Hi looking for some help. I have a 1997 1.9Tdi Quattro with 56,000 on it. Recently I have heard a slight tapping noise which I thought might be the hydraulic tappetts. Audi have just said that I was 2 litres down on the oil and this has caused the noise. The car was serviced three thousand miles ago. Surely I couldn't be 2l down already - I do check the oil fairly regularly. Would low oil not signal the oil light to come on and the fuel efficiency to go down - I have still been getting 45mpg average. Friend said tappng either the tappetts or need something called "flushing" oil to flush debris out of the cylinders. Any ideas. haven't noticed any oil leaks. Maybe last service in Jan, Audi nowhere near put in the correct amoint of oil cos I can't have gone through 2l of oil in three thousans miles can I?
Richard </P>

 

You "could" have gone through 2 litres of oil. When you say "tappetts" I assume you mean hydraulic "lifters". It can often be cured by simply changing dirty oil. But since you appear to have low oil, that may actually cure the problem if you top it up.

Lifter noise occurs when oil is not getting all the way into the lifters. Since your oil pressure would be not as high as normal, it's likely that's the source of the problem.

Your bigger problem may be the source of an oil leak. Keep an eye on the oil level and check for oil on the ground after parking.<edited><editID>brrman</editID><editDate>38105.4347916667</editDate></edited>

 

Cheers, will do that. I will put a paper under the car in the driveway to see if there is an oil drip overnight. Haven't noticed one before. I do check the oil fairly frequently, but maybe the car isn't sitting exactly on the flat, or it has used a lot more recently. Watch this space. Richard

 

damn oil leaks i hate them</P>


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