vw passat 1.8turbo... 1999

[hansislania]

i have a vw passat 1.8turbo on a T registration. it has done 172000 miles. i get the serviced regularly, everything is always upto date. the engine is nice and silent.

but just recently,going on motorways, the display beeps and says "oil press stop motor". i use to go straight to the hard shoulder, stop the car and start it again and then its gone, but it will appear after another 20miles of motorway speed.

the other day, i was driving to manchester, the "oil press STOP motor" came on so many times, while driving at 70mph on the motorway, i quickly turn the car off and straight on, the sign is gone but will come on again every 10 or 20miles, sometimes even every 50miles. i did 500miles that day and this sign just kept coming on.

does anybody know what can be wrong with this? would appreciate it alot. thanks.

[kite]

These engines are prone to sludge build up in the sump, this blocks the oil strainer causing low oil pressure.
Drop the sump, clean the strainer and get the oil pump checked.
i would not drive the car until this has been checked, you could causr major damage.

[hansislania]

thanks mate, its really been worrying me for a while now, i dont want to damage the engine, ill get this checked out as soon as possible. i appreciate your help. thanks once again.

[m4xmw]

I`ll echo what been said, I saw an identical spec car to yours in a VW specialist... he was having a new oil pump, and all the sump and oil strainer cleaned out.

Its down to the oil sludging and the best method to prevent it in future is 2 oil changes a year with 5w40 synthetic oil.

Mark

[hansislania]

im in the process of opening it all up, im halfway through, not very good weather though down here. i will definatly give a feedback once its all done. thanks very much guys.

[mcnob]

I have the same issue with the same engine on a V plate but mine overheated yesterday when the warning appeared. Oil and water are fine and all the belts are in place so the RAC guy seemed to think it might be the water pump. However, a mechanic friend of mine (Vauxhall specialist though) worryingly suggested that it could also be a head gasket issue causing compression probelms stopping the oil flowing to the camshaft properly.

Interested to hear the outcome of your problem but would appreciate any other opinions while we're waiting ?!?!?!?!

[kite]

Water pumps are a problem, I would check yours before going down the head gasket route.