Shortly after replacing a couple of collapsed PCV hoses from the oil filter adapter to the cam area, I began getting intermittent chimes with the oil can icon in the center of the instrument display. It would come on with acceleration and, oddly, go off with braking; so I thought it maybe a vacuum problem. Wrongo!

I finally went to a good, local VW dealer for diagnosis: partial, ongoing disintegration of the cam adjuster (p/n 058 109 088 K, $725!), causing bits of plastic to clog the oil pickup tube in the pan and thus starvation. Apparently this is a congenital problem with this engine. Think: congestive heart failure. The estimate for repair included 8 hours labor (mine's a Quattro), 4 hours to pull the pan, 4 on the top end replacing the cam tensioner; $1888, which goes about 1/2 way to totalling my car.

I went to an independant shop and had the bottom end portion done for a bit over $400 (again, it's a Quattro and pulling the pan is not something I'd undertake in my condo parking lot). Now the light is out and oil temperature now reads something in normal driving, so apparently this 'congestion' issue had been accumulating for some time. I still need to address the top end slow destruction of the $725 plastic cam tensioner ($169 at ECS Tuning) at some point, but at least (hopefully) I'm not going to grenade the engine because of this cheap POS internal part.

 

Yes and yes. Engine oil is distributed under pressure throughout the crankcase, to the valvetrain and turbocharger to the moving parts and provides both lubrication and cooling to moving surfaces. Lack of oil can cause the various moving parts to 'become one'; that would be very bad indeed.

 

Try thicken up the oil with stp if that works you have a worn out engine could be valve guides or main or connecting rod bearings but you can safely run the engine.

 

Car engine light came in and dealer changed spark plugs and put new coils in. Fixed pressure valve. 10 days later oil pressure light came on and went off. Called dealer and said we needed an oil change. Bought filter from dealer and scheduled an oil change appt.After 1000 dollars of work, 10 days later the car conked out on a major roadway. Towed to dealer. After 4 days of diagnosis they gave us news that we need a new engine for a cost of 11 thousand dollars! The comment they made to my husband shocked me more then the cost....they said we probably drove too long with the oil pressure light on! Blame the victims why don't you! Call Audi of America to plead our case. Will let you know what happens. Don't think I will be buying another Audi!

 

Just posted a comment about our recent Oil Pressure issue. I will keep you posted. Audi is investigating.

 

This sounds very similar to the problems I experienced on my 2001 A4 1.8 turb. The oil light started to illuminate under heavier engine load and was diagnosed by a local VW dealer as blocked oil screen due to accumulation of sludge in the crankcase and consequently ruined VVTI timing chain tensioner. The repair estimate was $1880, which likely meant my car was totalled. Apparently there was a recall on this topic for the B5 engine and was a free job if under 100000 miles, I was at 129000. A local chain repair shop in Charlotte offered to pull the pan (on an AWD Quattro), clean it and the screen for $400. This was done and no further problems.