Gillesper

Joy! Two weeks into ownership and I'm getting oil lights every 50 miles. I just bought the car a couple of weeks ago with 30k miles, got a PPI, all was good. Took the car on a 300 mile road trip up to the mountains, no problems whatsoever. I just recently took a 1k mile road trip, all highway miles, and got a low oil light about 300 miles in. I stopped, added half a quart, reset the oil level, sensor said oil level was okay. Drove about 50 miles, the light comes on again. Knowing that I have about 1 quart between min and max, I added another half a quart. This time, I got an overfilled notice. After sitting in the parking lot for about 20 minutes, the oil level said okay. So off I went. 50 miles later... another low oil light. At this point I know I'm not low. No blue smoke out the exhaust, no oil on the ground, no burning oil smell under the hood. I take it to the local oil change, they set it on flat ground, open the hood, check the light and it says oil level okay. they attributed the light to the uphill drive coming into town. I don't buy that. Nonetheless this is the trend that has followed. Low oil light, flat ground reset, overfill notice, then 50 miles later low oil again.

I'm home now, I have ordered myself a dipstick to get a true idea of where my oil level is at. But I'm trying to see what to do now. My mechanic is out for a bit, I have a dipstick coming in a couple of days, and I need to do something to insure I'm not doing damage. Suggestions? I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue, what have you done to resolve it?

If it is an oil sensor, how difficult are those to replace?

What oil are you running? Is it necessary to run liqui moly and replace every 5k miles when stock, or is that only once modified?

Have you had drain plug issues? I've heard these need to be replaced every time because they are plastic and will leak. That was the only thing that the PPI said, was that the drain plug was a little loose. I'm thinking about getting a magnetic drain plug, any input there?

Thanks for your help here!

Chad

Gillesper

More info here. The driving was done in 70-80* April in Arizona dry conditions. Nothing extreme.

simplesez

"I take it to the local oil change, they set it on flat ground, open the hood, check the light and it says oil level okay. they attributed the light to the uphill drive coming into town. I don't buy that"

LOL that person is a clown.

So, you need to take off the under body cover. One is so you can look at the oil pan and plug. Two so you can realize that the under body cover can hold lots and lots of oil. So it may look like "No blue smoke out the exhaust, no oil on the ground, no burning oil smell under the hood" but you are possibly loosing oil or burning it.

Welcome to two weeks into a used Audi purchase. Step one is to got to a better mechanic that specializes in expensive German cars.

Mesquite77

You could drain the oil now (and put in a jug so you know how much came out), and fill with correct amount to know where you are at...

Gillesper

Haha he was missing a few teeth, so I think that constitutes for a clown. Thanks for this. I'll take a look under the cover to see what we have going there. I'll see what I can find here in the burbs of Los Angeles for a German car specialist. I'm sure there's a few.

Norskie

Welcome to German engineering; solve one problem, create two more.

Don't drive the car until can verify it isn't overfilled. Audi oil level sensors are error-prone. Several people here have overfilled and wrecked their engines.

Use a new plug each time. Yes, they'll leak if re-used.

Buy the oil change kit from FCPEuro.com using Paypal. When you change oil, send them the old oil and filter back and get a refund. Paypal will pay for your return shipping. This way you achieve the following:

1. Get anew plug each time.
2. You won't pay for future oil and filter changes.
3. You won't have your ruined by quick lube techs

Change the oil every 5k, not the 10k Audi recommends.

Gillesper

Thanks! What is this about paypal and not paying for oil changes or filters?

Here is the latest. I ordered a dipstick from FCP Euro. Based on the reading below, I'm questioning whether it's the right dipstick or not. (Audi Oil Dipstick - MTC 06E115611H ) I don't see any bubbles on the dip stick, but it does look way over filled. If I am overfilled, it's by 1 quart. How much damage can it do to drive over 1 quart for like 1k miles? I was on a road trip when this issue happened.

So we have an oil sensor that says the levels are good, but saying low every hundred or so miles while driving. We have a dipstick that says way over, but no bubbles. What do we take from this?

Norskie

https://www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime-guarantee

1. Buy oil change kit.
2. Put oil in car. Drive 5000 miles.
3. Buy another oil change kit. Pay with paypal.
4. Drain (and keep!) old oil, filter and drainplug.
5. Put in new oil, filter and drain plug.
6. At FCPEuro, find prior (#1) purchase, start to process a return. It will ask you for the order number for #2, which shows you have purchased a replacement. Get RMA number.
7. Package used oil, filter, plug into the shipping materials that #2 came in.
8. Go to paypal, and indicate you are returning the item. Paypal will issue a return shipping label (free!). You can do this ~12 times a year.
9. When FCPEuro receives your old oil, you get a refund for it.
10. Drive 5000 miles.
11. etc.

You can do this with ANYTHING from FCPEuro. Spark plugs, brake pads, windshield wipers, air filters, transmission change kits, control arms, etc. It's a great way to reduce the cost of long-term vehicle ownership, especially these euro brands that require odd fluids you can't get cheaper at O'Reilly's.

Hopefully there is no damage. The main concern with overfilling is when the oil level in the crankcase reaches the bottom of the crankshaft and gets whipped into a froth that prevents the oil pump from sucking up any oil. As oil sloshes around when driving (stop go turn etc) and changes with engine speed etc. non-sump engines need to have some leeway in oil levels to deal with that.

it's overfilled and your oil sensor is wonky.

Gillesper

Thanks for all this. Ugh. How do I know if there's any damage?

Norskie

Short term, look for glitter in the oil as you drain it, and then send in a sample for analysis - Blackstone or the service silver_tt likes.