4 litres of oil gone in 70 miles

[sspeed]

Hi All,
Today on the way to the Goodwood GTG (other forum...sorry) I had a warning that the engine oil was low and should be checked at next fuel stop.
I added a litre of Mobil 1 at the nearest garage. This brought the reading on the dipstick to about a quarter way up the permitted level.
Then in less than 5 miles the warning came up again.. I gingerly drove on for a few miles to the next available petrol station..

I raised the bonnet and noticed the left side of the engine below the oil filler cap was soaked in engine oil. I checked to make sure the filler cap has a gasket and it has..I have a dipstick on my car so I checked it and found it to be almost off the scale (V LOW)..
I added 3 litres (Yes 3 litres) of oil just to bring the level to approaching full on the dipstick.. Something is very wrong..Any ideas ??

It was 7.30pm when I eventually got home and the weird thing is I have just been out to check the oil now the car has been stood 15 mins and its still at the full level...
Yet earlier it spewed 4 litres all over the road !!!
I shall book the car in with the main dealer tomorrow as I have 10 months of Tier 1 warranty left on it.
I would be interested to know anyones thought or similar experiences..

 

[spock500]

Need a few more details on engine type, aspirated or not ect but first guess would be oil seal on the turbo (if fitted).

Driving it 'gingerly' home may have left the turbo off boost minimising the outflow?

 

[whitenemesis]

As has been suggested elsewhere, perhaps you didn't refit the filler cap securely after the first 1ltr added but did after the 3ltrs?

 

[sspeed]

Car is w211 E320 Cdi. 2007 model with 43k miles on it.
Talked to the MB servicing forman this morning and he agreed that its not really possible to fit the oil filler cap incorrectly on this model..
They are investigating it on Wednesday for me.
As I have stated "elsewhere" I have had one or two cars in my life time and so I do know how to tighten an oil filler cap.
On my car its the sort of cap that put on then rotated 180 degrees then it stops and is not possible to turn any more.

 

[MicB]

4litres of oil floating on water !!!***???

Mic

 

[crockers]

Didn't you just have it serviced?

 

[sspeed]

Hi Crockers,
No I havent had this car serviced yet as I havent had it long enough.
I have only owned it 2 months and when I bought it, the service was about 1,000 miles old.