The dreaded oil sluge

[gss0279]

I was driving on the highway yesterday when the oil pressure light came on then the check engine light then a wrapping noise. So I roll it to the dealership and tell them what is going on. They said it is the dreaded oil sluge issue. They give me a loaner yesterday (2007 avant) until they can get the new engine in my car.

Score one for Audi, new motor 5 years later and 116,XXX miles in. Almost brand new car again.

[Papachristou]

did they ask for receipts and all that good stuff? give us some details on what kind of driving patterns you have, do you let it cool down/warm up?

[someone above]

nice.....always good when audi foots the bill....I had a bad timing belt which broke at 82k and audi replaced my motor for free.

[sean1.8t]

haha, i was about to post in with my condolences.

but looks like you get a congratulations

[lox1985]

so question, if sludge is the issue for a broken motor, audi replaces it for free even without warranty?

[A4DJ]

so question, if sludge is the issue for a broken motor, audi replaces it for free even without warranty?

When I called Audi of America to switch the car into my name I think they said something about an oil sludge warranty??? Can anyone else back this?

[Noodle]

Happened to me when I bought my car. It was replaced by Audi at around 60k.

Just have to be careful because alot of the motors they use are rebuilt. I watch mine carefully, lol.

[gss0279]

I bought the car brand new from Audi and had every single maintenance and routine thing done by them. So they had a record of everything.

My driving patters is drive fast all day and before I get out, I let it cool down about 10 seconds then shut the car off.

Thanks for the rebuilt info. I will have to check up on this.

The warranty for the oil sludge is 8 years and unlimited mileage. So I am all set. And I don't have any extended warranty. This oil sludge thing Audi came out with in like 2005 I think and said it was only till 80K mileage but up it to unlimited mileage. So I am not complaining.

[audipotential]

10 seconds only?

I bought the car brand new from Audi and had every single maintenance and routine thing done by them. So they had a record of everything.

My driving patters is drive fast all day and before I get out, I let it cool down about 10 seconds then shut the car off.

Thanks for the rebuilt info. I will have to check up on this.

The warranty for the oil sludge is 8 years and unlimited mileage. So I am all set. And I don't have any extended warranty. This oil sludge thing Audi came out with in like 2005 I think and said it was only till 80K mileage but up it to unlimited mileage. So I am not complaining.

[HIERLEVELZ]

10 seconds no wonder u got sludge

[audipotential]

10 seconds no wonder u got sludge

ding ding ding

Thats basically enough time to put the ebrake up, turn your lights off, Take your seat belt off and get out of the car.

[LeonHall]

i think the sludge warrantly is cutoff at a certain vin number in 2004....when i bought my audi used i asked the dealership about it and they said i just missed the cutoff...im late 2004 model usp...does this sound right to anyone

[sean1.8t]

ding ding ding

Thats basically enough time to put the ebrake up, turn your lights off, Take your seat belt off and get out of the car.

actually if his car shut down habits were that bad, his turbo would have gone LONG before his engine sludged over.

his 10 seconds is no big deal

[n7plus1]

When I called Audi of America to switch the car into my name I think they said something about an oil sludge warranty??? Can anyone else back this?

hmm...i will have to do this tomorrow and ask about the sludge warranty

[wolfdog]

Hmm, my commute is about 25 minutes to and from work and never let my car cool down. Warm up is just until the RPMs drop. How annoying is it to get where you're going and then have to sit and wait at idle for x long. BTW, what is the consensus on x?

[sean1.8t]

Hmm, my commute is about 25 minutes to and from work and never let my car cool down. Warm up is just until the RPMs drop. How annoying is it to get where you're going and then have to sit and wait at idle for x long. BTW, what is the consensus on x?

actually, you should let every car warm up before mashing on it. NA cars are no different. oil is cold and not doing it's job until 150 degree's and above..

and maybe i missed it, but "x"?

[gss0279]

Well when I park and I am setting in the car, I count to 10 seconds after everything is done. So it could be longer than 10. But either way, I don't want to set in the car 30 seconds to 1 minute before I have to get out. That is very unpractical for me. And I only waited those 10 seconds once I got my timing belt got changed before that, I would just pull up and shut the car off. And I did that for close to 90K miles with no issues.

What I am guessing wolfdog means is how many seconds do you wait before you turn the car off.

When I start the car, I let it warm up until the idle drops but I don't have time to wait for temp to get to 150.

[A4DJ]

i think the sludge warrantly is cutoff at a certain vin number in 2004....when i bought my audi used i asked the dealership about it and they said i just missed the cutoff...im late 2004 model usp...does this sound right to anyone

I have an '03 and they said that I was covered under the oil sludge warranty. Maybe because it was sold as a CPO'd vehicle? I don't know?

[wolfdog]

yep, by x I meant what's the consensus on how long you should let it cool down before shutting it off. Warming up is not an issue, I've always done that. Cooling down is a new one to me. I rarely go above 4k RPMs the way I drive (EDIT: Well, highway @ 80 is ~ 4K but otherwise I don't rev that high) so I can't imagine I'm doing that much damage by not waiting to let it cool down.

[sean1.8t]

if you're not boosting the last couple of minutes of your drive, then waiting just a few seconds at idle before shut down is enough. everyone puts too much emphasis on this type of thing. like you need a turbo timer and need to set it for 3 minutes before shut off. but you don't..

there's a lot of older ladies and guys that drive around turbo'd cars(audi's/volvo/vw/etc) you think they all use turbo timers or sit in their cars for 30 seconds after each drive?

[ComfortRacing]

just happened to me (no audi isnt covering it because i do my own oil changes, but after talking to a lawyer yesterday, i will be reimbursed for my repair), yes the warranty is for all b6's with the 1.8t. they extended it by another 8 years because they lost a court case and was found liable for it. YES YES YES, they only replace your car with a remanufactured audi 1.8t. i personally (if you were going for more h.p.) look into what audi uses for internals i.e. are they the same strength and quality of the o.e. engine etc.

[dmg312]

Does anyone have any reference information for this. My second turbo jsut went at 52K and the shop doing my work is thinking it's sludge

[ComfortRacing]

http://members.cox.net/ambox/audi_sludge/

cut n' paste, this is the best info i found it includes the tsb too.

[dmg312]

thanks for the help.

[ComfortRacing]

anytime. obviously it doesnt matter driving styles, miles on the odometer etc. i changed my oil every 3500 miles, let it cool down didnt boost till it was at operating temp etc. huge bummer, but a good time to upgrade !!

[gss0279]

Good luck to everyone and hope this does not happen to anyone here.

[sloweryucf]

actually, you should let every car warm up before mashing on it. NA cars are no different. oil is cold and not doing it's job until 150 degree's and above..

and maybe i missed it, but "x"?

Per the owners manual you are supposed to start up the car and drive.