Flashing Oil pressure light!

[yasky777]

I go to to body shop to pick up my B5, its basically sat for 10 days waiting on parts and getting painted again. I get in it and let it run for several minutes I knew I needed an oil change and noticed a slight ticking that sounded like lifters. While Im on the highway the oil pressure light starts flashing and beeping I gingerly take the next exit and let the car cool off at an autozone. I check the oil and its beyond low,I add 2 quarts and a little bit of lucas oil. I get back on the highway and it starts beeping again. I make it home due to close proximity and turn it off for 30 minutes. My car no longer ticks but the flashing light continues.....

[Euromike]

Number one, if you ever get the flashing oil pressure light, kill the car IMMEDIATELY. dont drive another half a mile. That is exactly how people blow engines. Last time i got one i killed it at a red light and we pushed it to the side of the road. Turns out my oil pan had a hole in it, If i would have kept going i would no longer have a running B5. Your lucky you do.

See if you can get your hands on an oil pressure gauge, make sure the car is full of oil and take some readings.

[salz2135]

It's possible that you have a sludge problem.

I recommend that you have the oil pressure checked as soon as possible.

[Euromike]

It's possible that you have a sludge problem.

I recommend that you have the oil pressure checked as soon as possible.

If you have a 1.8T, he could be right. They like to sludge up.

but PLEASE, do not drive your car to a shop with that light on. Pay to get it towed, It will cost less than an engine rebuild.

[yasky777]

I wonder what could have been done to it while it was at the body shop for this to happen! My Oil light was not on when I brought it.

[salz2135]

Your car sitting for a long period without getting up to operating temp has probably exacerbated an existing issue. The vehicle may have been started and stopped numerous times a day moving in/out/around the body shop. Either way, the warning is on now and usually isn't due to a malfunction in the pressure switch. Get that oil pressure checked before doing any more driving.

[protocol_droid]

Sludge may be the main culprit as it will cause the oil pickup tube to be clogged (It has a mesh filter on it). Mine clogged and starved the top end and killed my turbo. I didn't have sludge, instead it was baked carbon bits clogging the filter.

Oil pressure test will tell you. Sucks, the part to replace the pickup tube is <20 bucks but to take the friggin oil pan out, it's gonna cost ya. There's some good threads out there about those.

[Kyle H]

It could be a bad pressure sensor. Mine likes to go off every once in a while on decel... luckily I put in a real gauge so I know that the pressure is good.

[yasky777]

I got an oil change and the light has gone away. The mechanic stated I have an oil leak, so Im assuming extremely low oil and overly full filter was causing the sensor to go off. But I will be going to EP WORKS soon to do a pressure test.

[marknad113]

i believe that if the oil light is on, its bc of low capacity, but when its blinking its due to a drop in oil pressure

[Euromike]

Ahh you still drove it to the oil change place with that light on?!! you have some balls.

Glad you got it fixed though.

[yasky777]

SanA4 whats weird is the light came on 10 minutes later. When I was 2 minutes away from destination. Ive called the guys at EP they state they have a tool to test my pressure.

[99blueb5]

wow you got lucky that you didnt seize up your motor driving it that far with the light on, i would do MANY engine flushes to that motor, i bet $500 that the internals of the motor are all sludged up and deposits everywhere

[yasky777]

I got a flush with the oil change, I also use Lucas Oil treatment for lubrication. How do you do"many engine flushes"?