1997 A4 B5 model
1.8t with quattro
180,000 km
auto tranny, no tiptronic

here's the history of the problems i've been having

6 weeks ago: oil light comes on while on the highway. took it to mechanic, says the oil pump gave out, replaced it for $400. since then there has been a pinging noise coming from the top of the engine on startup that only lasts about a half a second. mechanic told me this is normal after the oil pump is replaced/after an engine rebuild.

4 weeks ago: temperatures drop to -50 celcius for a week and the car will not start. after cranking for 5 seconds the oil light comes on and starts beeping. when it warmed up for 2 days the car started again, mechanic said there is no problem. take car home and drive it for 1 day. temp drops back down to -50 for another week. car wont start.

2 weeks ago: weather lets up and we've had standard -20 celcius weather. car starts, but pinging noise is still there on startup. after running for 5 minutes the pinging is noticeable again, but not as loud as when the car is started. there is also smoke coming from the passenger side of the engine that is present at startup and then stops after a few minutes (smells like oil).

if you can help me out with any of these problems; pinging noise, not starting in cold, oil smoke from engine, it would be sooo appreciated!! i just bought this car in july and now it hasn't been running since before christmas! this is a DISASTER!

 

Hey man, fill up your tank full of gas and see how it reacts. Pinging noise? i am not sure what that is, but thats what the mechanic told you I think you should get asecond opinion. As for the smoke from the passenger side, that could be oil residue left on the engine oil pan etc. while the pump was being replaced and is now burning off, if it goes away it should be okay for now but as soon as a carwash opens, and it wrms up i would go there and wash the bottom where you think the oil pump might be, see if that changes anything. those are the only recomendations I could give you without raising the car and seeing it.

 

as soon as i got it running after the first no-start week i filled up with 91 octane, still pings.

the smoke is a mystery aswell cause it seems to go away when the engine is hot and then reappears again when the engine is started from cold.

thanks for the help

 

Try seafoaming...