The oil pressure light and alarm keeps going off on my 2000 vw polo. it is only when the engin is warm after approx 10 miles. sump and strainer have been cleaned and also new sensor been fitted and oil pressure is ok. whats wrong any ideas?

oil pressure switch faulty

Either you have a faulty oil pressure switch or the pick up screen of the oil pump is clogged. I would change the switch first as it's 10 bucks not expensive then go on from there

the oil light flashing and your confirmation of enough oil in the engine means a faulty oil pressure switch or bad connection. Or the oil pressure is dropping which means the oil pump needs to be replaced or the oil pump pick up in the sump needs to be cleaned

False Oil light alarm - The Chrysler Minivan Fan Club Forums

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Jul 24, 2007 - 10 posts - ‎6 authors
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i have a 98 plymouth grand voyager, when i slow down and

Remove the electric sender and install mechanical oil gauge to check that you have proper oil pressure. Bet ya the main bearings are not fitted correctly or the engine wasn't cleaned during overhaul and now bearings are trashed.

1) Purchase appropriate oil filter, sump drain bung washer and chosen engine oil.
2) Prepare an oil pan, sump bung wrench and oil filter removal tool (check access to oil filter to be sure that your tool is suitable.)
3) Run the engine until its warm to hot.
4) With the car jacked up and secured, remove engine oil filler cap and remove engine oil sump drain bung and allow oil to flow out into your drain pan. Keep an eye on your oil and make sure it doesn't overflow from your drain pan.

5) Refit sump bung with new washer and tighten. Do not over-tighten, and be especially careful when tightening into an alluminium sump.


6) Remove oil filter. Oil will flow out from this filter when removing, so your drain pan will need to be under the filter housing when removing.


7) Run a smear of clean engine oil around the filter rubber seal and refit new filter. Tighten hand tight only. Do NOT crank this filter super tight as you may damage the rubber seal and even the filter casing which can impede oil flow.


8) Refill engine with proper quantity of oil. If you cannot find how much oil your engine is supposed to take, then refill with the same quantity of oil which you drained out.


9) Restart the engine while checking the oil pressure warning light on the dash. The warning light may stay on for three or four seconds and then go out. If this light stays on for longer, then stop your engine and check for oil leaks at the filter body and sump drain bung.


10) Once the engine oil pressure warning light is off after starting, stop the engine and check the engine oil level (with vehicle on the flat and off any axle stands.)


11) Road test the vehicle, driving it for a mile or two before re-checking for oil leaks under the engine bay and engine oil quantity.

What year and model is it ?

I know this happens to many VW family engines due to low oil pressure.

When oil heats up it thins out. The 'second oil pressure switch' sees a low pressure above 2300rpm and turns on warning. ....the one on the cylinder head.

At idle, the 'first oil pressure switch' is monitored....the one on the oil filter housing.

This is called a 'Dynamic Oil Pressure Monitor System'.

If the engine is cool, the light stays out, yes ?

The oil pick up becomes partially blocked and not enough oil pressure is developed turning on the warning. Dropping the oil pan and cleaning the pick up cures this problem.

If this is not the case, then the engine is worn internally and oil pressure is being lost from the bearings.....like a lot of little leaks..

Other than the 1.8t engine, the pump will max' out at 120 psi cold at 3000 rpm and run 45 to 80 psi down the road warmed up = Good engine.

The 1.8t however must never see oil pressure above 90 psi or things get damaged. Valves and valve gear. Expensive..think $3500.00

It is possible the switches themselves are bad. If so, always buy from VW as the aftermarket switches stink !

The electronic monitoring system it's self seems very durable, so that would be last thing to check. It's just an electronic relay on the relay board under the dash. On the Vanagon it is under the instrument cluster head.

Now, you could try thicker oil or add a bottle of LUCAS BREAK IN OIL from the parts store. $14.00.

This will help with lubrication...something new oils lack.....( 'Google' ZDDP for info' on that problem ).....and thicken up the oil in the engine.

Only sure way to tell what problem you have is to use a 'master oil pressure gauge' screwed in to both oil filter housing and cylinder head and monitor oil pressure . Warm at idle should be 15 to 25 psi. At 2000 rpm should be above 20 psi up to 80psi.

If pressure falls to near zero at high rpm at the cylinder head when fully warmed up, this indicates internal wear. Time for another engine or rebuild.

Often just replacing the rod and main bearings will give you another 80,000 miles ...subject to what engine you have.

im also havin a problm with 99 polo 1.6 it revs high low high low and if da tank is below 1/4 it dies of while driving iv changed tank unit,trottle body, sensor nd after i changd tank unit da foat reads opsite way sum1 plz help me

Hi before you do an oil change try seafoam in the engine oil. this can sometimes fix the problems you are having, I used seafoam in engine oil and fuel and breather line and ran engine for 100 miles, but don't run hard, and its cleaned all the sump and oil veins in the engine, as checked with a scope looking though the oil sump plug. it did a really good job, my engine is a bit older than yours 1994. oil sensor is at the bottom of the engine on the sump. pressure sensor is above the oil filter it has a single wire conection

The oil pump is relatively easy to change with the engine in situ if it is (commonly) at fault,
Get an oil pressure gauge with a pipe and brass fitting ready on, (borrow or buy cheap from boy racer shop), unscrew the sensor (or ask the garage to for a £5) and plug it directly into the sensor hole after you've been for a run.. When warm, mine sits about 40 at motorway speeds, ten at tickover.