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2.4 TD, oil pressure advice please.

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    Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 10:28

I'm after a bit of advice regarding the increasing regularity that my oil pressure warning light is coming on.

A bit of background to the problem. 

We bought the van around 3 years ago and never had an issue with the warning light until we decided to get it serviced and have the oil changed and  new filter.  Even since then the light has been coming on, it happened quite rarely to begin with, you could tun the engine off and on and the lamp would go off an stay off for quite a long time. 

Now, the warning light generally comes on and stays on shortly after starting the engine. 

Another thing I noticed when the light wasn't on all the time was that it would be activated by the van going downhill or when slowing down.

I posted about this a while back but the problem is a lot worse now, someone suggested it may be that a non original oil filter had been fitted, but I've been unable to locate the filter to check. Can anyone tell me where this is?

Any other ideas as  to what the problem may be would be much appreciated.

Thanks for looking.









Edited by Cool Box - 03 Feb 13 at 10:31
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mrhutch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 11:17
what grade oil was used ?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cool Box Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 14:32

I'll have see if I can find the receipt, I checked with the garage and he reckoned he'd used the right stuff.

Thanks for the reply.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cool Box Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 14:44
Just looked, it doesn't mention the type of oil.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 18:33
 
first job check the level on the dipstick, it may be low on oil, if it seems overfull see if you can tell if there is any water or diesel contamination in the oil, either of which will thin the oil down so it'll show as low pressure, if there is contamination you could have either a headgasket or overfueling problem, if the oil seems OK just drain the sump (warm engine) then fit a new filter (and drain plug washer) it's not a difficult job just messy, and refill with what you know to be a good multigrade diesel engine oil (S.A.E 15/40 or 20/50) to eliminate the possibility of the wrong oil being used and see how it goes from there.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mat_the_cat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 13 at 21:27
Originally posted by Cool Box Cool Box wrote:

We bought the van around 3 years ago and never had an issue with the warning light until we decided to get it serviced and have the oil changed and  new filter.

Has the oil been changed since the problem first occurred? Although I suppose even if it has, IF the wrong oil was used (seems coincidental to start after a service) then the low oil pressure from too thin an oil could cause bearing wear which would then mean even the correct oil wouldn't hold good oil pressure.

I doubt that a non OE oil filter would be the sole cause of the problem - some cheaper ones may not have the anti drain back valve so would need to fill with oil whenever the engine is first started. This could potentially lead to greater engine wear over time, but not straight away. The filter is towards the bottom of the engine, on the (UK) driver's side, at the front. Should look something like this, apologies if I'm being patronising!




Edited by mat_the_cat - 03 Feb 13 at 21:29
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cool Box Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 13 at 15:28

Cheers for the replies BeJay and Mat. 

The oil itself doesn't seem to be contaminated, I've not changed the oil since the problem started. 

I think an oil change is the way forward. I've been toping it up with synthetic oil, the stuff in the picture above is mineral isn't it? Does this make a difference?

If the current oil is too thin would it be possible to top it up with a thicker oil to cure the problem?



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mrhutch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 13 at 16:06
no, drop the oil and fill it again with proper stuff.  and don't overfill it!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 13 at 16:48
 
WHS^^^ and don't forget to use a new filter (almost fill the filter before fitting it and just smear a film of oil on the sealing ring before fitting, then spin up finger tight, then another 1/4 turn by hand only)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mat_the_cat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 13 at 17:21
You can get mineral and synthetic oils in a range of grades, but the easily available synthetics tend to be thinner. I'm more of the opinion that for a similar cost I'd prefer to change a cheaper (mineral) oil more regularly than leave a synthetic one in for longer. I've never had oil analysis done to give any hard facts as to what's best though. Most people just do what makes them feel happiest!

The Motoquip MQP is mineral, but it meets the VW specs required for the engine which is the important thing. Mine's coming up to 240k miles now, with a maximum of 5k miles between oil changes with correct grade mineral or semi synthetic oil used each time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tardis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 13 at 23:05
Another vote for dropping the oil here.
 
Our older engines really don't like modern synthetic and semi-synthetic oils that seem to be the norm these days, if the person who serviced it for you doesn't have much experience with older vehicles the chances are they will have used a 10/40 semi oil.
 
To give you an idea of the difference I bought a non runner Porsche 924 which uses the same audi derived petrol engine as my LT, when I got it running I noticed that when the engine god warm the oil pressure was quite low on tickover (almost alarmingly low), after dropping the oil, which was like water, I changed the filter and refilled with 20/50 motorquip mineral oil and hey presto double the oil pressure on tickover :-)
 
 
If it ain't broken don't try an fix it. If it is broken it's probably an early LT.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cool Box Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 13 at 12:22

Cheers for all the advice everybody. 

I'll get some oil and a filter and let you know how it goes.

I got an eye full of warm engine oil last time I tried anything like this so wish me luck.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote volition82 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 13 at 11:25
As Tardis said the garage could have used their standard mixed fleet oil which isn't suitable for your engine.
 
If it's not the oil/filter it could be the pressure sender switch.  Something like that i'd by a genuine VW one.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mbtrac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 13 at 23:02

Hi guys,

I bought a 1993 lt 31 2.4 turbo diesel last summer but lately as i accelerate the engine, the oil pressure warning light and and buzzer switches on. After reading your posts I changed the oil and filter today but when I road tested her, the buzzer and oil pressure warning light switched on again.  I used a MAN filter and a 15W/40 oil to VW 505.00 spec.  Do you think that the oil pressure switches are faulty?  Are they know for giving trouble?  The vehicle was idle for at least 3 years before I bought it but I driven it very little since I got it,apart from getting it tested which it passed.  Should I check the gearbox and axle oil levels just in case?


Thanks guys

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mbtrac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 13 at 22:33
Hi Folks,
 
Found the problem, the wire to the top oil pressure switch was plugged out so when I plugged it back in, it sorted the problem.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mat_the_cat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 13 at 00:46
Excellent, a nice easy fix!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mrhutch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 13 at 00:50
Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mbtrac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 13 at 00:11
Thanks guys for your support.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cool Box Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 17:11
Originally posted by mbtrac mbtrac wrote:

Hi Folks,
 
Found the problem, the wire to the top oil pressure switch was plugged out so when I plugged it back in, it sorted the problem.


That's odd, I found exactly the same thing to be the problem with mine this morning. Not before I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago.


How come the oil pressure light comes on even though the oil pressure switch is disconnected?

Now I've refitted the cable there's a red oil light in the display that flashes before you turn the engine on. Is this normal?





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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mrhutch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Apr 13 at 01:24
Originally posted by Cool Box Cool Box wrote:

Now I've refitted the cable there's a red oil light in the display that flashes before you turn the engine on. Is this normal?


yes..


it's so you know the LED works

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