Here is a letter I got today from a guy I know on AudiWorld and also my reply. Any ideas or input would be helpfull. This kinda sucks if Mobil 1 did not do the job, we have seen it go 19k in a Cayenne Turbo...I wonder what the insoluables level was. I would have gone for 7500mi/6mo or GC, but now it is what it is. What do ya think?
potential oil sludge problem, need some help (paging junkie)
User account number (aid): 34761
Posted by A4-Freddy on 2005-05-07 20:38:46
Have an '02 1.8t with 75k miles.. been following Audi's service interval recommendations, oil change every 10k with Mobil1 0w40.
On a spirited drive up a long grade 4 months ago my oil pressure warning indication came on near the top. I stopped for a while on the side of the road (30 minutes), checked oil level (fine, but dirty!) and then resumed driving. Indicator continued to come on and off for the 30 remainder of the drive however. I was out of town, so the next day I took the car to a quick lube shop and had an oil change with Mobil 1 done. Even on the short drive to the shop the indicator came on again about halfway there.
After the oil change the indicator did not come back on immediately. I have since however noticed a few changes:
1. on cold startup the car makes a bit of rattling and clicking for the first minute or so that gradually fades. This doesn't happen when the car is started hot. I don't remember hearing this before, but I may not have been listening very closely either.
2. when accelerating through certain gears the engine makes a quick rattle/buzz at around 2800 rpm. Happens more frequently in the lower gears, also is louder and more pronounced as the car warms up. I don't hear it at all when cold. A mechanic changed out the alternator thinking that was the problem. It wasn't.
3. was about 7000 miles into the oil change I mentioned above, and started getting oil pressure warnings again. I notice it generally happens when the car is hot (driven for at least 15 minutes) and going up grades. Level grades will make it go back out. The longer I drive, the more frequently it will happen.
It started coming more often within the course of a few days, and I was out of town when the third symptom above happened again, so went in again for an oil change hoping for some relief. Didn't have mobile1 handy, so I had the shop put in 5w30 dino (I believe).
Within about 20 minutes it started happening again, although it is not as bad as before the change.
Any thoughts you can offer on the above behavior would be appreciated.
Also thinking of trying the auto-rx product, should I go get another change with Mobil1 before cleaning, or start my clean phase with the dino oil? I know this might be hard to guess at, but might that product help with the existing oil flow issue right away? Should I have something else done (now) like a solvent flush before I get started? I don't know anything about those, opinions seem to be mixed, so any advice there would be appreciated. Should I use something else besides 0w40 until I can get things cleaned up?
Sorry for the novel, thanks in advance for any insight.
Reply>
You need more help than just mine.Sludge w/Mobil 1 @10k can only happen if there is another problem.
Oh boy. It seems like you have an issue there.
Maybe my experience with a female friend's '98 1.8t can help. I NOW maintain her car that prior *supposedly* got Mobil 1 once yearly. It got sludged and needed an oil pump. (btw- I still treat it with ARX to get the residual sludge out, so get some even if the dealer services you car with an oil pump chgange) It could have been short trips, it could be the corner garage was ripping them off and putting in dino. (most likely) It also could be one of the outside influences that can make sludge. Some of the possibilities are: Stuck thermostat, bad PCV, open vac hose, maybe low levels.
Now, I cannot say **** about what is happening with your car, but something is definately happening. I would never drive with low OP light. You should take it in for a diagnosis. Can you see under the valve cover if there is any visible sludge? Kinda hard to see there. I suggest looking through a bore scope through the oil drain plug, but my mechanic bitched it would mess up his scope when I suggested this.
If you want to treat with chemicals here is what I'd do:
Get some SeaFoam from PepZone.
DO a 1/2 can in oil for 10 minutes at idle.
Drain and refill with ANY cheap oil. WalMart Supertech is an excellent product. (I can recommend the synth 10w-30 for normal use, meets A3)
Do the other 1/2 can the same way and drain.
Change filter and refill with either---
Auto-RX (whole bottle) and dino oil like Pennzoil or Havoline. (5w-30) and follow the instructions with a follow-up dino rinse after 2000 mi. If you encounter the Shell Rotella t synth 5w-40 (in the diesel oil section @ WalMart, it's a hit for the actual ARX application)
-OR-
Just go to Mobil 1 5w-40 SUV and hope for the best.
I am sorry to hear this and would like for you to follow-up for reference. I would seriously get it looked at before I relied on chemical treatments, they probally WILL save it, but it's a gamble. Since you had documented 10k changes with approved oil, just get warranty service.
-Clark
potential oil sludge problem, need some help (paging junkie)
User account number (aid): 34761
Posted by A4-Freddy on 2005-05-07 20:38:46
Have an '02 1.8t with 75k miles.. been following Audi's service interval recommendations, oil change every 10k with Mobil1 0w40.
On a spirited drive up a long grade 4 months ago my oil pressure warning indication came on near the top. I stopped for a while on the side of the road (30 minutes), checked oil level (fine, but dirty!) and then resumed driving. Indicator continued to come on and off for the 30 remainder of the drive however. I was out of town, so the next day I took the car to a quick lube shop and had an oil change with Mobil 1 done. Even on the short drive to the shop the indicator came on again about halfway there.
After the oil change the indicator did not come back on immediately. I have since however noticed a few changes:
1. on cold startup the car makes a bit of rattling and clicking for the first minute or so that gradually fades. This doesn't happen when the car is started hot. I don't remember hearing this before, but I may not have been listening very closely either.
2. when accelerating through certain gears the engine makes a quick rattle/buzz at around 2800 rpm. Happens more frequently in the lower gears, also is louder and more pronounced as the car warms up. I don't hear it at all when cold. A mechanic changed out the alternator thinking that was the problem. It wasn't.
3. was about 7000 miles into the oil change I mentioned above, and started getting oil pressure warnings again. I notice it generally happens when the car is hot (driven for at least 15 minutes) and going up grades. Level grades will make it go back out. The longer I drive, the more frequently it will happen.
It started coming more often within the course of a few days, and I was out of town when the third symptom above happened again, so went in again for an oil change hoping for some relief. Didn't have mobile1 handy, so I had the shop put in 5w30 dino (I believe).
Within about 20 minutes it started happening again, although it is not as bad as before the change.
Any thoughts you can offer on the above behavior would be appreciated.
Also thinking of trying the auto-rx product, should I go get another change with Mobil1 before cleaning, or start my clean phase with the dino oil? I know this might be hard to guess at, but might that product help with the existing oil flow issue right away? Should I have something else done (now) like a solvent flush before I get started? I don't know anything about those, opinions seem to be mixed, so any advice there would be appreciated. Should I use something else besides 0w40 until I can get things cleaned up?
Sorry for the novel, thanks in advance for any insight.
Reply>
You need more help than just mine.Sludge w/Mobil 1 @10k can only happen if there is another problem.
Oh boy. It seems like you have an issue there.
Maybe my experience with a female friend's '98 1.8t can help. I NOW maintain her car that prior *supposedly* got Mobil 1 once yearly. It got sludged and needed an oil pump. (btw- I still treat it with ARX to get the residual sludge out, so get some even if the dealer services you car with an oil pump chgange) It could have been short trips, it could be the corner garage was ripping them off and putting in dino. (most likely) It also could be one of the outside influences that can make sludge. Some of the possibilities are: Stuck thermostat, bad PCV, open vac hose, maybe low levels.
Now, I cannot say **** about what is happening with your car, but something is definately happening. I would never drive with low OP light. You should take it in for a diagnosis. Can you see under the valve cover if there is any visible sludge? Kinda hard to see there. I suggest looking through a bore scope through the oil drain plug, but my mechanic bitched it would mess up his scope when I suggested this.
If you want to treat with chemicals here is what I'd do:
Get some SeaFoam from PepZone.
DO a 1/2 can in oil for 10 minutes at idle.
Drain and refill with ANY cheap oil. WalMart Supertech is an excellent product. (I can recommend the synth 10w-30 for normal use, meets A3)
Do the other 1/2 can the same way and drain.
Change filter and refill with either---
Auto-RX (whole bottle) and dino oil like Pennzoil or Havoline. (5w-30) and follow the instructions with a follow-up dino rinse after 2000 mi. If you encounter the Shell Rotella t synth 5w-40 (in the diesel oil section @ WalMart, it's a hit for the actual ARX application)
-OR-
Just go to Mobil 1 5w-40 SUV and hope for the best.
I am sorry to hear this and would like for you to follow-up for reference. I would seriously get it looked at before I relied on chemical treatments, they probally WILL save it, but it's a gamble. Since you had documented 10k changes with approved oil, just get warranty service.
-Clark
