VW Polo Oil Pressure Warning, Critical Safety Alert

Had almost the exact same issue with my 2009 VW Golf diesel last winter. Being moderately experienced with car maintenance, I still prefer leaving oil pressure problems to professionals since engine damage can be costly. The oil pressure warning light definitely needs immediate attention. When it happened to my Golf, I avoided driving it to prevent potential engine damage. Had it towed to the workshop where they discovered the maintenance interval for oil changes had been exceeded. The oil had degraded significantly, causing pressure issues. The fix involved a complete oil change with high-quality engine oil, new filter, and they checked the oil pressure sensor too. Total cost was 165€, which included labor and parts. Before offering more specific advice about your Polo, could you share: Current mileage, Last oil change date, Any unusual engine sounds, Whether the warning light stays on constantly or flickers This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my Golf. Oil pressure problems can vary from simple maintenance needs to more serious concerns, so getting these details would help narrow down the potential causes. My suggestion would be to avoid driving the car until checked. Oil pressure issues can quickly lead to severe engine damage if ignored.

Thanks for the advice on the oil pressure warning. My latest service was 3 months ago at 122500km, so maintenance should be current. To clarify on the warning light behavior, it flashes intermittently while driving but mostly at lower speeds. The engine runs smoothly with no unusual sounds. However, checking the oil color this morning showed it was slightly darker than normal, making me wonder about potential contamination. I will avoid driving it and get it checked right away. Just hoping its not a major oil pressure system issue requiring extensive repairs.

Thanks for those extra details about your Polo. The flickering oil pressure warning at low speeds matches exactly what happened with my Golf before the repairs. The dark oil color you mentioned could indicate oil contamination, but since your service was only 3 months ago, this seems unusual. My Golf had similar symptoms, darker oil and flickering warnings, which turned out to be caused by a partially blocked oil pickup tube, not just degraded oil as initially thought. The oil pressure sensor was sending inconsistent readings due to the restriction in oil flow. The repair involved cleaning the pickup tube and oil pan, plus replacing the sensor. Total cost was around 280€, slightly more than a basic oil change but way less than major engine repairs. Quick tip from my experience: Have them check the oil pump and pickup tube while they inspect the system. These components often get overlooked when diagnosing intermittent oil pressure warnings. If the engine still runs smoothly like you mentioned, chances are good you caught this before any serious damage occurred. But definitely stick with your plan to avoid driving it until checked.

I appreciate everyone's input on my Polo's oil pressure warning situation. After considering the advice and similar experiences shared, particularly about the pickup tube issue, I better understand what might be happening with my car. The fact that my oil was changed recently but is showing darkness suggests something beyond routine maintenance issues. The flickering warning light at low speeds sounds very similar to that Golf case mentioned, which gives me some hope that it might be a fixable issue like a blocked pickup tube or sensor problem rather than major engine damage. I have arranged for a tow truck to take the car to the workshop tomorrow morning. Given the potential risks to the engine, I am not taking any chances driving it there. Will have them specifically check the oil pump, pickup tube, and pressure sensor as suggested. Just hoping the repair falls closer to the 280€ range mentioned and not something more serious. Will update once I get the diagnosis and know what is actually causing these oil pressure warning signals.