HELP!!!! 1.8t engine sounds like a diesel and the oil light is on

[shaz-raul]

hey guys

i really need some help with my engine problem. i was driving a couple of weeks ago and my oil light came on. i topped up the oil and the light came on again a few days later, an then it started to sound worse then a diesel! i've had some ppl say its the oil pump but i dont have a clue... the car has never given me any probs before but i dont wanna take it to the garage without having any idea of wat the issue is an wat its likely to set me back coz they'll prob take me to the cleaners! any advise/ help would be much appreciated as i dont really have much knowledge of audi's as this is my 1st one.

audi a4 1.8t 244bhp 2004

thanks in advance

 

[quattrojames]

Welcome to the forum

I'm no expert on the 1.8T but it sounds like the oil pump has gone or the pick up in the sump is blocked, a common problem due to oil incompatibility. It's ominous if its making noise already.

Do NOT under any circumstances drive it any further, get it recovered to a garage to investigate, and be sat down when they ring you unfortunately

I hope I am wrong, but ....

 

[J7USS]

James beat me to it.... from what it sounds like then its the oil Sludge/Pickup pipe issue!

As James said mate, Dont even attempt to drive it anywhere. Im talking from my own experience and £3000+ later...

The issue wont go away, it'll get worse...then "bangggg".....

When you are sitting down, you might want to have a Brandy handy BUT you may have caught it before the more "serious" damage has been done.

Oil pump/pick up with labour (providing there is no other damage will be around the £450 mark......sounds better than a Recon/new engine that would strip you of £3000 minimum (for a Decent one with history).

Just out of interest, How is your 1.8t hitting the 244bhp mark? what have you done to it...

 

[shaz-raul]

thanks guys i think after reading that £3000+ comment i'll need more then just a brandy! i had the car remapped a few months back....... had a forge reverter valve fitted an also an induction kit,... i was planning on fitting in a n75 j valve but the moment i heard the car banging away like a diesel i turned it off an havent touched it since.....

 

[jcp]

Same thing happened to me only last week. Asked the garage to clean the sump out. There was some carbon deposits and also some orange plastic bits from the dip stick! Only cost me £140 including an oil change.

 

[shaz-raul]

that sounds like a plus point! i think ima drop it off to the garage tomorrow an get them to clean out the sump 1st. james said that it could be the oil pump or the pick up... how does that get blocked? sorry im novice when it comes to audis, so im tryna pick up as much knowledge from you guys as i can

 

[J7USS]

Too much Brandy will kick up the "randy" so maybe Gin to go with the occasion...!
On a serious note though, You might be lucky enough that your engine hasnt been subjected far enough for the damage to be as bad as a "need another engine" job as you said you switched it off and havnt started it since so you'll have to see what your Stealers/Specialist say.Fingers & toes (not legs) crossed!!!

Also I think you'll find with just them Mods mate you wont be anywhere near 244bhp BUT I guess thats the least of your worries at this moment in time.

Keep us posted on your situation as most of us on here can be pretty helpful (when we feel like it) so we can point you in the right direction if you need any more info etc.

 

[quattrojames]

james said that it could be the oil pump or the pick up... how does that get blocked?

Have a read of THIS

 

[J7USS]

...its caused by the crap longlife service schedule, leaving any oil in your engine for 20k is IMO just plain stupid and asking for trouble. All the ***** builds up into a Gunk and that will block that skinny little pipe eventually!

They'll decide what they will do with it, no good cleaning the sump out and changing the oil if the Pick up is blocked and you have a dry head...If it was me, Id be asking them to look into it further and if they know what they are doing then they'll test the pressure etc and they'll know form there.

...oh and dont drive it to them, get it recovered, take NO chances


Where you based????

 

[shaz-raul]

thanks james... i think i may have done exactly that a few months ago... stopped over at a shell petrol station n topped up... god knows wat i stuck in!

J7uss im based in east london... stratford to be specific.... know any good mechanics??

 

[auroan]

...its caused by the crap longlife service schedule, leaving any oil in your engine for 20k is IMO just plain stupid and asking for trouble. All the ***** builds up into a Gunk and that will block that skinny little pipe eventually!

****** !!!

It's caused by mixing long life and normal oil between changes with out doing a full flush.

Or even using the wrong type of oil all together.

 

[paul20v]

****** !!!

It's caused by mixing long life and normal oil between changes with out doing a full flush.

Or even using the wrong type of oil all together.

How does mixing oils cause this ?
i thought it was soley down to the lack of oil changes.

 

[aragorn]

Its a bit of both i suspect.

Poor quality oil wont withstand the thermal stresses of a turbocharger and will break down, but even a fully synth oil thats been in there too long will go the same way.

I suspect that part of the problem occurs when cars stop being serviced by the main dealer and start being serviced by normal garages, who chuck in any old semi synth oil and still leave the computer on 20k service intervals. HOWEVER, there have been cars that have been fully dealer serviced that have suffered the same fate.

Leaving oil in ANY engine for 20k is just asking for trouble IMO. The service interval is set to ensure that the car looks good to prospective buyers and will last long enough to get it thru its warranty period. Believe it or not, manufacturers dont want the car to last forever, because they're in the business of selling new cars.

I should also point out this: DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AT ALL, NOT EVEN TO THE GARAGE.

The light being on means the oil pressure is very low or non existant. Components inside the engine REQUIRE oil pressure. The bearings in the engine dont run metal on metal, they run on a film of pressurised oil, and without any oil pressure, these bearings wont last 5 minutes.

I suspect that its already gone too far, if your getting diesel-like knocking then you've probably spun a bearing already, in which case its new engine time.

It amases me that people just dont understand what the big red flashing oil light means. It means STOP THE CAR NOW, AND CALL A GARAGE. Had you done that when it first came on, you'd likely need nothing more than a good flush and an oil change, or at worst a new oil pump...

 

[J7USS]

****** !!!

It's caused by mixing long life and normal oil between changes with out doing a full flush.

Or even using the wrong type of oil all together.

Why whats wrong with them ******** of yours then.....

You have your opinions and ill have mine. Long life is *****!!! Simple.....
I suggest you keep your "********" to yourself.

 

[aragorn]

i agree with J7USS, its nothing to do with MIXING of the oils per se, although topping up with a crappy mineral oil will most likely aggrevate the problem.

I've done it myself, our engine burns a bit of oil, so it needs checked regularly. Missus dropped be off at work one day and the tappets were rattling like a goodun. Checked the dipstick and there wasnt a drop on it! I ran over to a nearby service station, picked the cheapest bottle off the shelf, which was 10w40 semi-synth diesel oil, and threw it in. I was well aware it wasnt fully synth, but their range was small, expensive, and crap oil is clearly better than no oil. When i came to do the change 1k later, the oil was really black an nasty looking. It never usually goes like that with the fully synth, and i can only imagine the results of leaving a sumpful of that oil in there for 5k never mind 10 or 20.

 

[docurley]

Take in to account all the services that were done before you owned the car and your in no mans land.

In regards to a good mechanic I live on the other side of the river from you and have a friend who runs his own work shop near the Elephant just of Walworth Rd that I can recommend if that’s not to far for you.

 

[auroan]

i agree with J7USS, its nothing to do with MIXING of the oils per se, although topping up with a crappy mineral oil will most likely aggrevate the problem.

I've done it myself, our engine burns a bit of oil, so it needs checked regularly. Missus dropped be off at work one day and the tappets were rattling like a goodun. Checked the dipstick and there wasnt a drop on it! I ran over to a nearby service station, picked the cheapest bottle off the shelf, which was 10w40 semi-synth diesel oil, and threw it in. I was well aware it wasnt fully synth, but their range was small, expensive, and crap oil is clearly better than no oil. When i came to do the change 1k later, the oil was really black an nasty looking. It never usually goes like that with the fully synth, and i can only imagine the results of leaving a sumpful of that oil in there for 5k never mind 10 or 20.

Do you really think Audi would set all it's cars on long life from the factory if it was that, that causes the issue. Because I sure the motor industry whatch dog would be banging on their door rather heavily if it were. I've yet seen or heard of a car go the full 20K between services anyway.

VAG are VERY strict on what oils go in their motors for a reason. I've never ever had a problem with any of my 10 different VAG engined cars ranging from low milage upto 160K motors. All of them have had Audi/VW or Skoda service history and all bar two have been longlife, and none of them have suffered ANY oil related issue what's so ever.

So my ****** are feeling rather good at the mo.

 

[J7USS]

Well you must have been one of the lucky ones then obviously!!!!!

..If the "VAG" are so sure why did the yanks get 90% of theres covered by warrenty??....
and why is the "oil Sludge" such a common issue with the 1.8ts????you seem to be so sure its not an issue so come on then, enlighten us...

 

[auroan]

It's already been discussed over and over again in the past. The mixing of oils over time causes a sludgeing affect to occur. This sinks to the sump, where the rather narrow oil pickup is (as per the 1.8T design) which causes a blockage. Hence no oil gets to the head and you say good bye to your engine. Our company runs a fleet of about 40 VAG company cars of which I beleive 12 are/was 1.8T Audi or Passats at one point. All on longlife oil and none have ever had a problem right up to and sometimes past the 100K mile swap point.

When my motors go into dealerships for the Oil service (just for book stamp - I do everything else) I usually end up having a chat to one of the techs. Not one has ever seen a dealer maintained motor have an issue with oil sludge. In fact I've only ever seen it reported on forums, and all of them have been engines which have little or no recorded service history before the persons who has had the problem has got their hands on the engine.

Regards the US thing. Is that fact ? can you point me to the proof of this or is it just another internet myth ?

 

[J7USS]

Why I have to provide proof to you I dont know but you have google I assume?

Yes its been discussed over and over and there is always the ones that swear by Longlife but ive experienced the oil sludge myself in an Ex-company car with 96k, My bro in law had the same issue and few on here have had it aswell as many 'Ziners'
- - ALL have been left to the Crap Longlife service. My red one was serviced through longlife only = Bang! Inlaws, longlife only = Bang!..I can go on and on....It wasnt about topping up with different oils etc.
Mine aswell as many have been left to the 'Longlife' service and most of them suffered the sludge issue.

Just because it hasnt happened in your experiences doesnt mean its nothing to do with LongLife service...

Plain and simple for me, Id never stick with the Longlife rubbish. Why is it so hard to change your oil every 8k or so.
Its happening to VW/Audi with little as 39k on the clock.Theres a case with only 22k on the clock.

Its an Issue that VW/AUDI are familiar with and whether you change your oil every 20k or 5k the problems have been mainly with the Longlife. Oil in your engine for 20k??...No thanks Chief!!!!

http://www.audiworld.com/news/04/083104b/content.shtml
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

 

[auroan]

I seem to remember you posting once that you didn't know what oil had been in your red one before you owned it ?

Oh and your link to the oil thread... the info on their I'd take with a big pinch of salt, as the guy is only "petrolhead who is into basic maintenance." as per his disclaimer.

Oh and good old google shows me that the US warrenty thing is because US DEALERS were using the WRONG oil for longlife......... hence they had to pay up under the warrenty because the DEALERS fecked up.

And the first link to the warrenty thing.....

"[FONT=verdana, arial, geneva][SIZE=-1]The problem generally is caused by failure to change the oil on time or by the use of low-quality oil, Keyes said. It affects 1998 to 2004 Passats and 1997 to 2004 Audi A4s that have a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder engine."

Now then, I'm sure thats exactly what I've been saying ?

No mention of longlife in any articles. Use the correct oil over the period it's designed for (as longlife oil is), and with out mixing it with wrong grades and you will not have a problem.

As alexander would say "Schimples"


[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[J7USS]

Correct till I contacted the Audi dealership for a full break down with the Red one....
and as ive said before, My experience was with LONGLIFE aswell as many others, I havnt said its JUST longlife but majority! Im going by the 'actual' experiences of various owners due to 'Longlife' not just articles posted around the net!!

Yes you have been saying that exactly which I havnt said your Wrong have I but I replied to your "******" reply and I still stand by what I say.
Just because I dont agree with you doesnt mean that makes Me right also, Its 'opinion' and personal experience!

Ok so I posted a couple of links that you disagree with, think that'll be the case with any link judging by your original opionion - There is many links which im sure you'll find if you really want to. I aint here to prove anyone wrong, the guy asked for advice/opinions etc so I gave him mine....Apologies if it isnt the same as yours but aswell as mine, You have no proof of your theory either so maybe thats why theres the term "agree to disagree.."

 

[auroan]

Do you actually read what I've posted, or even the links you posted ? I havn't disagree'd with what was said regarding the links. Just your interpretation of them. Longlife is not the cause of the issue.

God even the oil specific extended warrenty statement from Audi states that ? What is so hard to understand. If longlife oil and it's service schedules are used properly there isn't an issue.

If you put the wrong oil in and run it on long life schedule you get sludge.
If you mix and match longlife and the wrong oil between service you get sludge.
If you miss longlife services you get sludge.

You seem to be seeing it as a longlife issue, when it's not. If I try and drink from a glass and miss my face all the time because I'm using the glass wrong, is it the glasses fault or mine ?

Same holds true with the oil schedules and the type of oils used. Longlife is perfectly fine if used properly.

 

[J7USS]

....and theres the term again, Agree to disagree.
Have you actually read what Ive said also...
My Exeriences aswell as many others has been down to the LONGLIFE Service
How hard is that to understand, My Personal Experiences..
Your certain that Longlife isnt the cause, whereas Longlife for many has been the issue, Mine included. Therefore I Blame "LongLife" simple as that for me.
We all have our own opinions and we both have NO PROOF that it is or isnt anything to do with (again) Longlife....

A motor with 39k on the clock on the longlife service plan suffers from Oil sludge....Strange that.Im sure if I digged deeper id be able to find the article on that one which I might add that the car in question was a company vehicle that no one gave a damn about topping up oil and left it to the dealers at service time but why should I. Opinions opinions opinions....

 

[auroan]

Looks like we will have to disagree, but just try an look a bit further into what is related to the longlife service that has caused the issues. Everytime some blaims longlife out right for the issue and gives that advice, i'll come out with the ****** statement again and try and explain it as I have. Hopefully the OP will understand that its not longlife per say but factors surrounding it.

Unless I can get hold of the VAG development documents and manufactoring test results and oil development results etc etc (which you know as well as me that will never happen), I'll never be able to provide the proof your after.

But I will not let someone advise someone else that longlife is Sh1t, with out giving a balanced reason why it's not.

 

[J7USS]

...and I wont go without commenting that Longlife is ***** IMO and Ill proceed in doing so everytime the "issue" pops up also!


:end_of_discction:

 

[D8UGF]

auroran, if thats the case then why did my 1.8t with FULL main dealer service history serviced on the button at each interval and only 40 odd thousand on the clock go pop due to an engine sludge issue only 6000 miles into a long life service schedule? If you are suggesting that its due to mixing poor oils with recommended oil then what happened to me puts that theory out the window im afraid, unless of course an Audi main dealer would fill my car with a substandard oil.

 

[auroan]

Who's to say they didn't put normal oil in at some point ? And have you own'd the car from new ?

Some one just posted on the A3 forum about selling their 2.0TQS-line and opting for a std 10K oil change rather than an AVS oil change because it was cheaper. Now, the motor still has a FASH but now runs normal oil instead of AVS, and I bet your bottom doller the dealership didn't do a full engine flush.

This is an example of what can cause the sludging.

 

[auroan]

...and I wont go without commenting that Longlife is ***** IMO and Ill proceed in doing so everytime the "issue" pops up also!


:end_of_discction:

A well a true valid argument there. I shall always take your opinion into account from now on, based on that.

 

[J7USS]

A well a true valid argument there. I shall always take your opinion into account from now on, based on that.

Im sure you'll Get over it.
Yeah yeah, I dont agree with you bla bla bla.....Boo-hoo..!!

Next.....

 

[auroan]

:chuckle:

 

[pjmspeedy]

and I bet your bottom doller the dealership didn't do a full engine flush.

When mine went in for it's last service, I was told that Audi don't do an engine flush! I was told "because of the new oils these days Audi say you don't need to"!!!

But then again every dealer can be different but this is what I was told from my dealer.

For the record...mine is on longlife servicing purely for the Dealer Stamp in my book. However every 9k I drop my own oil just to be on the safe side because here is where I agree with J7USS as no matter how good the oil is I don't trust it to be in there for 18k.

 

[quattrojames]

Wow its all gone a bit S3 in here!

 

[howdy quattro]

Wow its all gone a bit S3 in here!

whooooooooaaaaa!!! get outta my head!!! jerry!! jerry!! jerry!!...........and so forth.............

 

[shaz-raul]

evening guys

bad news! pistons are ****** so is the conrod etc...

I NEED A NEW ENGINE!

ANY IDEAS ON WHERE TO START???

 

[howdy quattro]

scrappies, most engines seem to be going fairly cheap at the mo, got myself an sx engine for 200 quid last weekend!! or see just how bad it is and put forge bits in your engine, make it bullet proof. if its scored your cylinder linings i dunno if the linings press out or if they're part of the block on those engines. plenty of options, just no cheap ones. sorry for your bad luck tho mate.

 

[J7USS]

Ouch! Sorry to hear that Shaz!

Are you looking for the same engine Code? or you got a mechanic who can slip any 1.8t in and know what he's doing?

Get ringing round the scrappys and have a look on Fleebay. It took me 3 weeks to find the same engine by code as I was told I couldnt put any other in there BUT later found out you can.

Ill dig out some numbers for you over the weekend but I did get mine from ALL AUDI (www.allaudi.co.uk)

Did they strip your engine completely??

 

[auroan]

evening guys

bad news! pistons are ****** so is the conrod etc...

I NEED A NEW ENGINE!

ANY IDEAS ON WHERE TO START???

Ouch, I take it the head knacked as well ? If so, see if you can find a really bad rear ended right off, then just do a complete transplant ?

 

[shaz-raul]

had a ring around for another engine .. so far no luck...

j7uss yea mate lookin for the same engine code again a BEX

 

[shaz-raul]

had a ring around for another engine .. so far no luck...

j7uss yea mate lookin for the same engine code again a BEX tho i think its gonna be a hard job finding that.... seeing as u guys all have the no how ... wat else could i drop into the car that wud be pretty easy an have more power??