Audi TT 225 roadster (2000) Oil light

[swiftwill]

Hi Guys,

The oil warning light keeps coming on in my Audi TT 225 roadster (W reg) even when the oil level is totally fine (checked when warm and cold) It goes away after the car has been running for a couple of minutes and it is usually parked on a driveway which slopes down. Could this have anything to do with it? Or is the sensor getting clogged by something?

Any advice on what to do? i am thinking oil change but not sure if there are any other possibilities so i require your infinite wisdom!

Many Thanks.

[R12HCO]

When was it last changed? It could be oil and not thinning out untill its really warm but this is highly unlikley. I would change the sensor and give it a oil change for good measure (not expensive if doing it yourself). It not it might be dropping pressure in the pump or something?

[deveng]

Changing the oil, filter and pressure sensor is the cheapest and simplest place to start. If this doesn't do it you may have an oil pressure issue, which will probably bit quite expensive to diagnose and fix.

[ensignia]

There's somehting amiss with your oil pressure I'd say.

The 1.8T VAG engines are notorious for 'sludging' up with carbon deposits which means the oil pump fails, and ultimately your engine is fu**ed.

DO NOT continue to drive it unless you get it properly diagnosed.

[LandingSpot]

ensignia said:

There's somehting amiss with your oil pressure I'd say.

The 1.8T VAG engines are notorious for 'sludging' up with carbon deposits which means the oil pump fails, and ultimately your engine is fu**ed.

DO NOT continue to drive it unless you get it properly diagnosed.

80-100k miles and you should look at having the oil pump replaced, or at least sump off and clean the lot up.

Seriously, if you took it off, the hole that the oil goes through it roughly 10% of the size it should be!!

[DannyVTS]

Don't drive it, my mates started doing this, 100 miles later the engine went - well the top end went due to running dry of oil

[rvrrob]

Is probably the oil pick up pipe that has become clogged which is common on the VAG 1.8t engine. From what I've heard it tends to happen any time from 60,000 miles onwards on these engines depending on what oil has been used (synthetic or not)and how often it has been serviced. It gives the symptoms you have described.

I am looking to change the pick up pipe on my Octavia VRS (same 1.8 turbo engine) as a preventative measure and a lot of people on the briskoda forum are doing the same.

As everyone else has said don't drive the car until its fixed. It shouldn't cost too much to fix if it is just the pick up pipe as the pipe is around £25 then you need sealant for the sump, oil and either yours or a mechanics time on top.

[dougc]

I'll second (fourth maybe?) the pickup problem. Get it seen to as soon as you possibly can, especially as its been going on for a while.

[seagrey]

Is it the oil level or oil pressure warning? if its the level warning the sensor in the sump is kaput.
The BAM engine is famous for oil pressure problems,pick up/strainer and for good measure the pump will need changing and fast or you will be needing a new turbo also.
The last bare engine I bought second hand was £2200inc.

[LandingSpot]

seagrey said:

Is it the oil level or oil pressure warning?

It's the same light

seagrey said:

if its the level warning the sensor in the sump is kaput.
The BAM engine is famous for oil pressure problems

As are all of the 1.8T engines (if improperly cared for, or high mileage).

[Ozzie Osmond]

Oil pressure warning light is one of the very few which REALLY MEAN IT!

Urgent attention required. Hopefully something trivial bur absolutely not worth the risk of driving the car.

Whoever (above) said it could be related to oil temperature was talking complete and dangerous rubbish IMO.

[Cupramax]

LandingSpot said:

seagrey said:

Is it the oil level or oil pressure warning?

It's the same light

Yes, but the important thing you forgot to mention is the colour, yellow for level, red for pressure

[seagrey]

LandingSpot said:

As are all of the 1.8T engines (if improperly cared for, or high mileage).

The display picture,(assuming the dash is working correctly)changes from orange/level to red/pressure or am I thinking of some thing else?
I have never done any other petrol engined models,it always seems to be that BAM engine code and a few of them as well.
I have done a few of the diesel ones,with all the rigmarole of changing half the bottom end for the sake of a worn out hex drive that was never up to the job in the first place,nice and straight forwards.
I have an A4 myself,petrol but VAG products are over rated.

[LandingSpot]

Cupramax said:

LandingSpot said:

seagrey said:

Is it the oil level or oil pressure warning?

It's the same light

Yes, but the important thing you forgot to mention is the colour, yellow for level, red for pressure

I never knew that!! Thanks!

[OwenK]

My MR2 has started doing the same thing recently. Oil level light coming on seemingly at random while driving, for steadily longer periods of time now; but it only appears after the first minute or so of driving. It's definitely oil LEVEL, not oil PRESSURE, as the lights are different. As with the OP the oil level is fine on the dipstick.

I'd really rather it wasn't the oil pump - the bloody car's only been back a week since fixing the alternator!