so i was able to do a diy oil pan removal in about an hour. with removing no motor mounts, or subframe bolts. or swaybar. just loosening. as you all know i have a major rattle that is getting nothing but louder. auditech79 recomennded i start with the oil pickup tube. i removed the old one. evidently had some shavings in it. but no sludge apparent after a seafoam additive i put in before i drove to our shop. (fifty miles). i replaced the pickup and put in all back together, pan and all took about 3 hours after the sealant dried. i was hoping my tensioner would come back to life after a day or so of driving. but i got nothing. still sounds like a deisel when warm or below 2k.except last night i weant to start my car and it fired and died. again i tried to start,fired and died. next time iturned it over i gave it a little gas and it started and idled. was driving the gf home and it was running fine (minus my diesel noise). i shut off the car for a few and when i came outto go home the same thing happened this time wasn;t even firing. shut it off. cussed. tried again and it started and idled. WTF. keep in mind it was about 20 degress out, butstill.i should have sufficient pressure now so my cam bearingsshould be ok. (crossing my fingers)my question now is what is the next step. oil pump? if my pressure is up to par, do i just need to put in the damn tensioner?! why am i stalling? any help appreciated.

i am working on writing up a diy

 

auditech79. what do you think?

 

the sound you describe sounds like mine did before i had the cam chain tensioner replaced. sucks that the part is so dam expensive.

 

how much was the part.....tensioner

 

the cheapest one on the internet i found was like $675. and they ranged up to about $800 on other sites.

 

audi dealer want 681 sounds like thats my best bet. thanks

 

If your having problems starting that has nothing to do with your oil pressure, probably a bad CTS (coolant temp sensor). If the noise is still there after the pick up tube replacement then yes you need the tensioner.

 

My wife has a 2003 A4 Cab. 1.8T we bought six months ago a very tidy, 1 previous owner,low mileage vehicle that had completed27k miles. The red oil can light became apparent but not on all the time a few days ago, 'no oil pressure!!!' but there is oil in it? The car has just completed 37k miles and we have had it serviced regularly, I couldnt understand. Had we bought a badcar?

My wife left for work the following day and when returning she told me it was staying on all the time. Upon starting the car I was horrified, it sounded like a box of spanners or a diesel engine with no oil in it.

As it was out of warranty I went to a local firm who specialisein Audi's & VW. Theytold me it was a common problem with the 1.8T engine, sludge in the sump usually due to using the long service interval oil and driving the car slow? Furthermore, they told me they believethat the oil pump pick up pipe is too small . I was informedat the very least it needed a new oil pump, a small job but very difficult to get to due to the sub frame having to be removed, therefore quite labour intensive, estimated price £450.00. Due to this being over the Xmas period they and other garages including Audi (est £600.00) could not do the job until the first week in Jan.

I decided to see if I couldtry and resolve the problem, firstly by flushing the engine.Iused Wynns engine flush adding this to the existing oil, again during this process it was at it worst, the noise from the engine was awful even at 900rpm, the red oil light was flashing constantly.15 minutes went by with my fingers crossed I thought it was going to be a new engine.I emptied the oil from the engine (this was black andfull of sludge)and put a new oil filter and oil in the car. I started it again it was still noisey put not as bad.

I went and got a gallon of engine flush, emptying the new oil out and putting the flush in. Started the car it sounded better no oil light came on until about 5 mins later. I kept the revs below 2000rpm no oil light, the engine sounded a lot better. Ran this for 20mins then emptied it.I put the previously new oil back in, unbelievably the car sounded normal, I took it for a test drive slowly building the revs up, no oil light, but at 5000rpm the light came on, damm.

I was defeated, off to the garage the car was going. The next day started the car it was normal I took it for another drive 15 miles later still no oil light. I decided to flush the engine again but I used Wurth engine cleaner and flush, this was highly recommended.

Drained and changed oil and filter putting inCastrol Magnetec, the car sounds like a sewing machine, I have covered over 50 miles today and have taken it tomax revs frequently- No oil light, the engine sounds sweet - I believe, but hope I have cracked it.

 

so you basically just flushed your system....?

 

Hey chris gibson, you know oil sludge is covered by audi regardless of mileage right?
Even engine replacement, as long as you can show proof of oil change reciepts.