Passat B6 oil light warning

[Domatron]

Hi guys

It seems I may have a faulty oil level sensor. Earlier this year my car was serviced and within a week the oil warning showed up. I checked the dipstick and although the level was towards the low end it was still within the limits. I topped up slightly and the warning went away. Earlier this week the warning came back on again. Same as before it was lowish but still in the limits so I topped it up and the warning went away. Now though the warning is back and I have checked and double checked but the level is well into the upper half of the limits.

Has anyone seen this before? Is it easy to change the oil level sensor? If not I'm considering just leaving it till the car gets serviced again early next year.

Cheers


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[mercury260]

There is an oil level sensor and an oil pressure switch. Just double checking you are getting an orange coloured oil level warning or are you getting a red oil pressure warning?

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[h100vw]

There is an oil level sensor and an oil pressure switch. Just double checking you are getting an orange coloured oil level warning or are you getting a red oil pressure warning?

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What this guy says^^^^

I am thinking blocked oil pump pickup, not saying that the level sensors never fail. However, I haven't heard of many compared to low oil pressure and blocked strainers.

Especially prevalent after an oil change, which causes a heap of crap to end up in the sump.

[Domatron]

Definitely an orange warning light. Message tells me to check oil level...


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[mercury260]

If ur 100% that ur reading the dipstick properly then yes points towards something to do with the oil pump. Could be a few things but there have been a few people report a clogged pick up in the sump.
Good luck

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[Domatron]

If ur 100% that ur reading the dipstick properly then yes points towards something to do with the oil pump. Could be a few things but there have been a few people report a clogged pick up in the sump.
Good luck

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Thanks. I'm don't understand how a problem with the pump could give a false low level alarm. Could you explain a bit more? Is it to do with where the pumps and sensors are located?


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[Snail Style]

Most likely a faulty sensor, failed/faulty pump will not throw an oil level light. Also a good idea to make sure the bonnet switch is functioning correctly.

[mercury260]

Sorry I'm not 100% on how. Just that the service manual says that if u get that warning and ur oil level is fine then stop driving which suggests it would be an oil pump issue. I haven't had to fix an issue like that yet so I can't offer much more than that. It would be the sort of error that I would get a mechanics advice.

Please if someone else knows more I would also love to understand.

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[mercury260]

My error was oil pressure and was fixed with a new switch so theoretically urs could be level sensor related too.

It might sound strange but I have never had so much trouble reading a dipstick than on this vw design. I find that if I leave the dipstick in for more than a second or two when the level is low then it seems to creep oil up the edges a bit.

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[Jakeys]

Glad you fixed the problem. For future reference for anyone reading this thread, the R36 oil check light comes on very early anyway. R36's have a natural tendency to burn a little bit of oil (Nothing major) over the course of their oil changes, so if you are only doing the 15,000km book services, you may get the oil light mid service and will need to top up maybe like 1-200mL of oil. The light for me will come on with the dip stick level maybe 2/3 of the way to full, so very early.

mercury260 obviously has had an actual pressure issue but since people are likely to google this problem when they see the light, just chucking my 2c in to say try topping up and only start to worry if it comes back multiple times even when the dip stick is at full!

I haven't had any problems reading my dipstick though just need to be delicate when taking it out the second time after wiping it down. It is black though so you do need to hold it in the light to actually see the level.