Nissan Qashqai: 1.2 DIG-T Excessive Engine Oil Consumption

Beyond the timing chain guide issue, the HRA2DDT 1.2 DIG-T engine is documented to consume engine oil at an abnormal rate due to piston ring design and high crankcase pressure created by the turbocharger. Oil is drawn past the ring pack and burned in the combustion chamber, leading to consumption rates of 1 litre per 1,500-2,000 km in affected examples. Running the engine low on oil accelerates timing chain wear and bearing damage, creating a compounding failure risk.

• Oil level dropping more than 0.5 litres per 1,000 km between services
• Blue or grey smoke from the exhaust, especially on cold start or when lifting off the throttle
• Oily film or residue inside the air intake hose between airbox and turbo inlet
• Spark plugs fouled with oil deposits on inspection
• Low oil warning light appearing before the scheduled service interval

1. 1

   Check the oil level cold on the dipstick and note it carefully, then recheck after a test drive.

2. 2

   Look for blue-grey smoke from the exhaust under acceleration or on overrun.

3. 3

   Inspect the inside of the engine air intake hose for oily residue, and check the PCV valve and breather system for blockage.

Parts involved: Timing chain, Turbocharger.

$600 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “How much oil does the engine use between services, and have you ever had to top it up between changes?”
• “Has any Nissan dealer investigated oil consumption formally, and what was their conclusion?”
• “Are you able to demonstrate the oil level on the dipstick right now, and when was it last topped up?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.