Oil Light... Should I Be Worried?

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DeeDoubleYou

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Hi folks.

I've only had my Avant for a few months so it hasn't needed a service or anything since I've had it. Yesterday afternoon the oil level light popped up when I went to the shops, was still on when I came out of the shops and started the car so I drove the 1 mile back home and dug out the oil that was in the boot of the car when I bought it.

I left the car on the drive with the bonnet open for half an hour or so while I was googling the oil to check it was the right stuff (Shell Helix Ultra AG 5W40) and went to check the level on the dipstick. It looked ok to me, I hate dipsticks at the best of times, but I couldn't really see where the level stopped so assumed it was towards the upper end. I started the car again and the light had gone out.

Drove to work this morning and no light, but then it popped up again on the way home. I pulled over and checked the level, but again I think it was ok but as the kit was still on slopped 100ml in which made the light go out.

Now I know some cars do use a bit of oil, but I've never had that problem other than my first car which was a Vauxhall Nova with shagged valve stem oil seals! I'm just a bit nervous as I know these engines are prone to issues rising from oil pumps etc.

The car is a 57 plate 140 diesel, I have no idea what the engine code is off the top of my head, with just over 70k on the clock.

Should I worry or just give it a splash of oil when it asks for it every now and then?

Ta!
 
Check the oil on a level ground, but as you say it may require a few checks to clear the excess oil off the tube lining before getting a clean level reading..........until I am 100% sure there is enough oil in the car I would be a little worried, otherwise if there is it could be a faulty sensor/wiring.
 
When you open the bonnet (for a few seconds or so) all of the dash errors are cleared, including the low level light. If it's an intermittent sensor fault, opening the bonnet will clear the error until the sensor incorrectly detects a low level again.

I have the same problem, it's been coming on for months and each time (apart from once) there is plenty of oil in the engine. It's most probably the sensor that's gone, I'm having mine replaced over the weekend whilst I'm on holiday which will hopefully solve the problem.

You will most probably need an oil change at the same time as you have to drain the engine to change the sensor, hence why I've put up with it for this long.

ONLY buy VAG sensors as there have been several people with issues using non-OEM ones, they are about £70 for the sensor...
 
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jjmurphy21187 said:
When you open the bonnet (for a few seconds or so) all of the dash errors are cleared, including the low level light. If it's an intermittent sensor fault, opening the bonnet will clear the error until the sensor incorrectly detects a low level again.

I have the same problem, it's been coming on for months and each time (apart from once) there is plenty of oil in the engine. It's most probably the sensor that's gone, I'm having mine replaced over the weekend whilst I'm on holiday which will hopefully solve the problem.

You will most probably need an oil change at the same time as you have to drain the engine to change the sensor, hence why I've put up with it for this long.

ONLY buy VAG sensors as there have been several people with issues using non-OEM ones, they are about £70 for the sensor...
Click to expand...
These are a pain. I wish I could disable mine , I'm quite happy checking the dipstick.
I got a price for a new sensor but chap at ces said you can pay audi price but the part they supply is made by hella, he said if you buy a hella part you save about £20. He could supply either
 
for sensors I always go to audi parts from euro gsf are ****
 
Crap! It came on again today so I splashed another 100ml... better try and check the dipstick properly tonight before I end up massively over filling the engine!
 
I woouldn't recommend topping up without checking the dip stick... there is on;y 500ml or so between the 'low' and 'high' level points. If you overfill I think you have to drain oil out... which is far less easy than checking the dipstick!
 
Well, after the light coming on again, I didn't want to add even more oil so got a mate to double check the oil with me. After taking the **** out of me for not being able to see the level, he couldn't see it either! We both agreed that it definitely had oil in so suspected a dodgy sensor.
Quick trip to my mechanic earlier for him to also mock me regarding checking the oil before confirming that it looked like it might have a bit too much in now... no doubt it'll be 200ml too much, thanks to my top ups. Going to leave it with him to drop some oil out tomorrow.
He reckons it'll be the oil level switch or possibly the bonnet catch switch causing the problem. I can live with the annoyance of the warning light once I'm happy it has the right amount of oil in, so I might get an oil level switch ready to go in on the next service.
 
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Just make sure it is done before an MOT as it will fail now if there are warnings on the dash
 
Ah yes, good point.
These lovely intermittent faults that won't present themselves when you want for a mechanic, but you can bet you life they'll pop up when you really don't want them to!
 
I think these have had trouble with the oil level indicator. Crasher on vw audi said that the dipstick (to increase the amount of oil) has been updated a few times to try and solve it and in some cases still the light comes on with no solution from Audi.
 
That sucks about the sensor, too much oil kill your cat or worse all for a crappy sensor. Why not trust that drivers will pop the bonnet to check the oil? Madness.
 
Well, it's been a few weeks now and I've gotten into the habit of checking the oil once a week and seemingly randomly having to open and close the bonnet to clear the light.... oh well, only another 5.5k till it's due a service, I'll get a new sensor fitted then!
 
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