irecently when i start my car.. the oil light comes on..
beeps for a few minutes then stops.. its a 96 quattro manual.. then sometimes when i exit the car.. i kinda smell something burning.. i even topped it off to make sure there is enuff oil in there....

what could be the problem? is it the sludge problem i hear about so frequent?

thjanks guys


ps also.. is it normal, that when i remove the oil cap, that some smoke comes out?

 

oil sludge is common the 1.8T's... not to the v6's...
do you change your oil regularly with synthetic?

Is it a low oil light, or oil pressure light?

 

i get my oil changed synthietic at jiffy lube.. i think its mibil one 15w40


its not even near time to cahnge yet...


the light is a red light... with a picture of a like a lamp kinda... looks like a genie lamp... ahah i dont know that right word for it..

what does low oil pressure look like?
thanks

 

I belive thats the low oil light. Is jiffy lube using a certified OE filter? Mann Filter? I know that the crap regulars dont have quite the flow.

Do you have an oil leak?

Can you visibly see a leak? Or is there oil leaking into your exhaust from you turbo.. causing it to burn and smell?

hmmmmmm

 

I think it's just a faulty oil switch ($15) and about 10 mins to replace if you have a 22 or 23mm ring spanner. I WOULD DO THIS FIRST
Oil sludge will create a loss of oil at the top end which will make the lifters go tap tap tap tap tap. If you have no noise then I will bet my left one that it's a faulty oil switch.

BUT
if it doesn't work then read below and try this (something I posted to someone else)


If you have a thick oil in you motor anything over a 15w then you could experience problems if you live in a really really really cold place. To give you a rough idea, I use a 15w mineral based oil at 10 degrees celsius so I really doubt it will be that.
I can recommend what I did to mine to flush all the **** out, and although everyone will disagree, it does work.

1, go buy a bottle of kerosene, which is 100% hydrocarbons and pour 100ml per 1000ml of oil (I dont know the conversion sorry) in the top of your engine when cold (where you put the oil).
2, let it run for 10-15 minutes until hot always watch for the oil light and listen for any bad noises
3, let the engine sit for an hour or two (important) & then drain oil into a CLEAN container while your on even ground, slightly tilted to the left & forward if you can but flat is ok. Replace oil filter with a genuine oil filter and a 10w or 15w oil. That will get rid of ANY sludge that may have built up.
4, check your drained oil and look for chunkies.
5, refill with 10w or 15w oil & a genuine Audi Oil Filter

Remember your oil light only comes on when the pressure is really really low or your switch has **** itself.

 

The little red "genie lamp" is the oil pressure light. Definitely replace the sensor first but after that it could be your oil pump. I got mine replaced last week and it wasn't cheap. When they go in to replace your oil pump they have to pull the pan so they can tell if you have sludge or not. If you do and you can prove that you've had the oil changed regularly they should warranty it. I highly doubt you have that problem on the v6 though. As far as the smoke coming out of the oil filler cap, I have a Jeep that does that same thing and someone recently told me that the engine needs to be rebuilt...I think their guess was that the rings were worn out (?). You may have to go to a good mechanic for that one.

 

this audi is killin me.. figured it out.. last 2 days.. when it sat for a few hours .. the light would come on.. after 5 mins, it will go off.
so i freak out, go to my mechanic yesterday after work.. he checks oil, revs car up, looks around and says everything is fine... that he can see.. so i say, OK just want to make sure i dont kill myt car on the way home..

this morning i go to work, no light.. wth??? he didnt do anything special/..... im not complaining.. it didnt cost me anything, but jeezzz these cars are finicky..

if it happens again, i will try the sensor.. thanks guys

 

Check the oil pressure.

Why risk it? If the pressure is low, you will have to get it fixed, but it is cheaper than replacing an engine

 

Dave the only problem with that (I found out), is that you can have no oil going to the top end but still have pressure. I agree it is worth checking as it will cost you maybe 10 bucks. . . and thats if the mechanic is tight. I had a light the came on for a while and then disappeared. Engine sounded fine & drove fine. Changed the switch and it hasn't come on. I would recommend doing it anyway, that way you know if it does come back on, that you do have a problem.