Zafira - where does all the oil go ?

zagmund

We've noticed that our 03 Zafira seems to drink oil. I'm not the best at checking these things regularly, but every so often I know it's time to fill it up when the engine makes 'that funny noise' again.

It's not leaking because there's no stain on the driveway - at least I think so, I presume they haven't worked out how to add some anti-driveway-stain stuff to it these days.

It doesn't appear to be coming out the back in one of those nasty smelling and smokey exhausts.

I don't know where it's going but I do know that it's run dry two or three times over the last year and we must have put in 4-6 litres. Surely this isn't normal . . . our Laguna didn't need a drop of oil from the day we got it to the day we sold it 18 months later. It was only when I was showing it to a bloke who was interested in buying it that I realised I hadn't had to lift the bonnet in the entire time we had it, so I know we didn't change the oil.

Can anyone explain what's happening with the Zafiras oil, and more importantly what I can do to stop it happening ? Oh, and why the oil light's not coming on - it runs bone dry.

z

You have to put 4 to 6 litre of oil in at once and this is between services ? When was the last time it was serviced ? How shortly afterwards did you have to put in litres of oil ?

I'd start checking the oil weekly and top up as required.

zagmund

Just came across this set ofposts which sounds very familiar . . .

http://www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?64760-Excessive-oil-consumption-on-Zafira

z

zagmund

It's serviced 'regularly' - the wife has it down with the garage at least once a year. The 4-6 litres wasn't at once, but over the course of about 2 or 3 refills in the last year. One time the garage only had a single litre so that's all we put in, the other times we have put in 'some' from a 5 litre bottle that we bought and kept going till the dipstick showed full.

We know when there's a problem because the noise from the engine changes and when we check the dipstick it's as dry as a very dry thing.

z

rugbyman

over the years I have driven large mileage in zafiras and noticed all that the poster said, the engine note, on tickover, often told me to check the oil. several times i had
to add a litre.

I recently bought a magazine about different cars and under zafira, it stated that earlier engines used oil but since the Fiat engine was fitted the problem stopped.

re where the oil goes, i dont know because they did not show much smoke from the exhaust.

Rugbyman

biko

Any blue smoke?

If it's not leaking 'tis being burnt I would imagine.

bonzodog2

It would be better to check it regularly if you know it drinks oil, rather than waiting for the engine to make a funny noise !

zagmund

Agreed, it's due in for a service very shortly and we'll get they guys to give us a good explanation (a problem or a design 'feature'). After that I *promise* I'll check the oil a whole lot more regularly.

z