Oil warning light staying on....

terrydel

The oil level warning light came on on my audi a3 2004 1.6 petrol on friday driving home from work. ive checked the levels and it was low, so ive since topped up with 2.5 litres in total and done a very mild 15-20 mins drive to get the oil circulating. The level looks fine on the dipstick, but the light is remaining on no matter what.
Any ideas what it might be?

Teddington Cuddlesworth

Oil pressure, not advisable to continue driving the car

hi_im_fil

Was the warning light an oil level or oil pressure warning? If you were driving with 2.5 litres less than required for a period of time, then there could be internal damage within the engine

colm_mcm

Yellow or red light?

mark085

Maybe you need a new oil pump stop driving the car anyway

terrydel

Yellow light, min oil level indicator.

colm_mcm

Oil pressure on those is a red light as far as I know. Also the level light can stay on for a while on those after refilling

Senna

terrydel wrote: »

Yellow light, min oil level indicator.

Minimum oil level and it took 2.5ltr? Something sounds wrong

terrydel

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oil pressure on those is a red light as far as I know. Also the level light can stay on for a while on those after refilling

I was thinking that.

terrydel

Senna wrote: »

Minimum oil level and it took 2.5ltr? Something sounds wrong

Please elaborate

alta stare

Possible bad oil level sensor. Keep an eye on the oil level at the dipstick and have the sensor replaced as soon as possible.

Mooooo

Low oil warning came on on my diesel passat last week for the first time. Oil was on the bottom of dips tick and only took 3/4 of a litre to bring it up, didn't fill it to max tho. 2.5 litre seems a lot just for a warning light?

CIP4

terrydel wrote: »

Please elaborate

Generally there is ~1 litre between the min and max mark in terms of the volume of oil you add to increase the level. Obviously different models different volume but there is no way yours should take 2.5 litres so either it was way below the min, or it's now way over the max or you lost some of the oil as in it didn't all go to the sump.

terrydel

CIP4 wrote: »

Generally there is ~1 litre between the min and max mark in terms of the volume of oil you add to increase the level. Obviously different models different volume but there is no way yours should take 2.5 litres so either it was way below the min, or it's now way over the max or you lost some of the oil as in it didn't all go to the sump.

Well it could be over the max now alright, I put about 1.5 in prior to first checking. I think it needs a mechanic either way now to be in the safe side

colm_mcm

That engine takes 3.5 litres.

crabbypaddy

terrydel wrote: »

Well it could be over the max now alright, I put about 1.5 in prior to first checking. I think it needs a mechanic either way now to be in the safe side

2.5l is a lot of oil. If its at the correct level now that means you only had 1l left. If you burned 2.5l of oil theres a good chance the remaining stuff was like tar and blocked the sump stainer / filter / coated the level sensor etc.

Are you sure you're looking at the correct level on the dip stick or that it didn't pour out - those ****ty plastic dip tubes are well known for breaking. If it is overfilled it can run on is own oil and melt / blow up / throw a conrod through the casing.

If it was mine and it had dropped to 1l I would drop the sump and clean it out completely.

Senna

It sounds like 2.5ltrs was just a guess and you had no idea where the oil was on the dip stick before or where it is now.
Tow the car to a mechanic before you do anymore damage.

grogi

Senna wrote: »

Minimum oil level and it took 2.5ltr? Something sounds wrong

Typically the difference between min and max is around one litre...

It might be lighting up because the sensor senses too much oil...

phill106

I had a passat with simmilar issue. Low oil, topped it up. Light stayed on. Drained oil, replaced filter, topped up. stayed on. admitted defeat and brought to garage.
Turns out there was a microswitch for the bonnet that was faulty, wasnt recognizing that i had opened the bonnet.

Car thought, well you havent opened the bonnet, so couldnt have added oil, so oil must still be low!
just offering as both VAGs...

Senna

phill106 wrote: »

I had a passat with simmilar issue. Low oil, topped it up. Light stayed on. Drained oil, replaced filter, topped up. stayed on. admitted defeat and brought to garage.
Turns out there was a microswitch for the bonnet that was faulty, wasnt recognizing that i had opened the bonnet.

Car thought, well you havent opened the bonnet, so couldnt have added oil, so oil must still be low!
just offering as both VAGs...

Serious, the sensor for the bonnet over rides the oil level sensor, what brain child came up with that.

tanko

phill106 wrote: »

I had a passat with simmilar issue. Low oil, topped it up. Light stayed on. Drained oil, replaced filter, topped up. stayed on. admitted defeat and brought to garage.
Turns out there was a microswitch for the bonnet that was faulty, wasnt recognizing that i had opened the bonnet.

Car thought, well you havent opened the bonnet, so couldnt have added oil, so oil must still be low!
just offering as both VAGs...

How much did it cost you to get that sorted?

Would a car fail the NCT if the Orange oil light is lit up on the dash?

phill106

tanko wrote: »

How much did it cost you to get that sorted?

Would a car fail the NCT if the Orange oil light is lit up on the dash?

I think the mechanic just disabled the microswitch and it was fine after that, but yeah i point it out as a flaw in computers taking over cars!
this was an 02 one.

terrydel

crabbypaddy wrote: »

terrydel wrote: »

Well it could be over the max now alright,  I put about 1.5 in prior to first checking.  I think it needs a mechanic either way now to be in the safe side

2.5l is a lot of oil. If its at the correct level now that means you only had 1l left. If you  burned 2.5l of oil theres a good chance the remaining stuff was like tar and blocked the sump stainer / filter / coated the level sensor etc.

Are you sure you're looking at the correct level on the dip stick or that it didn't pour out - those ****ty plastic dip tubes are well known for breaking. If it is overfilled it can run on is own oil and melt / blow up / throw a conrod through the casing.

If it was mine and it had dropped to 1l I would drop the sump and clean it out completely.

So basically do a full oil/filter change to be on the safe side?