...when the flashing oil light comes on, how low on oil are you? Anyone know how the car is set up, ie, how low do you have to be (one quart low, maybe two) before the car will blink the light at you? I'm just curious about this is all.

 

1 I think, witch won't show up on the stick.

 

I'm not sure about Audis but most other cars the oil light comes on when the pressure is low. So the oil would have to be low enough for the pump to have problems picking it up I would think.

Good Luck...

 

Actually I'm not having this issue with my car - I read a few oil pressure/level posts today and it got me thinking is all. Thanks for the insight guys.

 

Usually by the time the oil light comes on, your engine is already hosed.

 

I know that seems to be the case with the 1.8T engine, but I've had other cars in the past that would get similar symptoms to what I was reading about (corner hard and the oil light flashes a few times until the car levels out, then it extinguishes, for example). However, it seems irresponsible somewhat on the part of the OEM to set it up such that what you're saying is true - in essence, it's not a warning light, because it illuminates when your engine is done for. Seems that it should illuminate sooner to give you a shot at adding oil instead of having to replace the engine. I know most of us on here are diligent about maintaining our cars properly, but the mass motoring public usually isn't that savvy or interested in doing so. That's what made me ask about how much oil must be missing before the car alerts the driver that the oil is low.

 

mine came on a while back. i had a quart in the trunk and it filled it back to normal.