2001 a4 b5 2.8 ATQ quattro

So, when driving normally, if the car goes over 3000rpm, the oil can shows up on my center screen, I hear three god awful beeps, and the light stays on until I drop back below 3000rpm. Makes it a hell of a time trying to pass someone on the freeway.

I've been reading about it for the last week or two, but I'm kinda getting mixed feedback. The two biggest culprits seem to be either the oil pump, or the oil pressure sensor.

Some info:
The car is currently running 15w40 synthetic oil with an OEM filter. Southern California summer time oil 110 degrees plus here. Oil change just done about 400 miles ago, nothing changed. Light still acts the same, comes on at the same RPM, etc.

I only have one day to work on this car at my brother's shop. I'm going to order all the parts, and return whichever we don't end up using. My plan is to replace the sensor first, since it's the cheapest of the two.

Regarding replacing the oil pump. How often do these pumps go out? I'm just barely over 100k. Is it possible that maybe some junk is just stuck onto the screen of the oil pump pickup? Is there even a screen on it? Judging by the exploded view or the engine, it appears to be chain driven off the crank. Is the pump replaceable without removing the whole front end off the car?

Finally, would anyone be interested in lighting this car on fire and shooting it with thousands of rounds of large caliber assault rifle rounds?

 

i highly doubt its the pump. if the 2.8 oil pump is anything like the 1.8 pump, or any other engine for that matter, they take ALOT to go out. They are very simple units for a reason. Two gears and a chain running them. They are such a vital part that manufacturers figured out how to make them good long ago. In fact, i would bet that a modern day oil pump will last indefinately. you most likely have a clogged oil pickup. audi motors, especially 1.8's, have sludge problems. when the sludge, or other crap, gets stuck in the pickup screen, it get difficult for the pump to do its job, hence low oil pressure, especially at high revs and high oil pressure demands. do yourself a favor and skip the oil pump buying and get a pickup tube and o ring instead. much easier to replace too. I dont know much about the six cylinder's but youll have to drop the bottom half of the oil pan at least to reach the oil pickup

 

You bring up a bunch of valid points. The car will be on a lift, so I will have easier access to everything. I guess I'll just pull the pan and look for chunkies in there. Think it's safe to assume the sensor is working properly since it's triggering consistently without hesitation?

I got to thinking and staring at the exploded view again, are there any significant number of reported cases of the oil coolers getting plugged? While it's on the rack, I could try to back flush the system with... um... solvent or something pumped into one of the lines.

 

i havent heard of oil coolers getting plugged. id be more worried about the pickup tube. once you pull the pan off you can inspect it for sludge. if that is all sludged up, then the rest of the engine is all sludged up and you would then need to decide what to do. you can fill the engine up with deisel overnight and drain it in the morning.