Owner PeachorLemon_Archive    Posted in Vauxhall Zafira   Comments 0

We have had this vehicle for a year, and it has been back to vauxhall several times, for the large amount of oil it consumes. We have just had a situation where we filled it up with oil three weeks ago, I was travelling a long a busy motorway, when the car went onto the emergency engine (only travels at 50 mph) no oil light came on, i believe there isnt one, so from going 70mph plus in the thrid lane to 50mph was very dangerous and the car behind me had to swirve to miss me, when I got to my destination, the car was once again bone dry. Vauxhall keep telling me, the car is using the right amount of oil, but I beg to differ. I do not travel very far, and on one tank of fuel the car used a full oil tank. anyone got any advice to give me, I have wrote to vauxhall, but have not heard anything, and I am not sure of my legal rights. I have three small children and feel this is also a safety issue as well as a financial one.

PoL Comment: Just reading your comment and you and many thousands are in the same boat so to speak.
The oil sump is too small or the return oil pipes from the engine head are too narrow so the oil cannot get to the sump fast enough to go around the engine again, so the sensor detects no oil and cuts the engine speed. As soon as that happens, oil gets to the sensor and thus stops the oil light coming on. This will only happen at a sustained speed of over 70 mph or thereabouts, meanwhile the engine management system has kicked in because it wants to save the engine from damage.
I have come to this conclusion by thinking hard about it and I think it stands up to any argument that Vauxhall comes up with.
Vauxhall has stated that they make this car and that is what you get for your hard earned cash. They say there is no fault and that is the design. I doubt that you will get anywhere because if Vauxhall wants to sell crap, then let the buyer beware.
The oil burning and empty sump has been ongoing since day one, but I think the later models have been amended, but I am not sure.
Sorry I do not have good news for you but you have done the right thing by highlighting on PoL. The more comments, the more punters will avoid the crap and the better the cars,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Sorry.
PoL Team