Low oil pressure

The warning light (and irritating sound) comes on after 10-15 minutes of driving my 1,4 petrol, and then every 2-3 minutes during the journey. My local Audi dealer says that they have measured the oil pressure as low as 0,4-0,6 when it should be 2,0 and given me a quote for replacing the oil pump and also a cam belt change as the belt must come of anyway when replacing the oil pump. Makes sense, but the cost is over 2 grand! I'm not going to invest that kind of money in a car that probably is worth less than that with a healthy oil pressure, so I started with replacing the oil pressure sensor at 26£ on ebay, but that didn't solve the problem, so now I have ordered a new oil pump and cam belt, getting ready for some serious surgery and would be greatful for any advise from someone who have carried out this operation. Incidentally I stumbled over a video on U-tube where some guy fixed his low oil pressure by simply removing he oil sump and cleaning the oil pick up pipe that had a funnel with mesh over it and the mesh was completely clogged up with gungy oil, so that will be the first thing to check when I get the oil sump off
 
I also many many years ago had a similar thing with an Audi 80 coupe 5 cyclinder 1.9 engine
The car was laid up for some long period of time and the oil was not changed prior to layup
The condensation in the sump caused it to rust on the inside and this clogged the oil strainer causing oil pressure to drop
When I dropped the sump and cleaned it all out and washed the strainer the oil pressure was back to normal
One of the cheapest cars I ever bought as paid scrap value for it as the owner understood the engine to be gone due to low oil pressure
If you stopped the engine and waited 30 seconds then restarted it, oil pressure was good again then dropped off over another 60 seconds. My theory was the oil draining from the pump back to the sump flushed some of the rust away and then restarting the pump could get oil and pressure was good but it quickly clogged up


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The condensation in the sump caused it to rust on the inside and this clogged the oil strainer causing oil pressure to drop
gone due to low oil pressure
+1. I've had very similar oil pressure issue 2 years ago, especially uphill, beeping and red warning came on too. I got a new pressure sensor, but before that I change the oil and filter. After the issue went away, I still got the new oil sensor just in case. I'm not saying it's the same issue, but definitely worth a try, and make sure to use 5w30 507/000 full synthetic oil.
 
Just had the oil pressure warning light come on my tdi, vcds showed no faults, left for 10 min now no warning, not going to risk it, ordered pressure tester & replacemt sensor, what should the pressure ideally be ?

Regards

Paul
 
The warning light (and irritating sound) comes on after 10-15 minutes of driving my 1,4 petrol, and then every 2-3 minutes during the journey. My local Audi dealer says that they have measured the oil pressure as low as 0,4-0,6 when it should be 2,0 and given me a quote for replacing the oil pump and also a cam belt change as the belt must come of anyway when replacing the oil pump. Makes sense, but the cost is over 2 grand! I'm not going to invest that kind of money in a car that probably is worth less than that with a healthy oil pressure, so I started with replacing the oil pressure sensor at 26£ on ebay, but that didn't solve the problem, so now I have ordered a new oil pump and cam belt, getting ready for some serious surgery and would be greatful for any advise from someone who have carried out this operation. Incidentally I stumbled over a video on U-tube where some guy fixed his low oil pressure by simply removing he oil sump and cleaning the oil pick up pipe that had a funnel with mesh over it and the mesh was completely clogged up with gungy oil, so that will be the first thing to check when I get the oil sump off
Long shot, but maybe a tin of engine oil flush pour in run engine for half an hour on idle, then drain completley & refill with 0w 30 oil & a new filter
maybe worth a try before engine surgery etc,
 
Long shot, but maybe a tin of engine oil flush pour in run engine for half an hour on idle, then drain completley & refill with 0w 30 oil & a new filter
maybe worth a try before engine surgery etc,
I would agree, but engine flush into a 20 years old engine might not be the best idea. It might removes carbon deposited that been act like seal for many years.
 
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Just had the oil pressure warning light come on my tdi, vcds showed no faults, left for 10 min now no warning, not going to risk it, ordered pressure tester & replacemt sensor, what should the pressure ideally be ?

Regards

Paul
Of course order new parts if you think you need it, but you could just try an oil change before. I used to get the red flashing oil can symbol as well, left on pic.
I bought new sensory too, but after I had changed the dirty oil and filter, all went away. Probably the dirty oil got stuck through the sensor and caused the issue. If no EML codes registered, try to remember what the red flashing symbol looked like. I had the red one.
 

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Of course order new parts if you think you need it, but you could just try an oil change before. I used to get the red flashing oil can symbol as well, left on pic.
I bought new sensory too, but after I had changed the dirty oil and filter, all went away. Probably the dirty oil got stuck through the sensor and caused the issue. If no EML codes registered, try to remember what the red flashing symbol looked like. I had the red one.
Hi Sylvester

The oil and Filter were changed only 2500 miles ago as I had the oil pump chain & sprockets replaced which is a sump off job, I didn’t realise the A2 had a low oil level warning and now looking at the warning lights illustration it was indeed a low oil warning light that illuminated, checked oil and it was on the 3/4 mark so not that low, I have now topped it up and will see how it goes, still might double check oil pressure as I have a gauge arriving Today
 

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The warning light (and irritating sound) comes on after 10-15 minutes of driving my 1,4 petrol, and then every 2-3 minutes during the journey. My local Audi dealer says that they have measured the oil pressure as low as 0,4-0,6 when it should be 2,0 and given me a quote for replacing the oil pump and also a cam belt change as the belt must come of anyway when replacing the oil pump. Makes sense, but the cost is over 2 grand! I'm not going to invest that kind of money in a car that probably is worth less than that with a healthy oil pressure, so I started with replacing the oil pressure sensor at 26£ on ebay, but that didn't solve the problem, so now I have ordered a new oil pump and cam belt, getting ready for some serious surgery and would be greatful for any advise from someone who have carried out this operation. Incidentally I stumbled over a video on U-tube where some guy fixed his low oil pressure by simply removing he oil sump and cleaning the oil pick up pipe that had a funnel with mesh over it and the mesh was completely clogged up with gungy oil, so that will be the first thing to check when I get the oil sump off
Struggled a bit with getting the oil sump removed - some clever engineer have decided to put two of the bolts holding the sump deep between the engine and the gearbox where the sun never shines - impossble to see when trying to undo them, and of course they were damaged in the process - drilled a hole in the sump and hammered in an ovesized torx-bit and got the bolts out, but the sump was damaged. Found a repacement with a breaker in the south of Sweden - 600km from where I live, but fortunately I have a brother down there who picked it up and sent it to me. Replaced oil pump, water pump, timing belt and filled up with longlife oil (the expensive stuff) - still low oil pressure :(, so I removed some of the good parts from the car and scrapped it - got 400£ from the scrapper - he was only interested in the aluminium. After 2 sleepless months without an A2 I finally found a reasonable silver gray 1,4 petrol 2001-model with 163'kms on the clock - bog standard with nasty wheels but most important - a healthy oil pressure! Needs some TLC, it is showing low water temperature, I am planning to replace thermostat and temperature sensor. Foggy lenses on head lights, loose side mirror, trim missing around aftermarket DAB-radio but other than that it is good to go. It's even got cup holders and cubby hole in the rear!
 
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