CEL After Changing Oil WTF

[the_riddler]

Changed the oil today, 3.0 Quattro. Put 4 quarts Pennzoil 10W30 regular oil (I know it was supposed to be 5W but its the winter so a lil extra thickness wouldn't hurt). got the oil filter from the dealer.

Washed the car at the drive through wash. Driving around afterward, literally 10 miles and the CEL.

Gonna get it scanned tomorrow at PepBoys / Autozone. Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be? Heres the only things I can think of:
*To thick of an oil - Should not throw a CEL
*Not enough oil - Oil light shoulda came on not CEL
*Water got into something from the wash - Shouldn't have happend since the hood was obviously closed. No direct water into the the grille either.

[onceover]

shouldnt you run thinner oil in the winter?

[MikTip]

What year and mileage?

[Ill 3.0]

more oil. 3.0 takes almost 7 liters. not sure if that would cause a cel or not though.

[the_riddler]

2002. Just hit 46K. It is overdue for the 40K service which is a major service. Could be something that was supposed to be changed out during the service.

I would think thinner oil would would give less protection during cold starts. Still shouldnt throw a CEL.

[the_riddler]

Just checked the oil. Stick is bone F'n dry like its running empty. How can you put 4 quarts in and the stick be dry?
The block is still warm but its been sitting for about an hour.

[dpatel]

3.0 uses aournd 6.8 quarts of oil if you change the filter. Not sure who told you it only takes 4 quarts....

[OneBadAudi]

ADD oil asap....our baby 4 cylinders take about 4, 3.0's are close to 7

[the_riddler]

Haven't started yet but added more oil, will let it sink to the tank and then check in about 15 min

[thursdaysstrike]

lol yah man i just changed my oil today on my 1.8t and it took 4quarts that would explain the dry stick on your 3.0

ps
add oil!

[illaudiill]

YEA ...it doesnt take 4 Qts....its not a 1.8t....the 3.0 takes....6.5 Qts....how i kno this i chnage my oil myself...every 4,500 Miles

[the_riddler]

Well after 6.5 quarts the light is still on but at least oil is showing up on the stick. I'll get it scanned tomorrow and let you know what the verdict is.
Thanks for the quick responses.

[4Rings3Liters]

shouldnt you run thinner oil in the winter?

No, thicker oil in the winter and thinner in the summer.

[onceover]

No, thicker oil in the winter and thinner in the summer.

thanks

[illaudiill]

I usually go with Mobil 1 0-30 in the winter and 5-30 in the spring

[n7plus1]

if the proper fill level is achieved, the CEL should turn itself off after an x amount of miles is reached.

[illaudiill]

unless theres sumthing wrong with ure oil sensor

[MikTip]

No, thicker oil in the winter and thinner in the summer.

Me thinks you got that backwards...

The "heat" of summer, thins oil more, so, why would you want a thinner oil for summer?

Today, with multi-viscosity oils(5w-40, etc...) you no longer have to switch oils between summer & winter. These modern oils can be run year-round!

I ran Mobil 1 10W-30, year-round, in my 1993 Audi 90 V6 for over 13 years, without ever suffering a single oil related issue!

[diagnosticator]

No, thicker oil in the winter and thinner in the summer.

This is not correct, it is backwards.

In winter, a lower viscosity oil (thinner) is required so that the cold oil can flow to the parts as fast as possible, oil gets thicker when cold and takes longer to flow and establish oil pressure throughout the engine after startup.
In Summer, a higher viscosity (thicker) oil is indicated because oil gets thinner as operation temps increase with the heat of summer weather. So a higher viscosity oil that maintains hot oil film thickness between parts is indicated.

[the_riddler]

So got the car scanned today at Autozone.

P0431 - Warm up catalyst below threshold bank 2.

Went to the dealer showed the code to a service tech and he said it was the cat. I though it would be the O2 sensor since it said "bank 2". The car is an 02 with 46K so the cat is covered under the EPA Federal Warranty, they'll replace it for free :)

Still dont know why low oil would throw a CEL, but at least its a free fix. WHEW!!

[onceover]

This is not correct, it is backwards.

In winter, a lower viscosity oil (thinner) is required so that the cold oil can flow to the parts as fast as possible, oil gets thicker when cold and takes longer to flow and establish oil pressure throughout the engine after startup.
In Summer, a higher viscosity (thicker) oil is indicated because oil gets thinner as operation temps increase with the heat of summer weather. So a higher viscosity oil that maintains hot oil film thickness between parts is indicated.

So i was correct. gah!

[Papachristou]

shouldnt you run thinner oil in the winter?

yes you should. most liquids get thicker in the cold.


OP, dont assume the oil change and CEL are related. more than likely its just coincidence. its like if you changed your wiper blades then got a CEL. probably not related

get the code read before you flip out

[Turb_Oh_A4]

OP, dont assume the oil change and CEL are related. more than likely its just coincidence. its like if you changed your wiper blades then got a CEL. probably not related

get the code read before you flip out

If i changed my oil and got a CEL and then found out i put 3 less quarts of oil in and had been driving around... i'd be worried also.

[vdubstreets]

Its a good thing you made that post though because 4 quarts is real low.

[MikTip]

shouldnt you run thinner oil in the winter?

No

Any of the Audi recommended 10w-30(V6), or 5w-40(1.8T) oils can be run year round!

Todays multiviscosity oils can be run all year.

[greyturbo]

didnt you notice that alot more oil came out then you put in lol?

[illaudiill]

No

Any of the Audi recommended 10w-30(V6), or 5w-40(1.8T) oils can be run year round!

Todays multiviscosity oils can be run all year.

thats what audi recomends they also recomend u to pay 1500 for a timing belt job...they also recomend that it should be $125 per hour for labor to be done.....for me 0-30 in the winter and 5-30 in the summer works alot better then 10-30...and its actually 5-30 for the V6

[diagnosticator]

"Today, with multi-viscosity oils(5w-40, etc...) you no longer have to switch oils between summer & winter. These modern oils can be run year-round!

I ran Mobil 1 10W-30, year-round, in my 1993 Audi 90 V6 for over 13 years, without ever suffering a single oil related issue!"- MikTip.

Yeah, that is true. I run Castrol German Syntech 0w-30 all year here.