Low oil Sensor went off.....but the oil is at normal level...HELP

[lox1985]

Hey Guys,

Well, I guess this is my first major problem I've seen since I had the car. Let me start off with saying that I have 2002 Audi A4 5spd, quattro.

Here is the problem:
Two days ago I was driving on the freeway and I get the "low oil" sign on my cluster. I was like wtf. I quickly pull off the freeway and I can here my motor making some crazy noise. I turn the car off. It was night time, so when went to check the oil, I did not see shit. I called my friend and asked him to bring me some oil as I thought I was out. He brought me 4 more quartz, we put it in start the car....."low oil" sign went away, but the engine is rattling like crazy. I tried driving slowly as I only was 7 miles away from home. And boom..."low oil" sign goes on again. So I completely stop, shut off the car and call in the flat bed.

Next morning:

I get up to go look at it. I pull the dip stick out and its full. It had oil yesterday aparantelly and on top of it I added 4 more quarts. Car starts fine and now I have a check engine light on. Engine still rattles like crazy....


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Max

[bigbro]

Sludge, or oil pump is my guess.

[Trev]

Oil sludge

$$$$$

[lox1985]

I remember reading somewhere that Audi replaces engines that went out due to oil sludge for free. Anyone remembers anything about it?

[kwimberly]

I remember reading somewhere that Audi replaces engines that went out due to oil sludge for free. Anyone remembers anything about it?

That's like asking if anyone remembers reading anything about the war in Iraq or the 2008 Presidential election! Of course we remember reading about the sludge warranty. Sludge is the albatross that hangs around every Audi owner's neck.

Search around for sludge and warranty. If it is sludge, you'll probably need records of every oil change the car has had.

[SeKKeY]

i changed my oil sensor on the bottom of the pan and that went away..what you should be more worried about is a low oil PRESSURE light..

[jackyaudi]

I remember reading somewhere that Audi replaces engines that went out due to oil sludge for free. Anyone remembers anything about it?

If its sludge, you have to have all receipts of oil changes done and so on, and if you are lucky they might change your engine. Not even guaranteed without a battle though.

I would not worry for now about the oil level signal, it could be the sensor, but I would worry much more about the noise the engine is doing. I would not drive the car till you find out exactly whats going on. Did you check things like coil packs, spark plugs?

I hope your engine turns out fine without that stupid sludge issue. How often do you change your oil and what oil do you use?

Good luck.

[lox1985]

I don't think its oil sludge because I just did seafoam treatment a few months back I also replaced the plugs not too long ago. I change my oil every 4-5k miles with Mobil 5w-30 fully synthetic with big filter.

The noise is very strong, could be the coilpack. I'm yet to pull the codes for check engine light. It could be the oil pump. I'll tow the car to the shop on Tuesday.

If there are any other suggestions please let me know.

Thanks everyone

[lox1985]

The sign on the cluster looked like oil lamp dripping oil from the nose. I think its low oil sign.

[sloweryucf]

i changed my oil sensor on the bottom of the pan and that went away..what you should be more worried about is a low oil PRESSURE light..

Is that sensor "clean-able?"

[s vier]

HMMMMMmmmmmm.......Sounds weird. Wish I could help....

[Groove1797]

Throw your car on a lift and check the sensor connection. If you have little critters running around your house they can chew through it. A rabbit has a midnight snack with mine.

[lox1985]

well because if it would be the sensor the engine would not rattle like it does. At least I think so. We shall see.

[lox1985]

Quick update:

I took the car to the shop this morning. They think it might be the oil feed line from oil pan and up to the upper part of the engine that got clogged up. They are replacing it now. I hope it fixes it. I will update later with the results.

[pizdetsauduxa]

Udachi Max

[lox1985]

Update:

Car is fixed, it was the oil line from oil pan to the upper part of the motor that was clogged with sludge. mechanic put a new pipe in and cleaned out the oil pan. He still cannot warranty anything else is going to go in the near future because he doesn't know how much damage was done to the block since he didn't take it apart (he just took the oil pan off). He said it was clogged up pretty bad. All and all it ran me $704 for the repairs.

Another example as to why you don't want to be late on your oil changes (I wasn't, I assume previous owner was).

Thanks for all the help guys.