Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 15:40
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - marksy1981

Hi

On Sunday last week my oil warning light came on (a red light stating I had no oil) This has happened before naturally as I have the car for over 2 years. I filled the car up with 1 litre of oil, drive away and it was fine.

I drove for about 40 miles, went for lunch somewhere and when I returned to my car the light came on again and the electronic management system which shows the oil levels told me I needed oil immediately. I out another litre of oil in, drove away when the car was fine and drive back home again c. 40 miles.

I went out again that evening and when i started driving away the light came on - I assumed there must have been a leak so i out some more oil in. The car wouldn't start and a puff of white smoke came out of the exhaust.

The car is now at an audi garage and they have told me there is absolutely nothing wrong with the oil management system and it is 100% my error for putting too much oil in the car. They have told me my car needs a new exhaust, new catalyst converter, new turbo etc with cost of £4500.

They won't claim on warranty as they said there is nothing wrong with the car which IMO is rubbish as why would I out oil in?

We have spoken a few times over the last few days

1) on Monday they said did you read the manual which says you have to keep the bonnet open for 30 seconds after putting your oil in otherwise the system doesn't reset? they now say it does rest but the light will come on after 40 miles which I find hard to believe - they told me this is in the manual, now they tell me it's not in the manual but is in the Audi service centre technical manual which I don't see

2) They say they can't see a fault anywhere but surely if the system hasn't resent, that would provide a fault on the system?

3) I have been told by someone else at Audi that the engine management system doesn't show faults and they agree that it is an assumption that this is what happened - how they can totally blame me then is beyond me

4) Now they have told me today that the manual says you should put half a litre of oil, wait 2 minutes and the system would work. If it doesn't then put another half a litre in and the car will be fine. I have always filled the car up with 1 litre of oil over the last 2 years when the light has come on and there has never been a problem which has confused them of which they don't have an answer for.

Any thoughts on the best way forward would be greatly appreciated

Regards

Jody

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 16:21
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - madf

May I suggest YOU read the manual first and then ask us..

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 16:32
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - bathtub tom

>> I have always filled the car up with 1 litre of oil over the last 2 years when the light has come on

Is this an oil pressure warning light, or a low oil level warning light.

As madf says, you need to RTFM.

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 16:56
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - skidpan

On Sunday last week my oil warning light came on (a red light stating I had no oil) This has happened before naturally as I have the car for over 2 years.

Cannot remember the last time I had to put oil in between services, must be the 1980's.

Do you ever check that mysterious device called a dipstick, read the manual and it will tell you all about it. The dipstick has marks on it and the manual tells you how much to add to get from one mark to the next. You have to wait a while after switching off the engine for the oil to drain back, only 5 or 10 minutes and you have to wait again while any fresh oil drains down should you need any but its a simple device and has worked well for years,

Too much oil can be catastrophic for an engine, that's why some diesels grenade due to diesel getting into the oil and overfilling the sump.

1 litre is a lot for a fill up, that is why they fit a dipstick.

Edited by skidpan on 23/10/2012 at 16:58

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 17:16
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - Collos25

Is there a dipstick in this model? certain Mercedes do not have one only an electrical system although a proper dipstick can be fitted for a few pounds.

I think the OP is guilty of his own downfall after I filled up with 1 litre of oil and then shortly afterwards asked for another I would have alarm bells ringing in my head and would have examined further not blindly kept adding oil.Its pretty obvious the OP never checks his oil nor understands the manual.

Edited by Collos25 on 23/10/2012 at 17:18

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 17:59
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - unthrottled

I can't believe anyone would not check the dipstick (if present) after topping up with oil. It is one of the few "show me-tell me" technical questions in the driving test!

Overfilling with oil can be catastrophic. The crank dips into the oil and aerates it, so you oil pick up draws up a mixture of oil and air which doesn't form a proper oil film. A new exhaust sounds opportunistic, but a new catalytic converter is perfectly consistent.

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 18:07
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - elekie&a/c doctor

I often think about scenario like this .The car has no manual dipstick so you have to rely on the electronic display which unfortunately on this model can take a while to react to any oil added.Adding 0.5 litre will not show on the display straight away,the car needs to be driven to get an accurate reading.So how much oil is in the system,who knows?Perhaps Audi can clarify how much overfill there is?hth

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 21:46
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - bathtub tom

I guess the OP won't be back.

What's the odds?

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 08:13
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - thunderbird

My BMW has both electronic and a dipstick. The electronic one needs to be driven for several miles to stabilise and be on a level road before you check the level.

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 09:24
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - Roly93

Is there a dipstick in this model? certain Mercedes do not have one only an electrical system although a proper dipstick can be fitted for a few pounds.

I think the OP is guilty of his own downfall after I filled up with 1 litre of oil and then shortly afterwards asked for another I would have alarm bells ringing in my head and would have examined further not blindly kept adding oil.Its pretty obvious the OP never checks his oil nor understands the manual.

I would guess the A5 is like my A4, ie no dipstick and a bar-graph display to show oil level, which you have to call up on the MMI display. Strangely there is no mention of checking this display, but I think you do get an audio alarm and a written message in the display behind the steering wheel when the oil needs topping up. Usually this occurs when you need about half a litre. Was this light realy low oil or low oil pressure ?

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 11:41
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - unthrottled

I would guess the A5 is like my A4, ie no dipstick and a bar-graph display to show oil level, which you have to call up on the MMI display

Why would anyone replace a simple strip of metal with that convoluted nonsense? Why do people look so hard for solutions to problems that don't exist?

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 12:22
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - Quicksilver

Yes this is a good question. I have the same system on my Volvo V70. I really wish I had a proper dipstick that showed the correct level that did not rely on electronics and sensors. I am an elctronics engineer and i know the types of problems that can happen with systems and sensors!

I also wish it had a proper handbrake and not the rubbish electrical one fitted. It is so useless I alway park in gear and leave it off. It is also useless for hill starts so basically it does not do what you expect it to do!

Q.

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 18:36
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - daveyjp
A quick google suggests if you find a nice dealer they will sell you an Audi dipstick! The hole is there, blocked with a rubber bung.
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Thu 25 Oct 2012 17:09
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - MrEckerslikefromRamsbottom

Whilst checking my own oil level (well, the engine's, not mine), and wiping the dip-stick, I've been having a little ponder about this. The dipstick on mine isn't even metal - it's a plastic rod. Probably cost pennies to make. Now cars have to have an extra hundred or more quids worth of sensors and displays to show the oil level?? Extra cost for something that only has the potential to cause problems? No wonder the sales of new cars are down and the manufacturers are struggling to make a profit! These DPFs are also complications which cause otherwise unnecessary expense.

If you park on a hill, the oil will collect on one side of the sump. You wouldn't check your oil level like that, would you? And if you did, you may think that the level was too low (if the car was facing uphill and the dip-stick was at the front of the engine). Now what if the engine has an electronic oil-level sensor? Park on a hill and the sensor may tell you that the oil level is low! It'll just frighten you for the sake of not having a dip-stick! And if it frightens the driver enough to make him put two litres of oil in and blow the engine, well, he'll have to buy a new car and keep the manufacturers' profits up won't he? I'm tempted to to go back to a 998 Mini! Keep it simple!

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 17:33
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - thunderbird

If you park on a hill, the oil will collect on one side of the sump. You wouldn't check your oil level like that, would you? And if you did, you may think that the level was too low (if the car was facing uphill and the dip-stick was at the front of the engine). Now what if the engine has an electronic oil-level sensor? Park on a hill and the sensor may tell you that the oil level is low! It'll just frighten you for the sake of not having a dip-stick!

Earlier in this thread I wrote that in my BMW you have to drive for several miles for the oil to heat up and then be on a level road before you can monitor the oil level by the electronics. It tells you that in the handbook. But how many owners actually read the handbook, from the experiences seen on this and other forums very few.

Don't blame the electronics, the owners only have themselves to blame for being total numpties.

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 19:05
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - Quicksilver

My Vovo has the same system. Personally I do not like it as it is a solution to a problem that did not exist.

I do not think I will purchase this car at the end of the lease due to the number of electrical items waiting to go wrong, (and they will!).

Electric handbrake: Why? Electric Oil Dipstick: Why?

There is no real reason for these.

Q.

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 19:49
Audi A5 - Oil Issues Audi - tryitandsee

I have had my A4 avant for 11 years from new. All problems encountered with the car come from the ingress of water/damp into the electrics. Damp, wet cold days prompt all sorts of electrical gremlins to appear. I've suffered the plenum chamber problem with servo replaced.

Three weeks ago, my oil level sensor (not pressure sensor) started playing up, yellow warning light staying on. Changed oil and new genuine oil sensor, reset and hey.........yellow light still on.

I then left an electric fan heater on in the car, drying all signs of moisture.....still yellow light on.

One weak later, start car and no yellow light........two weeks on and still no yellow light! Now the electrics to the drivers and rear off side doors' puddle lights have stopped working together with the dash 'door still open' warning light. The Buzzer for 'left side lights on' when you exit the car with keys, not working.

All b***** irritating which drives me nutty, because if it goes wrong I like to fix it.

I just wish that I could disconnect all electrics that are completely unnecessary.

It has now made me think long and hard about my choice of a new replacement car, as electrics, DPF, twin turbos and added complications of stop/start are really not worth the eventual on going maintenance/repair.

Also the mechanic's in some high end dealers are not capable of fixing/diagnosing their own marque!

I will stop myself ticking all the 'extra's' that cause all the problems.

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