acthad

Hi,
Is it all good if I put 4 qts in my 03 A4 1.8TQ Tip vs the 3.7 qts in the owner's manual? My dipstick reads all the way to the topmost part of the bend above the full mark.

(I used a large Mobil 1 oil filter same size as the large OEM one.)

Thanks in advance!

diagnosticator1

immediately after running a few minutes and check for air entrainment in the oil. If there are air bubbles, drain off some oil.

warrantysucks

it says 3.7 in the owners manual because when the 1.8's first hit the road they had a different sized oil filter. When cars starting showing oil sludge problems from people not changing the oil on time and taking "short trips" they upped the size of the filter. you are good with 4 quarts. possibly even 4.2 quarts.

acthad

Thanks.

Drained a little out, and now it is exactly at midpoint on the dipstick. Tech at audiforums said this was the optimal level for the 1.8T I am not sure if changing oil on rhino ramps affects complete drainage or not, but it is crazy that everyone has a different opinion on the net on how much oil is required or not in the 1.8T Stories on this board of 5 qts by the dealer oil change, etc.

I am not sure if I saw bubbles, but the fact the oil was at the top of the bend in the dipstick above the full mark. I will need to monitor my oil level as I drive it, this is the 1st time diy-ing my A4 for me.

oakwood-jones

I usually use 4 full quarts and just a little bit from a 5th quart to bring it all the way up to full.

ClarkSJ

caused by high oil temps due to small sump and high oil temps coking dino oils. Calling it "sludge" is really a misnomer, but I guess it allowed VAG to point fingers at owners rather than poor design (Conventional oils? More than 5K OCI? Short trips? Nein, no warranty repairs for you!!!).

The oil forms hard carbon-like bits that eventually clog the oil pump pickup screen, resulting in oil starvation failure. The proposed fix was use of the diesel (larger) oil filter, which increased oil capacity from 3.7 to 4.3 quarts or so, more in line with transverse-moiunted engine oil capacity (longitudinal engines have a different oil pan due to need to clear frame member).

BTW, you'll find reports of "sludge" problems with transverse mounted 1.8T engines to be almost non-existant.

DumpTTruck

Why can't you just fill to the full mark?