Oil advice - Audi

[Hilly64]

looking for some general advice, wife has a Audi Q5 sline, 150k, 2014 and had it for 8 years. TBF not been a bad car and she loves it

had a service a month ago and within a couple days had an oil pressure warning, garage inspected found nothing amiss so deleted codes. 4 weeks later a repeat warning. been back to the garage (proper out fit and fiends so comforatble with what they say) and they have suggested possible oil pump issue which would be very expensive to replace (full block stripdown to get to the pump?). their suggestion is to move it on before it gets worse which I can't disagree with.

both times it has happened has been in the same place queing to get into hospital to take our friend for cancer treatment so sitting at tickover for a while, so now she is panicking and wants a newer replacement Q5 tomorrow but hasn't got new Q5 money so I am now trying to protect my pension pot lol. The engine sounds sweet no rumblings from worn engine or anything like that

In my head I can't help link the issue back to the service albeit it could just be a coincidence. I have spoken to them and they confirm they use Shell 5-30W oil and MANN OEM oil filters.

doing some research (clutching at straws) and speaking to another friend in the trade who suggested doing another oil change as sometimes the numbers after the 5-30W can make a difference. the handbook suggests the oil should be VW 507.00 - anyone know the significance of these subsequent numbers?

Another suggestion is to use 5-40W but not sure if this would make matters better or worse.

Just trying to buy some time so not having to rush into parting with a big wod of cash

anyone think I am barking up the wrong tree? my thoughts are for the price of a new filter and oil it might be worth a punt



also trying to suggest a deisel may not be the right choice now given her current driving hadits and also suggested investigating PCP type deals but she seem set on another Audi, guess its difficult to down spec once you have been there

 

[DXX]

Always follow the manufacturers specification for lubricants, especially VAG TDIs.
I would always verify the actual oil pressure with a gauge, this can be fitted with a T piece on one of the oil pressure switch ports.
If in doubt don’t run the engine, there is no cheap repair after a lubrication failure.

I can’t verify how to access the oil pump for renewal but a ‘full block stripdown’ sounds like BS to me.
Using 5W-40 will increase the oil pressure slightly but that isn’t a fix, it’s just masking the issue.

Maybe this video will help

 

[Paynewright]

Have you searched google using the engine code? There were some 2.0tdi engines with a hex drive for the oil pump that fails though usually catastrophic!

If you change the oil again do the filter too and check for debris.

 

[Hilly64]

Always follow the manufacturers specification for lubricants, especially VAG TDIs.
I would always verify the actual oil pressure with a gauge, this can be fitted with a T piece on one of the oil pressure switch ports.
If in doubt don’t run the engine, there is no cheap repair after a lubrication failure.

I can’t verify how to access the oil pump for renewal but a ‘full block stripdown’ sounds like BS to me.
Using 5W-40 will increase the oil pressure slightly but that isn’t a fix, it’s just masking the issue.

Maybe this video will help

Thanks - I have googled accessing the oil pump and it does look a big job with some specialist kit .... not for the DIYer it says

agree re masking the issue but simply trying to buy a bit of time before getting rid

 

[DXX]

Thanks - I have googled accessing the oil pump and it does look a big job with some specialist kit .... not for the DIYer it says

agree re masking the issue but simply trying to buy a bit of time before getting rid

Taking a chance with an oil pressure fault could result in scrappage instead of a trade in. Not something I’d be saving money on IMO.

 

[manfrotto]

The 507 spec relates to an VW specification for diesel engines and in particular ones with DPFs (diesel particulate filters). They should have used that oil in the Q5, but if the oil was only just changed and they used 0w30 oil I would have expected that not to cause any oil pressure issue.
However if the oil was old it may have got a bit thicker over time and therefore when fresh oil was used it was thin enough to trigger the pressure warning.

 

[manfrotto]

You could also check whether the oil pressure switch has been replaced as per this thread....

2014 AUDI Q5 2.0TDI 177PS Oil Pressure Too Low, Please switch off engine

Hi, I already had this problem and posted on forums before. Usually when the engine is worm and while driving through the city and going to a standstill I have this error on dashboard: "Oil pressure Too low, Please switch off engine". It goes away after a second of two but still I don't really...

forums.ross-tech.com

 

[Ayjay]

I'm not in a position to offer any technical advice but I will say thanks for highlighting a potential issue for the future! I've also got a 2014 Q5 but mines a S Line Plus with only 75K miles on it which I've owned since it was a year old. I've not seen any oil issues but, perhaps unsurprisingly, I did have adblue problems which nobody (inc. Audi) could resolve (or even investigate) without me spending telephone numbers so I had a deletion done - please don't all rush to condemn me or tell me about the various pratfalls, I'm well aware and have made my peace with them.
What I will say though is good luck with buying a new one if you're still aiming for another Q5. I've been thinking about another one for a while now I had a bit whilst waiting for my last van service so dropped into Audi Swindon to look at the nearly new stock. My first impression on getting in was that they had started to skimp on the quality of internal fixtures and fittings when compared to the old one - it just all looked a bit cheaper and none of those in stock had the full leather seats and trimmings that mine had as standard. That said, I don't think it's only Audi that has gone down that particular road and I've since had a look at a couple of other makers comparable models and still reckon Audi feels like the better car. If you / she does go for another one I would be interested in a report please.

 

[DXX]

Audis are great, the ones that were produced before VW got their hands on them.

 

[Hilly64]

I'm not in a position to offer any technical advice but I will say thanks for highlighting a potential issue for the future! I've also got a 2014 Q5 but mines a S Line Plus with only 75K miles on it which I've owned since it was a year old. I've not seen any oil issues but, perhaps unsurprisingly, I did have adblue problems which nobody (inc. Audi) could resolve (or even investigate) without me spending telephone numbers so I had a deletion done - please don't all rush to condemn me or tell me about the various pratfalls, I'm well aware and have made my peace with them.
What I will say though is good luck with buying a new one if you're still aiming for another Q5. I've been thinking about another one for a while now I had a bit whilst waiting for my last van service so dropped into Audi Swindon to look at the nearly new stock. My first impression on getting in was that they had started to skimp on the quality of internal fixtures and fittings when compared to the old one - it just all looked a bit cheaper and none of those in stock had the full leather seats and trimmings that mine had as standard. That said, I don't think it's only Audi that has gone down that particular road and I've since had a look at a couple of other makers comparable models and still reckon Audi feels like the better car. If you / she does go for another one I would be interested in a report please.

The Q5 has been a good car tbf and after 8 years she still loves it which is a shame it may be developing an issue but just find it strange that suddenly get this issue 3 days after a minor service. Having said that had serviced at same place previously with no issues. Read reports about not liking some oils and also using non OEM filters can cause issues with the cores collapsing. Literally just had a new headlight unit due to the adjuster motor throwing up a fault apparently a common issue - £1200 ffs

We had an Adblue fault when we first purchased the car in 2017 and the trader got it fixed and said Audi sorted it under a recall? Been faultless since unlike the T6

Been and had a look at a couple at main dealers today and agree with you @Ayjay. they dont seem much of a step up from what we have. Also looking at the Merc GLC which seem a lot more refined and kitted out so maybe a serious consideration. BMW X3 maybe another option .

The experience of visiting these places and getting the kids that have been on a few sales courses is toe curling. Look inside one car, she says its nice and they tell you you need to act fast and put down a deposit to secure, righty ho, jog on

 

[Sasquatch]

Faulty oil filters can cause oil pressure issues.

Its just been serviced...

 

[DXX]

Ref post #2, it’s a quick and simple process to fit a gauge and verify the oil pressure. Quicker than any Googling, Forum chat and general anxiety.

 

[Gintoldas]

All euro5 tdi engines suffer with oil pump hex drive failure. Its Hex shaft 75mm for up to 2009 and 100mm up to 2015. Within some time one end gets rounded and it cant spin oil pump fast enough and you get Low Oil Pressure light. Old shaft had hole inside so you can undo clip, put screw in to the hole and remove shaft without stripping. New upgraded shaft has no hole and made from stronger metal. Audi and VW sells them for £8. To replace you need remove sump, unclip ring, pull out old one and push back new one, then clip back, new silicone and and sump back. Wait for silicone to set before driving. Dont forget to clean oil pick up . Took me 2 hours with all cleaning. There is plenty of other information about oil pump shaft failure and other options but this one is easy , cheap one. On pictures VW Tiguan 2009 tdi 170 CBBB. You see shaft that was half way out so you know where is it.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Audis are great, the ones that were produced before VW got their hands on them.

A sign of the times. When I started work as an apprentice in 1980, machines were designed and built by engineers. Over my 40 odd year career, I saw the change to price led engineering, where the engineers and bean counters swapped roles. Previously, engineers designed and built a machine, and the bean counters costed it & worked out a selling price. Now the accountants say "this is the price point, build a machine to fit". It's everywhere from cars to planes to fridges to houses. There are very few exceptions.

 

[FWhite]

A sign of the times. When I started work as an apprentice in 1980, machines were designed and built by engineers. Over my 40 odd year career, I saw the change to price led engineering, where the engineers and bean counters swapped roles. Previously, engineers designed and built a machine, and the bean counters costed it & worked out a selling price. Now the accountants say "this is the price point, build a machine to fit". It's everywhere from cars to planes to fridges to houses. There are very few exceptions.

Copy you 100%. I am myself an engineer in my 60es and I saw that slowly and painfully happening. I mean the engineers themselves have changed.
The Web helped lot the process, since if you can search well the Web and maybe even use Excel, nowadays you can be an average good engineer. This well before AI , I am scared of what will be next.
They can produce more and faster than me. Better overall, one can say. The difference can be seen only on at the very edge. That's why is taking us 60 years just to go back to the moon as we did in '69. Or that we are still producing and flying 737 designed in the '60s.
I was guest professor in a big engineering faculty about a decade ago and the level of the students was disappointing. Anyway the brilliant ones all found good jobs at crunching numbers in big Banks or Financials, so they effectively passed to the beancounters side, and I fully understand why.
I think that the turning point has been in the late 90s. End of the Cold War, Globalization and of course the Web.
Sorry for the rant and the thread stealing.