my oil temp has always fluctuated pretty wildly...i want to replace the sensor, but i don't see any mention of it in the bentley book. i've searched and found different answers, mainly because they've been different models.

I've got 2000 A6 2.8L avant

Q - i've read the oil level sensor and oil temp is combined into the same sensor. but i see at ECS tuning, for example, has the level sensor but makes no mention of it being a temperature sensor too?

anyone know what the deal is?

 

oil temps do fluctuate quite a bit. When you are at operating temp, how much does it change?

 

i don't pay too much attention to it anymore but around the midway mark for the most part, then i notice it'll go up to like 325 for awhile, then from there it may drop down rapidly to 175 (in like 3-4 seconds).

 

you don't know where the sensor is though?

 

nope, sorry.

http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2763857

 

christ...just did my timing belt and didn't even notice it. it seems weird that when i search around i can't find a new sensor sold anywhere...maybe they never fail, and my oil is really that hot?? I don't know what would cause extreme fluctuations like that....only thing i can think of is if there is a pretty major clog in there and that it only gets dislodged once it gets super hot, then new cooler oil flows in, clogs and repeats?? guess i could try to seafoam it, don't want to damage any seals though.

 

this is another link i found

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4604532

 

My 2.7 does the same fluctuating in OIL temperature. Does anyone recommend changing the oil level sensor? Is it confirmed that, that is where the temperature is sent from? Is it something faulty or a normal condition?

If faulty it seems like an inexpensive fix...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...item518c3249e5

 

That sure is cheap! However, I had bad experiences with ebay electrical parts... Not saying that it is bad, but just being a pessimist.

 

The temperature sensor doubles as the oil level sensor on the bottom of the oil pan. The sender located on the oil cooler is the oil pressure sensor. However on earlier models the temperature is read from the pressure sensor. So if one sensor doesn't fix it, replace the other one. Its easier to get at the one on the bottom of the oil pan so thats the one i would try first.