Oil light, CEL, Cylinder misfire - Help!

[SafferYork]

Hi all.

My check engine light came on. Checked it on vagcom - misfire on cylinder 3. Replaced the plugs, the leads and the ignition coil. Didnt help with the CE light. Came on after about a day after being reset.

The yellow oil light then came on. I stopped, checked the oil and it was at a decent level, not under filled. I then topped it up to max. CE light went out! Whats up with that? Check on Vagcom, cleared the old codes, drove for a couple of days and no CE light.

Then a few days ago, CE light came back on - same issue - misfire cylinder 3. About a day later, the yellow oil light came on again.

Same story, oil was still at a decent level, topped up to max, CEL gone!

Any help on this one??

Mk4 2.0 2002 GTi.

[grant19841]

Can you feel a misfire in performance?

What was the code?

How did the plugs look?


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[grant19841]

What was the oil level before you topped up?


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[SafferYork]

At idle, I can feel a little rumble, but nothing while driving. I can hear a tappet tick with the bonnet open.
Plugs look fine, burning good, not damaged, not black.

P0300 - Random Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0303 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

Before I topped up, it was in the middle of the dipstick, between min and max.



I did find something interesting about a misfire here - https://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/com..._misfires_all/ - "Is the misfire associated with a loud, mechanical "clicking" or "tapping" noise? If so you need to consider a weak hydraulic lifter, and this goes hand-in-hand with oil pressure"

[grant19841]

At idle, I can feel a little rumble, but nothing while driving. I can hear a tappet tick with the bonnet open.
Plugs look fine, burning good, not damaged, not black.

P0300 - Random Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0303 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

Before I topped up, it was in the middle of the dipstick, between min and max.



I did find something interesting about a misfire here - https://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/com..._misfires_all/ - "Is the misfire associated with a loud, mechanical "clicking" or "tapping" noise? If so you need to consider a weak hydraulic lifter, and this goes hand-in-hand with oil pressure"

That to me actually sounds spot on with your symptoms


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[SafferYork]

If that is the case, would you recommend an engine flush (oil flush)?

[grant19841]

No, if it's as bad as you mention you will need to remove and replace as it can also float particles around the engine.

Then flush the engine out with some cheap oil for a couple of hundred mile, then drain sump again and refill with better oil and new filter , - I don't believe in the engine flush treatments, seen these dislodge stuff from the engine and course blockages.


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[SafferYork]

Big job to remove and replace?

[grant19841]

What engine code?

Generally speaking you will
Need to remove the timing belt, next unbolt the camshaft to get to the lifters.

Not a job for the faint hearted unless you are very confident, what you can do though is remove the cylinder head plastic cover and check which ones are goose and ducked.


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