Hi there all,

I had an interesting problem and I would like to share it with you.

Oil indicator buzzes and then stops.
Regardless of theRPMthe same buzz x 3, 2 minutes pause, buzz x 3 etc... hmmm
I stop/start the car no effect. (windows bad habbit )
I waited for the engine to cool down and I lookedto the oil gauge: normal.
I checked the oil pressure and the manometer showed2 bar at high RPM (that dropped almost instantly at 1.7 when accelerate) and 1.5 at idle RPM (engine warmed)

Problem:
my oil pump, and oil radiatorwas "suffocated" with some nasty thin old stuff that came from the old burned oil.
The nastiest that could have happend: insufficient oil pressure into the turbo causingpremature heating and faster end of life for the turbo.

Solution: all dirty partsneeded to be cleaned in sone special solution and hot water.

Whatcan you do ?
every 2 oil changes a special engine clean solution needed to be put into the engine just before changing the oil (10 minutes engine runs with the solution+old oil and than youdo the oil change)

In order to make the picture clear:
Audi A6, AEB engine, 1998 model, 100,000km
Castrol RS engine oil,
Bosch filters, 10000km regular revisions

Hope that this information will help and sorry for the bad english,

 

This sounds like a sludge problem.
It is caused by contaminates in the oil, creating sludge.

The way to beat sludge is....
1. Don't do a lot of short trips, & let the car & oil get up to temp.
2. change the oil regularly & use a high quality synthetic oil
3. Make sure your engine is in tune, good thermostat, good coolant temp sensor, no boost leaks.
4. Use a engine flush every other oil change.

 

Hi,

thank you for your reply.
I didn't knew about the "short trip" phenomenon, but I will try to keep that in mind.
...as for the "boost leak" I dont know how to be aware of it (any visual signs in the oil?, sounds, extra heat ?)
after the "engine toilet" there is a significant power improvement (70 mph on 2nd gear - no rev limitation) 50mph before.
the engine sound also changed (I was told that lack of oil pressure causes premature damage to the valves and to the "belaying-cleats" sry if the word is not what I tried to express - the little pieces between the camshaft and the admission/exaust valves).

 

Yes, short trips are hard on the engine, it keeps in warm up mode, so it dumps more fuel & cuts timing. Since the oil doesn't get up to temp, the contaminates do not get a chance to burn off, so they stay suspended in the oil, creating sludge.

Boost leaks, need to be detected with a pressure tester, do a search. Basically you put compressed air into the intake system & listen for leaking air.

Sludge is a sound dampener, so it will hide engine problems, and cause oil starvation of any passageway it blocks.

 

thank you man,

unfortunately there is nothing I can do to "extend" theese short-trips (I have a 10 min trip to the office every morning), so it will be a little difficult about that... anyway, I can let the engine get warm before I start to drive.
...Say...if I take the car to a longer (at least 1 hour trip) on constant speed every week or so, this will improve the situation?