Audi Cab Oil Pressure Warning Light - Engine gone?

**nricha** · 06-10-2008,09:14 PM

Hi,

Long story but will try to keep it short.

Audi 2003 Cabriolet - Brought from dealer 2 years ago

Went on hols to France may this year oil warning pressure light came on and then went off and on and off again about 3 times, we checked the oil each time and it was fine. Then we were on ou way back to the UK when it stayed on... So we drove slowly and was going to stop at the next services to ring Audi in the Uk. However the engine started to sound like a diesel. Stopped automatically and checked oil again, it was fine as the other times. Our sat nav showed a garage 200 yards away. So we got off motorway, only to find it was dis-used!! At this point the engine was still running - Be it like a diesel.. We tried to call Audi Uk and Audi customer services, both shut as it was a Saturday!

Anyway had it taken to a garage who deal with mainly volks, but also audi's. We went back to UK as it was a Saturday and needed to catch our ferry etc. The French person said it had ceased - It hadn't when we left it, says we need a new engine 6k!!! However before he investigated further he said we could change the crankshafts and clear engine out.. hence us contacting Audi!

We have had our car brought back to UK as Audi wouldn't investigate further unless it was in the country £1400 later I am writing a letter to them now.

I have found that this is a common fault and it is the oil pump that is defective...

Can anyone help with who has had problems with this before and shoudl letter to dealer ( who I brought car from ) or Audi customer services? Spoke to trading standards who say we should be covered under Sale of goods act 1979 etc.

Any ideas!

Thanks
Nick

**Crasher** · 06-10-2008,09:20 PM

Is this a 1.8T engine? If so, it is not a defective oil pump but a blocked one due to the stupid Longlife service intervals that are just too long. The turbo will probably have died as well.

**nricha** · 06-10-2008,09:31 PM

Hi,

Yes it is the 1.8 T engine. Obviously we don't want to pay for another investigation but we didn't truly believe the Garage in france! Language being a small barrier and also how many Audi's he has worked on....

**bez101** · 06-10-2008,10:08 PM

iv had this twice 1st time changes oil pump needed turbo and 2 tappets was very lucky
2nd time needed oil pump turbo new head my cab is on 59k longlife at min so gona do a big service on it water oil pump belts etc get it off longlife bk to every 10k may not need the oil pump but for what i can get it done for would be daft not to as 2nd time it let go cost me 2500 to rebuild 1st time was 1200

**Crasher** · 06-10-2008,10:33 PM

The solution is to double up on oil changes but still use the Longlife III oil. To help prevent the formation of carbon particles and sludge in the sump, never shut the engine down straight away after a run; always leave it running for 1 minute at least, longer if it has been a high speed motorway run. This allows to turbo to slow down and cool down and therefore prevent the oil in the turbo from being fried.

**nricha** · 07-10-2008,03:33 PM

Thanks for replies....

The cams have been checked and are only slightly scorched?

Nick

**Crasher** · 07-10-2008,04:04 PM

Then the cam bearing surfaces in the head will be damaged as they are aluminium.

**bez101** · 07-10-2008,04:55 PM

Originally Posted by nricha

Thanks for replies....

The cams have been checked and are only slightly scorched?

Nick

same on mine slightly scorched needed a new head

**Marco34** · 08-10-2008,11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Crasher

Then the cam bearing surfaces in the head will be damaged as they are aluminium.

Crasher, I have a diesel but am interested to know if this fault, quite common, is caused by the lack of oil changes? It's madness of so. In the long run, people are paying good money for Audi's BS variable servicing. I've never liked it and would never ever do it, not matter how long they say oil could last!

**Crasher** · 08-10-2008,01:22 PM

The variable interval extended drain schedules are one of the causes, the other is virtually incurable in that a turbo fries the oil after shutdown, the only user friendly solution will be when electric oil pumps become commonplace like those now fitted to the direct injection Porsche 911 engine. An electric oil pump together with an electric water pump (some 1.8T’s have an additional electric water pump) would allow post shut down coolant and oil flow so allowing the turbo time to cool down. Until then, time for the turbo to spool and cool together with an oil/filter change using top quality synthetic every six thousand miles is the only prevention I know. If you think I regularly see 1.8T’s that have covered 25 thousand miles between oil changes (mine had covered 36,000 miles on one oil change when it died) it is hardly surprising. The main problem with the extended intervals is human nature. If you tell someone it is every 10k, then they will do it at 15k, if you tell them 20k, they will leave it until 25k and the extended intervals don’t have as much leeway as the fixed intervals.