Oil Light Coming On.

[Chubby]

Hi Guys,

A little technical help required.

My oil light (Big red oil can) is occasionally coming on under hard accelaration - although I have the required amount of oil in the engine.

Any ideas why?

I do know that the book says 'Low oil pressure' but does this point to the oil pump or something else?

All comments greatfully recieved.

R.

[Peakz]

Drive a bit slower perhaps Rich??

[Chubby]

Drive a bit slower perhaps Rich??

No way - can'r do - car is flying.

[Virdee Autos]

Weak oil pump or pick up...

[bigandyw]

does the pick up pipe have a strainer on it? might be getting blocked maybe!

[Virdee Autos]

I'm not entirely sure, but going by previous VAG cars, I suspect it does.

As has been said maybe blocked

[Philws4]

It is possible that you may just have a faulty oil pressure switch

[imolas4uk]

get the oil pressure checked,make sure its tested when the car is stinkin hot and at around 3000rpm,if its low check the oil pump pick up strainer first.

[Chubby]

Thanks - the strainer should be clear - as I cleaned it not long ago - will test the pressure as well - but the car has done 90K so it could do with a new oil pump.

Thanks again,

R.

[bigandyw]

did u clean out all the sump as well? Someone i know cleaned out his block and sump with a rag unfortunatly it wasn't lint free, he did less than 50 miles, blocked his strainer and spun a shell on a fresh rebuild!!

[Chubby]

Just to keep everyone up to speed on this - it doesn't look like it's the oil pump.

Apparently the pump produces more pressure the more rev's the car does - it's normal for the pump / pressure warming to come on when it's very hot and at idle.

Have checked pressure - which is fine - so it could be oil starvation which point to a blockage or simular.

More to follow - sump coming off...

R.

[flashyg]

Why nor change the pressure switch, to see if it is faulty, then tear down the engine or have you definitely confirmed oil pressure issues?
Not having fun if it is oil pressure, sorry Rich.
G

[Virdee Autos]

IMO it's not normal for the oil pressure warning to come on at any time, apart from when "there" is a problem with that!

Even thought the pump produces more pressure, more the revs, bear in mind the oil will get thinner when warmed up.

[Doug_S2]

It is the first sign of oil pump pressure being low. I have seen this on a few cars. no light on when you start. 5 minutes later when warm - do a a few runs, everything ok, then cruise but above 3k the light pops on. If you look at the pressure ok/not ok check then you can see it is not ok until you rev to about 3.5k.

I have also seen this on cars that have a cracked head and are starting to leak coolant into the bore and then leaks into the oil - the oil mixes and thickens up and then the pump cannot pressurise hte oil/water mix.

Don't ignore this warning as a duff sensor - and don't thrash the car until it is sorted - far to easy to spin a bearing or overheat a crank journal - then it is into big money to fix.

[Virdee Autos]

I have seen the same issue Doug has mentioned on the 1.8T engines aswell to do with weak oil pumps