I’ve got a 98 A4 1.8 Quattro automatic. Bought it two years ago with 90,000 mi., and am at 128,000 now.
Big ticket repair bill coming up. Low oil pressure indicator light came on and I took it to the mechanic I’ve been going to for two years. Seems okay, but I’ve only had minor work done there.
By the time I got there, the engine started clattering. Mechanic thinks it’s the oil pump, screen or both. Also tells me the turbo is going, which I can believe, have been loosing power, and have white smoke when I stress the engine. He tells me it takes 6 hours to get to the oil pump, and won’t know if it’s bad till he gets at it. That’s $400 for a verdict, good or bad, plus parts if bad. Then the turbo. That’s only 4 hours plus $800 for a rebuild or $1200 for new. Bottom line $2200 to $2400.
I suggested doing the turbo first, because it is obviously going bad, and waiting to look at the pump and screen, because were not certain they are a problem at this time. Good Idea? He thinks the pump needs to be looked at anyway.

Sound reasonable?

Any questions?

Do you think a second opinion is worth pursuing? If so, can you suggest another good Audi mechanic in this area?

Should I be going to a dealer for a repair of this magnitude?

 

from experience:

my oil pressure light was just the oil pressure sensor. part= $29

suggestion:
check that first. then get the sump screen and pump assembly replaced, or looked at.... its probably pretty nasty in there, and while your having the mechanic go all the way in there, id have him change it, no sense in paying the $400 for labor twice.

on the turbo:
an upgrade turbo (k04) is only 750 new. im sure you can find a used stock (k03) for around 300 with low(er) miles....
you dont NEED new software, you can only benefit more from it.

 

Shon,
Thanks, good info, looks like I can save 3 to 5 hundred by shopping the turbo. Another question, would you think a turbo going bad could be the couse of low oil pressure, and I may not need to go the expense of looking at the pump and screen?

 

This doesn't sound like an oil sending unit problem!!!

To me it sounds like the following sequence of events.

Low oil pressure leading to part failure.
Did you check your oil level? If it wasn't low, sounds like the problem is engine sludge. If you can prove religious adherence to the oil change intervals, it may be covered by Audi.

Hopefully, the noise is JUST the turbo. Hopefully, the engine internals, camshaft and bearings aren't ruined from oil starvation. Never drive a car when the oil pressure light comes on.

 

Easiest way to see if the turbo is going is to check for oil consumption as they almost always eat the bearings first, this allows the oil to **** through into the intercooler piping. I've taken the intercooler piping off of one with a worn turbo and found atleast a litre of oil in there!

If your top end goes chattery it's the ball valve, they gunk up and let the oil trickle back out of the head in an idle or low oil pressure situation.

I'd check the turbo out first, make sure your diverter valve hasn't failed (could be the loss of power) then run a good quality flushing oil through the engine to attempt to clear it out, give it an oil/filter change with the oil as hot as you can get it, then run a good quality fully synth in it.

Check out that sender unit to, could be a cheap solution.

 

https://1.8t.org/dealers

 

thats why i own a 2.8 V6

 

Possibly some good news here. The mechanic thought Audi had a “campaign” to cover this problem. I called Audi and was informed the have a “warranty extension” for 1997 1.8T’s and newer until they are 8 years old, unlimited mileage. Criteria: Audi dealer must determine sludge caused the failure, and then you must prove (paper trail) that you adhered to specified maintenance schedule. I have the paper work, but I have been changing the oil myself for 2 years. I do have the receipts to back it up (Amsoil oil & filters). Hope they accept that.
It’s at the dealer now, and should give me the verdict tomorrow.
Thanks all for the guidance.

 

Check the archives for "oil sump screen". I had this problem and it's well covered in the archives.