Okay, I am the proud owner of a 1986 Canadian-model 4000s with the 2.2L 5 cylinder...

Recently, I have discovered that the oil light would flash intermittently when I take a corner at a high speed, or if I was to accelerate agressively on an uphill stretch... I have checked the dipstick, and there is more than adequate oil in the crankcase...

I don't believe this to be an electrical glitch, as the light stays off if I drive slowly...

I assumed originally that this was simply caused by inertia, i.e. when I take a corner fast or accelerate, the oil would move temporarily away from the sensor, thereby setting off the light...

Though this is a possibility, I am wondering why it did not happen before, I don't think I am driving any more agressively than I usually do...


The only other cause that i can think of is that the oil filter (a generic FRAM), which does not have the flow-back blocking mechanism in the factory Audi part, is somehow affecting the flow of oil? Is this a possibility?

Not to dwell on this point, is it possible that I am using the wrong grade of oil? I am currently using 10W40...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

these are notorious for these types of problems, it's starving your engine of oil pressure, hence oil starvation.

here's the quote from blau's website.

-begin quote-

Tech Tip: Not To Mention Any Names, But If Your Oil Filter Is Orange, Yellow, Or Green, You're Accelerating The Wear Factor On Your Engine. These Filters Cannot Handle The High Flow Rate Of Audi Oil Pumps. They Eventually Collapse And Cause Significant Decrease In Oil Pressure. We Have Seen This Numerous Times In Our Shop!

-end quote-

find a local import place that carries mahn or mahle filters, and german repair shop should stock some of these.

HTH!
rich
'86 4kq

Oil pan dented? Maybe it's restricting flow to the pickup unit.
Or...there is usually a plastic baffle that clips onto the pickup screen to prevent starvation in corners. They get brittle when they get old, maybe it has broken and the bits are lying in the pan bottom restricting flow while cornering (doing the exact opposite of their intended job).

1) Change filter...it's cheap and easy.
2) Look at oil pan
3) Drop pan and replace gasket, clean everything out and have a look. Not a tough job on the I-5 if I remember.

The I-5 plastic baffle (oil pickup) was found mainly on Turbo models. Purchase (10usd or 2000 loonies) one of those and a rasp to trim it before you pull the pan. Get TWO gaskets as well, as certain I-5's are shallower than others.

The back bolts are a bugger.

Bought a factory filter on Friday and installed it... problem is gone, and acceleration is stronger! Hurray for factory parts! though kinda expensive at $15Cdn ($9.50US) for a filter.