsh, I'm not much of a wordy person (much better at hitting things with a spanner[:)]). If anyone has a problem then please say.
I'm a Yorkshire lad, that should explain it to most people.[:D] We are known for our straight talking. Ever see those Harry Enfield "George Whitebread" sketches? "Sophistication?, I've been to Leeds."[:o)]

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 12 Jul 2003, 21:29

Ok - Homer - no offense - honestly [^]
The oil consumption referred to above was in fact quite common on old cars/engine types used in '60-es - '70-es. I mentioned it as a sort of reference.
The former Citroen GS was known as a drunkdriver on oil - commonly coldstarting in a cloud of blue oilsmoke - not because of premature wear - simply the way the engines were constructed.
Many Opels, Fords & VW's were the same y's back.
Over here the VW's & the version known as Skoda Octavia (cheaper & still a VW construction) - is still known as oil consumers - which is normal. But quite scaring to some owners - if they forget the dipstick check weekly.
A bit off-topic (still on oil consumption) :
The mid-later (from approx '86) PSA diesels are known to leak oil quite badly from the head - seemingly the head gasket is trashed. But some owners experience shows this problem may in some cases instead be a dodgy cam seal.
The cam & crank seals may start leaking badly from approx 150Kmiles on most PSA engines - and should be replaced during cambelt/tensioner work as a matter of course on these mileage figures.
Like the crank seal behind flywheel on clutch work.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 12 Jul 2003, 22:55

[quote]Originally posted by AndersDK
[^]
The oil consumption referred to above was in fact quite common on old cars/engine types used in '60-es - '70-es.
I've still got the service manual for my first 1955 car. A quote from it: "A normal oil consumption figure is approximately 2500 miles to the gallon.

benj · Post by **benj** » 14 Jul 2003, 21:05

i tend to side with homer here 600 miles to half a litre is absurd if true, ive just changed the oil in a 1.1 rover 100 ii have, ive done 10,000 very harsh miles in it (treated with no respect) and i never topped it up between , yes never! i checked it almost weekly nd it never budged from half way between max and min, i know the car is fairly new at p reg but the engine is a late eighties early ninties design, my brother is running a 2.0 litre astra gte, the pisont rings and valve stem seals are shot, the car is a very effective smokescreen, has done 140k hard miles and he says a litre every 500 miles! very nice.
i personally feel you have a friday afternoon car if it cant manage more than 3-4000 miles for half a litre burn up!

MrXantia · Post by **MrXantia** » 15 Jul 2003, 04:32

Well I'm on my 3.rd Xantia 1.8 16V and I'm here to tell you all that this engine DEFINATELY CAN USE SOME OIL!!!!
My first encounter was when I drove 3500KM on a vacation in france. When I got home I just checked my, then quite new, lovely engine levels and was CHOCJ´KED to find NO!!! oil on the stick. This was maybe 6-8000 KM after last service.
Since then I check oil levels every 5000 km, and top up if needed. And its needed!![:(]
Regards,
Lars