2002 '51 Octavia 1.8t oil pressure issues.

[Chongwong]

Hey guys,

The red flashing oil can has appeared on my car today,which indicates low pressure. Oil level is fine, oil and water are clean. Does anyone have any troubleshooting ideas?

Ideally I'd like to not have to run or move it on low pressure as I rather like not having a fked engine.

Cheers folks!

[Rickyy]

I believe these engines are known for the strainer on the oil pick up pipe to become blocked.

It's a sump off job to rectify. Don't use the car until the issue is solved.

[skyrover]

Could also be the oil pressure switch gone bad or a frayed wire.

Cheap things to check before you start pulling things apart.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Rickyy said:

I believe these engines are known for the strainer on the oil pick up pipe to become blocked.

It's a sump off job to rectify. Don't use the car until the issue is solved.

Spot on.

[Chongwong]

Can't get the part for a few days at best. Would taking the pick up pipe off and blasting it through with a power hose work to unclog it?

Or could I set about it with some petrol and a pin?

I can see my boss getting grumpy if it stays in the carpark for a few more days.

[kambites]

I've never done the job on that engine but I've done it on a Saab unit and it was just a question of taking the filter bit off and cleaning it with a tooth brush and some petrol. No parts required.

[Chongwong]

Aaargh, 2 broken Allan keys, a couple of rounded bolts and one very very wet Aberdonian.

Trying again after work tomorrow, if not I'm going to admit to having no practical use in life by calling a mechanic.

Seriously, how difficultcam it be to remove some ruddy bolts.

[Dr G]

Bolts that have been covered in salt and road st for 13 years? Very!

[Chongwong]

An hour and a half after finishing work, I'm still stuck with 3 rounded sump bolts, and a couple.of rounded big 17mm bolts. crap!
Anybody fancy a homer

[shtu]

You need,

Blowtorch.
Hammer.
6-point socket one size smaller.

Heat bolt heads. Lots.
Hammer socket onto rounded bolt head.
Undo carefully, using a long bar. Don't just heave on them or you'll snap the heads. With a bit of care you can feel if the bolt is bending.

[Chongwong]

Finally success, I wasn't going to blow torch anything on a car sitting so close to the ground on cinderblocks in a rainy carpark. So got a local garage to save me. Wasn't to expensive thankfully. They ended up tacking nuts onto the nuts to get them out.

Boring conclusion I know. But cheers!