So I'm looking to buy a 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro 5-speed that is a very good deal "As is" from a dealership. He says the oil light is coming on intermittently on the car. After doing some research I found that this is a common problem with the car building up sludge, or having the wrong oil filter, or having the wrong oil in it. I talked to a few shops and I'm going to have the car looked at before I buy it. They said that it could be some kind of switch too.
From what I read online these 1.8T engines can get sludge and lock up causing big $$$ in damage.
What I want to know is what all I should do to/have checked out with this car before I drive it 230 miles home to Oregon. What are all the preventative things I can do to make sure that this issue doesn't ruin the car?

So far here's what I'm thinking:

• Have the car checked out in general. have a them do a PPI
• Check the oil pressure on a machine.
• Make sure it has a heavier more like 20W-30 synthetic oil in it. (no 10W-30)
• Make sure it has the right oil filter on it.
• (maybe) Run some kind of engine cleaner on it to clear out any sludge.? (Something like sea foam)?


Does this all sound good? What else should I do? Should I just not buy this car at all?

 

I'd pass. Theres gotta be tons of B5s in the PNW

 

Whats the price, and if you can find someone reputable to tell you the oil pressure light is because of a bad switch and not low pressure than I would be say maybe go for it. An intermittent light though because of low pressure would definitely be a pass for me, unless they sell you the car for 500 bux and you can have someone put a new engine in. The pressure has to drop extremely low for that light to come on as far as I know. It isnt a cause of the wrong oil or oil filter, as in, changing those wont stop the light, the wrong oil and wrong filter could have led to sludge over the long term that is now causing your oil light however. You want the second number in oil weight to be larger, 5w-40, 0w-40, or even 5w-30 (you dont want a large cold number like 20w, as you mentioned before) are good oil weights to run, what is more important is whether synthetic oil was used. Search around and you will see why synthetic and a large oil filter are a must.

 

Just a thought, but I had a similar problem and it was becasue the oil level was extremely low, the light would come on when I took a sharp corner or came to a fast stop, then it would go away about 10 seconds later. Try checking the oil level and see if that's the problem?

 

I talked him down to $4,000. it has 134,000 miles and is in great shape. I'm going to have it checked out. I'm just hoping it's something small. I read online several people who had the oil light coming on because of the wrong oil. Once they put the right oil in it stopped.
In regards to the oil type. Yes you're right I don't really know anything about oil I was just repeating what I thought I'd read online. I must've mixed it up. Yeah, I also read that. That's actually what I meant by wrong filter was too small of one.
Thank you. I'll add that to my list of things to check out on this car.

Thanks everyone for the replies. You're advice is much appreciated. I'm trying to educate myself and understand this as best as possible on this.

 

Do you know the color of this oil light? If its yellow it means the level is low, if its red its low pressure. If its red stay away, you'll likely need a new engine once the build up becomes too much.

 

I wouldn't run for the hills QUITE yet, it could just be minor. My oil light comes on occasionally if i wait too long to change my oil, doesn't mean the motor is junk, because i know for a fact that its not. If you can trust the guy looking at the motor to be honest with ya, have him take a look and see what the crank case looks like. IF the sludge isn't too bad, you could seafoam it a coupla times or change the oil ahead of the interval like i did, worked great to clean out the sludge

 

4k is still steep for them selling it with an oil pressure light on with 134k miles as far as im concerned, especially if the light is on for a different reason than the switch.

 

I agree, you could definitely talk them down from $4k using the oil light as ammo.