hermannghost65
VW Scirocco Oil Warning Light: Fix Guide & Causes
4 comment(s)
hermannghost65 (Author)
Last service was at 127000km, around 3 months ago. The oil is quite dark on the dipstick and the warning mostly appears at idle. Currently using 5W-40 synthetic oil. Your recommendation about oil contamination makes sense. Been noticing small oil leaks under the car lately too. The oil sludge buildup could be worse than expected even with regular maintenance. A thorough oil change with cleaning might be the way to go before looking at more expensive repairs. Already booked a workshop appointment for next week to check the oil pressure sensor and do a complete oil system flush. Thanks for the detailed insight, your experience with the same symptoms helps narrow down the potential causes.
dennispeters1
Thanks for sharing those details about your Scirocco. The oil leaks you mentioned along with dark oil on the dipstick strongly point to oil contamination, similar to what I experienced. With my Golf GTI, we discovered the oil sludge had partially clogged the oil passages, leading to those pressure warnings at idle. The small oil leaks were actually a blessing in disguise, they led us to catch the issue before serious engine damage occurred. Since you already have regular maintenance at 127000km, request the workshop to: 1. Perform an engine flush to remove oil sludge deposits 2. Replace the oil filter with a high-quality unit 3. Check the oil pressure sensor and wiring 4. Use fresh 5W-40 synthetic oil Even with consistent oil changes, oil contamination can still occur. The color change you noticed on the dipstick suggests possible internal engine deposits affecting oil circulation. Keep us updated after the workshop visit. Based on my experience, a proper oil system service should resolve those warning lights, especially if caught early like in your case.
hermannghost65 (Author)
Thanks for the helpful responses. Just got back from the workshop and wanted to share the outcome. The mechanic confirmed severe oil contamination was causing the pressure issues. They found significant oil sludge buildup in several areas, despite my regular maintenance schedule. The oil passages were partially clogged, causing those oil pressure warnings especially during idle. They performed a complete service including: Engine flush to remove sludge deposits, New oil filter installation, Oil pressure sensor replacement, Fresh 5W-40 synthetic oil change Total cost was 320€ but worth every cent. The warning light has completely disappeared and the engine runs much smoother now. The oil leaks have also stopped after they properly tightened some connections they found during inspection. For anyone facing similar issues, dont ignore oil pressure warnings even with normal oil levels. Getting it checked early prevented what could have been major engine damage down the line. Thanks again for helping diagnose the problem correctly and saving me from more expensive repairs.
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dennispeters1
As a hobby mechanic with some experience, I had a similar oil pressure warning issue with my 2010 VW Golf GTI. The symptoms were exactly like yours, oil pressure warning light coming on despite normal oil levels. The root cause was that I had exceeded the maintenance interval. Dark, contaminated engine oil was causing oil pressure problems. The workshop did a complete oil change service, replaced the oil filter, and cleaned the oil pressure sensor connections. Total cost was 165€ and completely solved the warning light issue. Since you mention a 2012 Scirocco, could you share: Current mileage, When was your last oil change, Is the oil color very dark when checking the dipstick, Does the warning appear more during idle or while driving, What type of engine oil are you currently using This information would help determine if you are facing the same engine oil contamination issue I experienced. Regular oil changes are crucial for preventing engine damage and maintaining proper oil pressure.