1997 A4 1.8T Sport - Power delivery and oil pressure

[A4Chris]

I have recently purchased a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T Sport (150bhp) Saloon with 110,000 miles on it.

The car drove very well on its test drive and has an immaculate service history. For £2500 it therefore seemed like a good buy. However, on the first long drive I have done with the car (today) I noted the following problems (1 of which is serious). I was wondering if these are common faults and the best way in which to rectify them.

1) 'Muted' power delivery - feels fairly sluggish until 3500rpm when the turbo finally spools up proper and the power builds strongly until 5500rpm. Most overtaking therefore needs to be done in 3rd as opposed to 4th gear. Is this normal, or should it feel responsive from the off?

2) Oil Pressue Warning Light (Serious!)- from looking at various threads on the vwaudi forum this appears to be a common fault with the VAG 1.8T engine. The oil pressure warning light illuminated 3 times on the drive up the road today (170 miles). I stopped immediately in all cases and checked under the bonnet. The oil level is fine and the oil appears relatively fresh. The events leading up to the light illuminating are the same in all cases and are as follows

a) Overtaking slower traffic in 3rd/4th gear with revs climbing to 5500rpm and turbo on full boost

b) Pass slower traffic and resume 'normal service' (5th gear - 70mph - 3200rpm)

c) 5 minutes after hard driving oil pressure light illuminates - stop, switch off engine and check oil level (slower traffic passes me again - much finger pointing and laughing from passing vehicles!). Oil level okay. Sit for 5 minutes and restart engine. Light no longer illuminated!

Whilst this appears to be the blocked sump gauze issue the circumstances appear slightly different - particuarly the delay between hard driving and the light illuminating. Any suggestions?

3) Finally. The oil temperature gauge suggest the oil temperature never climbs above 65 degrees, even after hard driving. Is this normal? I thought operating temperature was more like 100 degrees?

As a new audi owner and club member, I would really welcome your feedback.

Thanks

[mrhope2933]

Chris,

I have similar problems with my 1.8T A4 150 (2000)

I only had the oil light issue once and has not returned but I have a real flat spot in power from 3-5000 rpm.
Have just had vacum hose changed and that seemed to help but now really playing up again with no power on occasions.

Hope you get sorted

[flecture]

3) Finally. The oil temperature gauge suggest the oil temperature never climbs above 65 degrees, even after hard driving. Is this normal? I thought operating temperature was more like 100 degrees?

I've known temp gauges to develop a sticking problem (mine included), nothing to do with the actual temp, they just get stuck for some reason. Given you other problems though i wouldn't assume anything

[xxtokerxx]

Mentalist!

Just had the exact same problem, bought immaculate a4, 95 plate with 82 k on the clock full audi history, and yes same problem, same circumstances, only really when accelerating hard.

Now to make things more interesting, i blew my astra engine just on saturday from low oil pressure so absolutely cacking my pants about the audi!

only paid 1800 but thankfully it does have warranty on it, now because of the panic went straight to an audi specialist.

His story, whether it be true or not:

"The Audi 1.8T engine has a inlet for the oil about the size of a ten pence peice, the gauze is the size of a 50 pence piece, which is apparently rather small and therefore with a car of high milage the build up of 'sludge' in the sump forms, apparently common when the car has been driving slowly through out its life.

This therefore when accelerated hard, or infact can be caused by bumps, or after standing for a long period of time causes the sludge to suck and block the gauze.

Apparently you are suppose to swtich the engine off immediately to stop the oil pump and let the sludge drop, let the engine 'drip' the oil down for a few minutes start and problem gone."

Audi service (the offical one) said if it pops on, stop start the engine and continue, if the issue persists see an audi dealer (of course the would)

Now i want to know, whether this is the correct issue?

If so, the guy wants 500 nicker to remove my sump clean the internals, fit new oil pump, oil relay switch, new oil filter etc.

Is this true?

I will do some more digging as of course by the number of replies this is a common fault!

At least it puts my mind to ease a bit...

[xxtokerxx]

quick notes, look a guy mentions the oil sensor can cause this on this thread, but this is a A6 with a different engine, but could be similar:

http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?messageID=288481

WOW THIS IS INTERESTING:

http://members.cox.net/ambox/audi_sludge/

now mines a 95 but i beg the question, same problem? http://www.quattro123.com/A4TurboEngineWarrantyExtension.htm

[xxtokerxx]

right here is my first port of call:

Engine flush, get the car warm pour in entire can into oil drive for 10 minutes to circulate the engine.

Drain warm oil off and fill with cheap oil pour in another can, repeat above.

Drain final oil out, put some mobil 1 or similar in there with new oil filter.

Should be running sweet, if it reappears buying a new switch hoping the problem subsides!

[A4Chris]

Hi Mate

This problem is 100% definitely the blocked sump gauze. The dealer who I bought the car from was excellent and took it back to fix with no quibble at all (suggest you try this if you have warranty?). He ended up replacing the entire oil pump as the pick up gauze is attached to the pump assembly and a bit of a bugger to separate. The gauze was very sludgy and dirty even through this car has an imaculate service history with regular oil changes. The dealer took the trouble of contacting Audi UK about this problem and apparantly it is common on early A4's (should really be a recall?).

I've now got the car back and its running very sweetly - much quiter at idle and oil light has not come on even after a couple hundred miles of fairly hard driving (bloody hell these cars are quick in the right gear!).

To be honest, £500 sounds a bit steep for the work you mention. Oil pump can be bought for around £70.00 and should only be around £200 labour to fit (requires removing sump and dropping suspension assembly - take the chance to fit new bushes whilst you're at it?). You should really put this cost back on the dealer though?

Hope you get sorted.

Cheers

[xxtokerxx]

Thanks for the comments,

Been on the phone to all the audi garages etc at the moment.

None of which mention this as a recongised fault which is weird?

Audi UK kept praising me for the amount of history my car has got which was funny, but doing the oil flush tomorrow.

I presume this should really clear a large amount of this and should remove the problem?

I will stil persue getting the gauze replaced and oil pump done but really not happy about local charges for the work involved.

I purchased the car from an independant dealer (non audi related) with a 3 month interesting warranty plan..

will give the car a flush and get in touch to the warranty people shortly, just need some one from audi who can tell me yes this is a problem and yes this should be fixed by xyz to assure my claim 100%!

[xxtokerxx]

Hi Mate

This problem is 100% definitely the blocked sump gauze. The dealer who I bought the car from was excellent and took it back to fix with no quibble at all (suggest you try this if you have warranty?). He ended up replacing the entire oil pump as the pick up gauze is attached to the pump assembly and a bit of a bugger to separate. The gauze was very sludgy and dirty even through this car has an imaculate service history with regular oil changes. The dealer took the trouble of contacting Audi UK about this problem and apparantly it is common on early A4's (should really be a recall?).

I've now got the car back and its running very sweetly - much quiter at idle and oil light has not come on even after a couple hundred miles of fairly hard driving (bloody hell these cars are quick in the right gear!).

To be honest, £500 sounds a bit steep for the work you mention. Oil pump can be bought for around £70.00 and should only be around £200 labour to fit (requires removing sump and dropping suspension assembly - take the chance to fit new bushes whilst you're at it?). You should really put this cost back on the dealer though?

Hope you get sorted.

Cheers


Right well it appears that the flush didn't sort the problem, it definatly reduced it and made the car feel a lot better, but no, under hard driving it does still come on.

I would be inclined to say less often, but only had the car a few days.

Contacted the warranty people will find out tuesday what the score is, had a look at the bushes the other day, yep there slightly worn and also have a cv gaitor split.

Hopefully get this all sorted out next week, if so car is immacualte :) thanks for the help

[fattysaudi]

I recently brought a b5 quattro 1.8t ex demo its done 140k mostly motorway (arent they all) how ever recently tz been a bit poorly first air bag light on (drivers side impact) now itz startin to get tappy on idle utoh!
Question is 1 am i right in thinkin that 2000 model had sorted prob of gauze blockages? I have mark 2 golf with 1.8t and i thrash **** out of it not a problem...but my quiet sensible car is looked after breaks 
2 is airbag light, as prob is on drivers sip will soulderin wires make improvment as i have it reset but comes on when the wife moves seat?? Resistance too high!

[fattysaudi]

If anyone wants a service/repair manual for a4 b5 drop me a pm with email n ill pdf it to yas

[yugo]

Right well it appears that the flush didn't sort the problem, it definatly reduced it and made the car feel a lot better, but no, under hard driving it does still come on.

I would be inclined to say less often, but only had the car a few days.

Contacted the warranty people will find out tuesday what the score is, had a look at the bushes the other day, yep there slightly worn and also have a cv gaitor split.

Hopefully get this all sorted out next week, if so car is immacualte :) thanks for the help

Hi there? what oil do you use? this car have to use ONLY 100% synthetic oil, with change intervals of 5000 miles, this is a well known problem in A4´s and passats,(jettas, golfs and A3 don´t develope this issue) the oil capacity of this engines is not enough, this engines generates lots of heat and literally fries the oil creating sludge that blocks the engine, one of the solution for this problem was an update of the oil filter, a much bigger one, more oil=less heat..

There is a major recall about this, if you changed the oil within the correct intervals in a official dealer, you might have some lucky and the warranty extension may abrange you, vw replaces the engine, i think audi too..

just type in google "1.8t oil sludge" and you will find lots of information..

let me know if you need something..

[markgrff17]

hi

i have a A6 1.8t and experienced the exact same problem with the oil warning light showing only a few days after purchasing the car.

my fix was quite simple. fit a genuine audi filter (very critical) and oil of the correct grade 5w/30 fully synthetic.
my car had been seviced a few days befor i collected and the dealer must of taken the cheap option on oils and filters!!

hope this is of some help.............. mark

[baltiboys2]

Hi mark that oil quoted is not the right stuff for 1.8t and its semi not fully synthetic (well A4 info from audi)
I just done a oil pump for a customer and i found a receipt for £549 for a oil pump change for audi which included a complete breather clean out and removal of sludge and to tell you truth that is a great price
I think in the end the final bill from me was £350 but then you need to check the tracking

cheers Raj