Skoda Octavia Oil Pressure Warning

Oil pressure light, eh? Sounds familiar. Had a similar scare with my old Volvo V70. What color is the oil? Is it blacker than usual or does it have a strange consistency? Check for oil sludge on the dipstick or under the oil filler cap. Also, did you by any chance recently introduce any new oil additives? Some of those can cause unexpected reactions, leading to oil contamination.

Interesting, thanks for the quick reply. The oil color does seem darker than usual, almost black. I haven't added any oil additives recently. What exactly do you mean by 'oil sludge'? Where would I typically find it, and what does it indicate?

That dark oil color and the oil pressure light are classic symptoms of oil sludge buildup, which points to oil contamination. Sludge is basically a thick, tar-like deposit that forms when engine oil degrades, often due to infrequent oil changes or excessive heat. It restricts oil flow and can damage your engine. Given the symptoms, I'd strongly advise against driving it any further. Get it to a workshop ASAP. They can properly diagnose the extent of the oil sludge and perform an engine flush and oil change.

Thanks for the insight. I took it to the workshop, and you were right. Turns out, I was overdue for a service. The oil was indeed sludgy and contaminated, probably due to exceeding the maintenance interval. They flushed the engine and changed the oil and filter. Cost me 165€, but the oil pressure warning lamp is now off. Lesson learned: stick to the service schedule!