Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

(Oil level is correct)

I recently bought an A4 B6 1.8T Q with 36k miles. I have put on about 2500
more.

The oil light 1st came on after driving for about 5 hours with only 1 or 2
short stops. I was going about 80-85 mph when it came on. I pulled over and
the level was about in the middle of the hashes. I topped it off with oil
that was in the trunk from the previous owner (it wasn't synthetic) and
started driving and it came on within a few minutes. I stopped again and
waited a few minutes and then drove another 1.5 hrs at a slower speed with
no problems.

I then changed the oil myself replacing the Audi filter with another one
from the dealer and filled it with mobile1 5W30 (even though the service
notice on the dash says it's not due for more than 200 days and over 6000
miles). No problems on the return trip and a couple of shorter trips, but
then this weekend it came on again after driving about 5.5 hrs. This time I
was in the mountains at 50 - 60 mph and it would come on for a few seconds
at a time, only when the engine was straining to get up hills.

The engine doesn't seem to be burning any oil.

When I was buying the car I think the previous owner said he had had the oil
pump replaced (I have a terrible memory). I don't know why that didn't raise
any alarms in me, but he is a friend so I wasn't in skeptic mode.

I wish I had removed the oil cap and peeked inside the engine before buying
it, because it is very sludgy in there. I scraped some of the gunk away with
my fingernail and it still shows 1000 miles later. I'm thinking that is the
problem and the oil pump was probably fine.

What kind of sensors turn on the oil light? Level and pressure?

Thanks
--Art

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Well, I think you're into the sludge pproblem now - replacing an oil
pump before 36,000 miles isn't the norm, and may indicate that it was
already clogged up.... And you seem to have the classic signs of
sludge. Do a Google search on '1.8t sludge' and read about it.
Unfortunately, I didn't see a remedy (i.e., a way to remove the
sludge). I would ask your friend for all of his receipts for oil
changes; bet he was a little lax.... Or followed Audi's schedule, which
was lax as well....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Well, I think you're into the sludge pproblem now - replacing an oil
pump before 36,000 miles isn't the norm, and may indicate that it was
already clogged up.... And you seem to have the classic signs of
sludge. Do a Google search on '1.8t sludge' and read about it.
Unfortunately, I didn't see a remedy (i.e., a way to remove the
sludge). I would ask your friend for all of his receipts for oil
changes; bet he was a little lax.... Or followed Audi's schedule, which
was lax as well....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Well, I think you're into the sludge pproblem now - replacing an oil
pump before 36,000 miles isn't the norm, and may indicate that it was
already clogged up.... And you seem to have the classic signs of
sludge. Do a Google search on '1.8t sludge' and read about it.
Unfortunately, I didn't see a remedy (i.e., a way to remove the
sludge). I would ask your friend for all of his receipts for oil
changes; bet he was a little lax.... Or followed Audi's schedule, which
was lax as well....

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Sounds like a sludge problem. Search on audiworld.com for more info but
here's a link to a letter from Audi on the problem
http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2137644.phtml

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Sounds like a sludge problem. Search on audiworld.com for more info but
here's a link to a letter from Audi on the problem
http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2137644.phtml

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

Sounds like a sludge problem. Search on audiworld.com for more info but
here's a link to a letter from Audi on the problem
http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2137644.phtml

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

"Art M" wrote
> I recently bought an A4 B6 1.8T Q with 36k miles. I have put on about 2500
> more.

Sounds like the sludge issue - a result of Audi dealer using cheap mineral
oil at 10K mile intervals. Take it to the dealer. The car must still be
under warranty, and definitely under the extended "sludge warranty".
Assuming the previous owner stuck to the required maintenance schedule (it
was free, so I'm sure he did), then you should have no problem with AoA
taking care of this. The best thing would be to get a new engine, but I
don't thing AoA allows that. They just clean up the sludge, maybe replace
the oil pump, and start using an oil that meets the VW 502.00 spec. BTW,
the M1 5w-30 you used doesn't meet this spec, but hopefully AoA will not
hold it against you - it's still a good oil. For the future, if you want to
stick with M1, use their 0w-40 grade.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Pete

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

"Art M" wrote
> I recently bought an A4 B6 1.8T Q with 36k miles. I have put on about 2500
> more.

Sounds like the sludge issue - a result of Audi dealer using cheap mineral
oil at 10K mile intervals. Take it to the dealer. The car must still be
under warranty, and definitely under the extended "sludge warranty".
Assuming the previous owner stuck to the required maintenance schedule (it
was free, so I'm sure he did), then you should have no problem with AoA
taking care of this. The best thing would be to get a new engine, but I
don't thing AoA allows that. They just clean up the sludge, maybe replace
the oil pump, and start using an oil that meets the VW 502.00 spec. BTW,
the M1 5w-30 you used doesn't meet this spec, but hopefully AoA will not
hold it against you - it's still a good oil. For the future, if you want to
stick with M1, use their 0w-40 grade.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Pete

Re: Oil light coming on occasionally with hard use: A4 B6
 

"Art M" wrote
> I recently bought an A4 B6 1.8T Q with 36k miles. I have put on about 2500
> more.

Sounds like the sludge issue - a result of Audi dealer using cheap mineral
oil at 10K mile intervals. Take it to the dealer. The car must still be
under warranty, and definitely under the extended "sludge warranty".
Assuming the previous owner stuck to the required maintenance schedule (it
was free, so I'm sure he did), then you should have no problem with AoA
taking care of this. The best thing would be to get a new engine, but I
don't thing AoA allows that. They just clean up the sludge, maybe replace
the oil pump, and start using an oil that meets the VW 502.00 spec. BTW,
the M1 5w-30 you used doesn't meet this spec, but hopefully AoA will not
hold it against you - it's still a good oil. For the future, if you want to
stick with M1, use their 0w-40 grade.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Pete