S3 wrong oil used?! Urgent help required

**Gibber85** · 31-08-2014,08:29 AM

Hi I'm Mike,

Just bought a new S3 1.8 Quattro 2003 all was going well but then I may have made a fatal mistake!?

driving on the motorway yesterday and the oil light comes on, I had to drive approx 2 miles to stop but kept the car in low Revs. didn't have access to the internet so took someone's advice on what should be used I was told 0W-40. Managed to find some Castrol 0w-40 edge oil and put in a litre of this. Now I've been told this is the wrong stuff and I could destroy the engine. Couple of questions is this okay? What should I do? Last thing I want to do is kill the car after 2 weeks!!

Kind regards

Mike G

**M1tchy** · 31-08-2014,09:45 AM

Don't know the oil type for your car (a quick google should find it) but if you are concerned, drain it and fill it with the correct oil

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**Doctle Odd** · 31-08-2014,10:35 AM

Quantum

**Crasher** · 31-08-2014,01:18 PM

0w/40 is a little thin for my tastes but 0w/30 and 0w/40 are both listed by Audi themselves as being ideal for your particular engine, 5w/40 would be ideal for myself and I run 5w/30 in my Octavia which uses the same engine but you haven't caused the issue because of the grade. Get the sump off and fit a new oil pick up pipe as it will be full of debris released by our oil change. To clean the sump out, I brush on paint stripper which makes the crud fall off and preserve the shiny crud resisting surface. This engine is extremely prone to this problem on aluminium surfaces and if removed you would find the inside of the cam cover similarly coated. DO NOT do what one person did after partly reading my advice and pour paint stripper into the engine and run it!

**Gibber85** · 31-08-2014,08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

0w/40 is a little thin for my tastes but 0w/30 and 0w/40 are both listed by Audi themselves as being ideal for your particular engine, 5w/40 would be ideal for myself and I run 5w/30 in my Octavia which uses the same engine but you haven't caused the issue because of the grade. Get the sump off and fit a new oil pick up pipe as it will be full of debris released by our oil change. To clean the sump out, I brush on paint stripper which makes the crud fall off and preserve the shiny crud resisting surface. This engine is extremely prone to this problem on aluminium surfaces and if removed you would find the inside of the cam cover similarly coated. DO NOT do what one person did after partly reading my advice and pour paint stripper into the engine and run it!

Thanks Crasher,so I haven't really created any issues on fir the engine, but it would be a good idea to change the oil to perhaps 5w - 40? should I be okay driving it for a week (I have noticed any issues, just paranoid)Thanks Mike

**Gibber85** · 31-08-2014,08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

0w/40 is a little thin for my tastes but 0w/30 and 0w/40 are both listed by Audi themselves as being ideal for your particular engine, 5w/40 would be ideal for myself and I run 5w/30 in my Octavia which uses the same engine but you haven't caused the issue because of the grade. Get the sump off and fit a new oil pick up pipe as it will be full of debris released by our oil change. To clean the sump out, I brush on paint stripper which makes the crud fall off and preserve the shiny crud resisting surface. This engine is extremely prone to this problem on aluminium surfaces and if removed you would find the inside of the cam cover similarly coated. DO NOT do what one person did after partly reading my advice and pour paint stripper into the engine and run it!

Thanks Crasher,so I haven't really created any issues for the engine, but it would be a good idea to change the oil to perhaps 5w - 40? should I be okay driving it for a week (I have noticed any issues, just paranoid)Thanks Mike

**Crasher** · 31-08-2014,11:21 PM

NO! If the light came on you have restricted flow, the turbo dies first and believe me, on an S3 they are an **** to change!

**robin_bga** · 04-09-2014,12:22 AM

I don't see any problems here, if the oil light came on, it will mean to me that you might have put in less oil.
I would personally think of making sure it has reached the mark.
What causes the light to come on is as follows, for your model,
Service time (if its time to do service)
Oil pressure (if the is a flow issue)
Oil quantity (if you have the level to low than the required spec).
Quality isn't so much of an issue in your car but what happens is the temperature might increase meaning that you will have to start your car n give it at least 5mins before you start driving but that is if you used say like 20w50.
To me check level.
Hope that helps
Cheers

Audi A4 V6
2.8L 5V 1997
Uganda E.A

**NickPicks** · 04-09-2014,09:16 AM

Which oil light came on? There'a a "low oil level" light, (usually a yellow oil can with 'min' written under it) which means it needs topping up, but can still be drive, and a "low oil pressure" light (red oil can), which means you need to stop immediately.

Oil spec should be 5/30 and should meet VAG spec 507.

Oil level:
555-low-oil-lamp.jpg

Oil pressure (and screenwash above):
tripww_oil.jpg

**Doctle Odd** · 04-09-2014,10:31 AM

Originally Posted by robin_bga

I don't see any problems here, if the oil light came on, it will mean to me that you might have put in less oil.
I would personally think of making sure it has reached the mark.
What causes the light to come on is as follows, for your model,
Service time (if its time to do service)
Oil pressure (if the is a flow issue)
Oil quantity (if you have the level to low than the required spec).
Quality isn't so much of an issue in your car but what happens is the temperature might increase meaning that you will have to start your car n give it at least 5mins before you start driving but that is if you used say like 20w50.
To me check level.
Hope that helps
Cheers

Audi A4 V6
2.8L 5V 1997
Uganda E.A

Nonsense